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Office of Research & Innovation Newsletter - Spring 2024

Volume 10, Issue 2

In this issue:

Introduction from Shintaro Kaido, Vice Provost for Innovation & Executive Director, Drexel Applied Innovation

General

Core Facilities

Applied Innovation

Research Compliance

Sponsored Programs

Did You Know?

Training, Education, and Meeting Opportunities

 

 

Introduction from Shintaro Kaido, Vice Provost for Innovation & Executive Director, Drexel Applied Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that everyone's 2024 has gotten off to a good start and I am excited to share several updates from the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) to kick things off in this Spring 2024 newsletter.

As many of you know, one of ORI's goals is to grow our research enterprise to $250M in research expenditures by FY2030. There are many things we must do to achieve this goal and increasing industry sponsored research at Drexel is one of them. To that end, we are launching a new university-wide process for identifying and vetting industry sponsored research opportunities as part of the Clarity Project. This is well-aligned with the University's strategic plan Drexel 2030 Designing the Future. Faculty-industry interactions are essential to align fundamental research with technological and societal needs and to increase the impact of Drexel research. In addition, industry partnerships for research provide students with distinctive and holistic experience and create opportunities for internships, full-time positions, and entrepreneurial ventures – which will drive graduate enrollment.

The new process will include the development of education and training content to better support faculty interested in exploring or expanding collaboration with industry with topics such as potential impact on teaching, research, publication, and commercialization. The new process will be integrated with existing internal approval protocols and Drexel's accepted terms and conditions. There also will be synergies with AEOs, ORI research development initiatives and College/School-level initiatives. Ultimately, we are interested in lowering the barrier for industry to collaborate with our faculty.

We are currently piloting the process with input from academic leadership, Institutional Advancement, Steinbright, DSI, Office of General Counsel and others – and will be formally launching the full process later this year.

Our second update is that Drexel will be offering the NSF I-Corps training program in July. The NSF I-Corps is an entrepreneurial training program for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. I-Corps was developed by NSF in 2011 to prepare researchers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory to increase the economic and societal impact of research. As federal agencies such as NSF and NIH are increasingly asking researchers to articulate the potential societal impact of research in their research proposals, I-Corps would be a valuable asset for our researchers.

Register for NSF I-Corps

And please feel free to reach out to me for questions and comments.

Sincerely,
Shintaro

Questions? Email Shintaro Kaido, Vice Provost for Innovation & Executive Director, Drexel Applied Innovation, at shintaro.kaido@drexel.edu.

 

 

General

The Office of Research & Innovation Annual Report for the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Have you read the Office of Research & Innovation Annual Report for the 2022-2023 Academic Year? Highlights include: a message from the Executive Vice Provost for Research & Innovation Aleister Saunders, academic year-end ORI metrics and data, important milestones & news from each team within the ORI, and much more. "Research never stops at Drexel, and it is our amazing community that makes these metrics a reality," said Professor and Executive Vice Provost for Research & Innovation Aleister Saunders, PhD. With a record year in terms of research expenditures and countless milestones achieved by our teams, we're excited to share this past year's accomplishments with you!

Read the 2022-2023 Annual Report

Questions? Email Becky Campbell, Senior Business Analyst, Research Systems, at becky.campbell@drexel.edu.

Drexel University joins Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

We're proud to share that Drexel University recently became a consortium member of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)! This means we're now part of a prestigious network of 158 universities nationwide collaborating with ORAU, a leading organization in scientific and technical solutions who collaborates with federal, state, local, and commercial entities to advance national priorities. ORAU provides tailored expertise across multiple domains, including workforce solutions, scientific assessment, health, environment, preparedness, response, and research partnerships. Being part of ORAU's University Consortium means access to funding opportunities, avenues for professional growth, and exciting collaborations. ORAU will foster partnerships between Drexel and government and private sectors, aiming to enhance scientific research and education. We're looking forward to this new resource offering Drexel researchers opportunities for incredible collaborations to advance their fields. Stay tuned for amazing research opportunities and fruitful collaborations ahead!

View Research and University Partnerships Office Presentation [PPT]

Learn More about ORAU

Questions? Email Research Development at researchdevelopment@drexel.edu.

The Importance of Post Award Management

Did you know that failure to submit final reports can have major consequences?

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published a piece discussing how one university is facing grant suspension from major federal agencies due to the failure of one scientist to submit final reports for two grants. As a consequence, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Army are withholding funding across various projects.

This occurrence emphasizes the importance of timely report submissions to maintain research funding. It is crucial to maintain post award efforts to ensure compliance with grant requirements to avoid similar incidents.

The situation underscores the growing enforcement of policies by federal sponsors regarding delinquent awards, posing risks to research portfolios. Compliance with reporting deadlines is crucial for institutions to sustain funding and support ongoing research endeavors.

Read the Full Article

Questions? Email Research Development at researchdevelopment@drexel.edu.

Research Services from the Drexel Libraries

The Drexel Libraries (DUL) provides valuable tools and resources to support all stages of your research, from subject guides and self-guided tutorials to guidance on citation management and research data management. Librarians are available for research consultations online and in person or use the DUL online chat service to instantly connect with Libraries staff. Other research-related tools and services include:

  • Open Access Publishing Discounts: Don't pay for OA publishing! The Libraries now provides free or discounted open access publishing in select journals.
  • Drexel Research Discovery Repository: The University's research repository includes Drexel's research and scholarly outputs, plus researcher profiles to showcase Drexel expertise.
  • Find resources: Use DragonSearch, the Libraries' catalog, to search for books, articles, databases and more. Plus, tools like LibKey Nomad make it even easier to find and access library resources.

Drexel Libraries' research webpage

Questions? Email Stacy Stanislaw, Director of Communications, Drexel University Libraries, at stacy.v.stanislaw@drexel.edu.

Congratulating Dr. Chuck Cairns on his election as a Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Dean of the College of Medicine Dr. Chuck Cairns has been elected as a Fellow in the Section on Medical Sciences at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)! Being elected as a Fellow is a testament to his remarkable contributions towards advancing science for the betterment of society, distinguishing him among his peers and colleagues.

AAAS serves as a cornerstone of inclusivity, fostering a united and global scientific community. They empower and honor scientific achievements while advocating for decisions and actions grounded in scientific principles. As the largest worldwide scientific society encompassing various disciplines and a distinguished publisher via its Science family of journals, AAAS plays a pivotal role in recognizing and cultivating a flourishing research ecosystem that propels discovery and innovation, shaping the trajectory of scientific progress. They are dedicated to fostering trust not only within the scientific and engineering communities but also across diverse audiences, acting as a trusted source of precise scientific information essential for countering misinformation. As the pioneering organization devoted to advancing science and engineering on a national scale, AAAS remains steadfast in representing the interests of all disciplines, paving the way for a brighter scientific future.

We're proud of Dr. Cairns on this remarkable achievement! We eagerly anticipate his continued contributions to the AAAS community!

Learn More about AAAS Community Fellows

Questions? Email Aleister Saunders, Executive Vice Provost for Research & Innovation, at Aleister.J.Saunders@drexel.edu.

2023-2024 Tower Health Research Day

Tower Health's annual Research Day was held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Reading Hospital. Graduate medical trainees, undergraduate medical trainees, attending physicians, nurses, faculty, and administrators from both Tower Health and Drexel University College of Medicine gathered to share, discuss, and celebrate the research and other scholarly activity produced by Tower Health and DUCOM medical trainees. Research Day activities included a poster session and a podium presentation session, both featuring the scholarly activity of Tower Health residents, fellows, and DUCOM MD students. The keynote address, titled "The Science of CPR: How Research Can Save Lives from Cardiac Arrest," was delivered by Penn Medicine's Dr. Benjamin Abella. In total, 144 scholarly works, including podium presentations, in-person poster presentations, and online posters were showcased at Tower Health Research Day. Please visit the 2023-2024 Tower Health Research Day website to view the outstanding scholarly works that were peer reviewed and selected for inclusion in this year's event.

Questions? Email Alexandra Short, MSLS, AHIP, System Director, Library Services, at alexandra.short@towerhealth.org.

A collection of photos from Tower Research Day. Participants are speaking with one another, taking pictures with one another, and sitting in on an informational session.

Drexel Clientless/WebVPN Service Ended

On Tuesday April 23, 2024, Clientless/WebVPN services was shutdown.

Due to end of vendor support for clientless/WebVPN services and potential security risks, Drexel IT ended these services. All resources available through clientless/WebVPN will remain accessible via the Cisco AnyConnect client application.

Instructions on installing the latest VPN client and accessing vpn.drexel.edu

Questions about installing the Cisco AnyConnect client application? Email helpdesk@drexel.edu.

ResearchMatch: Research Participant Recruitment Portal

ResearchMatch is a free and secure tool that researchers use to invite volunteers to take part in their health research studies. It is a nonprofit program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Drexel University partnered with ResearchMatch in 2020 and over 100 Drexel researchers have since posted more than 80 studies on the portal, which has reached over 460,000 volunteers.

Read the 2023 Drexel-ResearchMatch progress report

Learn more and start using ResearchMatch for your studies

Questions or comments? Email Arun Ramakrishnan, Director of Research Labs, College of Nursing & Health Professions and Drexel university liaison for ResearchMatch, at arun.ramakrishnan@drexel.edu.

Read the latest Social Science and Humanities Research Committee (SSHRC) Newsletter

Check out the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee (SSHRC) newsletter for updates on SSHRC initiatives, success stories, events, foundational grant support and opportunities, and organizational developments!

View the newsletter here

The SSHRC's mission is to advance social science and humanity scholarship of Drexel University through an engaging and sustainable research community. A strong research community can facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange, foster a culture of mutual support, and increase opportunities for collaboration between colleagues across disciplinary/departmental boundaries.

SSHRC scholars engage in activities that support different aspects of the research process, including writing retreats to support grant and publication writing, quarterly social events to support interdisciplinary networking, travel award scholarships to support dissemination, speaker series to spark dialogue and new research ideas, interdisciplinary meet-ups to support conversations across disciplines that lead to new collaborations, ‘how-to' grant writing seminars to gain skills in grant submissions, and participate in SIGS (special interest group) to learn new research methods in partnership with their Drexel colleagues.

Help them expand their community by referring research-involved colleagues (e.g., leaders, faculty, postdocs, fellows, graduate students, and others) to the SSHRC. Let's keep the knowledge flowing!

Questions or interested in signing up for the SSHRC newsletter? Email Elizabeth Hassrick, Associate Professor, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, at elizabeth.mcghee.hassrick@drexel.edu.

 

 

Core Facilities

MCC Upgrades X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

A major upgrade of the X-ray photo electron spectrometer in the MCC is underway. The upgrade includes replacing all the electronics, the control computer and software, the analyzer and detector. The XPS was acquired in 2011 with funds from Drexel and the NSF. The present upgrade will modernize the system so that it is equivalent to current technology. The new analyzer and detector will improve the system's sensitivity and limit of detection. Finally, the upgrade will ensure that the system continues to offer XPS capability for several years to come.

Questions about the XPS or the upgrade? Email Dr. Dmitri Barbash, Senior Research Scientist & Manager, XPS & XRD, at dmitri.v.barbash@drexel.edu.

CIC Welcomes New Instrument Specialist and Opens Training on New Flow Cytometer

The CIC has enlisted Dr. Beatriz Hernaez Estrada as a flow cytometer specialist to help manage our newly acquired BDFACSymphony A1 flow cytometer. Flow cytometry enables rapid but complex analysis of single cells and is critical to Cell and Gene Therapy research. Bea is jointly appointed as a Research Scientist in Kara Spiller's lab in Biomed and has extensive experience as a flow cytometer operator. Bea has already begun training new users on the system.

For more information about flow cytometry or to get trained on the new instrument please contact Dr. Beatriz Hernaez Estrada, Senior Research Scientist, School of Biomedical Engineering, at beatriz.hernaezestrada@drexel.edu.

URCF Launches New Open Compute Tier on the Picotte Research Computing Cluster

Starting in May, the URCF will be offering access to a Free Compute tier on Picotte that will be available to all approved users. Users will also have access to a Priority Tier for a fee. The Priority Tier allows use of the full performance of Picotte with limited wait time (the Free Tier has performance limitations and may have longer wait times). We are also reducing the cost of data storage on the URCF's HIPPA/PHI compliant Isilon data storage system. Dr. Linh Ngo continues hold Research Computing workshops and has joined with IT to host "Lightning Talks" on specialized research computing topics.

Questions about URCF, data storage, or the URCF workshop series? Email Dr. Linh Ngo Director of High Performance Computing, at linh.bao.ngo@drexel.edu.

 

 

Applied Innovation

Collaboration with the Graduate College

Drexel Applied Innovation is excited to sponsor the inaugural Excellence in Expanding the Impact of Research Award at the 2024 Graduate Student Excellence Awards!

For any graduate and professional students (master's and doctoral level) who have made efforts to expand the impact of your research outside of academia, don't be shy – nominate yourself! This can include programs, partnerships, collaborations, or other activities relevant to disseminating your research outside of academia.

If any faculty/staff/supervisors reading this know of a graduate student who fits the above description, please nominate them as well! We would love to hear from you.

Please find the nomination form here

Questions? Email Lillian Rukenstein, Manager, Entrepreneurial Community, Drexel Applied Innovation, at lillian.rukenstein@drexel.edu.

The Drexel University Innovation Fund Builds Drexel Community at First In-Person Pitch Day

The Drexel University Innovation Fund was designed to bring together the Drexel community of students, alumni, faculty, professional staff and friends of the University. Our second cohort granted us the opportunity to convene these groups in-person for the first time.

Read the full article and see photos here

Questions? Email Lillian Rukenstein, Manager, Entrepreneurial Community, Drexel Applied Innovation, at lillian.rukenstein@drexel.edu.

Drexel Applied Innovation Launches Stories of Impact Series to Highlight Innovation to Impact on Campus

Drexel innovators are achieving incredible, inspiring feats across campus; the aim of this series is to showcase the research being conducted by these innovators and demonstrate how that research is being implemented to create real-world impact, thereby impacting the broader Drexel innovation community and beyond. Michael R. Lowe, Ph.D., a clinical psychology professor in Drexel's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, spoke with Drexel Applied Innovation to share his story of impact related to eating behaviors through the identification of hedonic hunger and the Power of Food Scale.

Real the full article

Questions? Email Lillian Rukenstein, Manager, Entrepreneurial Community, Drexel Applied Innovation, at lillian.rukenstein@drexel.edu.

 

 

Research Compliance

Travel Registry for Sponsored Research and Drexel Business Trips Abroad

Research Compliance in collaboration with Global Engagement would like to remind the research community to register international travel that is for Drexel business and/or sponsored research that is reimbursable.

Researchers should now be utilizing the travel registry system which can be found here

Questions related to international travel for sponsored research? Email the Export Control team at export@drexel.edu.

ORI Guidance and Procedure Update

As the Office of Research & Innovation (ORI) continues its efforts toward Drexel University's strategic plan and CLARITY project we are excited to introduce a new and updated SOPs and guidelines through ORI's established workgroup processes that will continue to provide best practices, enhance collaboration, and reinforce our commitment to Drexel University and our Research Community:

  • 1. ORI-004: Drexel Research Agent Eligibility and Responsibilities [PDF]
    • Define the role of the Drexel Research Agent, acting on behalf of the Institution, and outline the eligibility, responsibilities and expectations for the Drexel Research Agent engaged in research activities, funded programs, projects or related activities under the oversight of Drexel University's Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) (e.g., HRPP-IRB, IACUC, OSP).
    • Effective 4/17/2024: Please note that full implementation will be over the following 12-18 months to align with the CRP (Coeus Replacement Project) and integration with supporting systems.

We also want to thank the workgroup members who participated throughout the process, and their dedication and commitment were instrumental in the success we achieved. ORI is truly thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside you.

This SOP, along with supporting materials/forms are available at ORI's guidelines and procedures page

Feedback or questions? Email Marisa Corbett, Executive Director of Research Quality Assurance, at marisa.jo.corbett@drexel.edu or Cassandra Myers, Associate Vice Provost of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, at cassandra.j.myers@drexel.edu.

  • 2. ACU-201: Food and Water Restriction in Research Rodents [PDF]
    • Purpose: Guide Investigators in withholding feed and/or water from laboratory rodents to ensure that dietary restrictions are well justified and necessary for the study objectives, and animals subjected to dietary restrictions are appropriately monitored.
    • Updates: This procedure has been updated to include growth charts and linked resources for two commonly used strains of rodents at Drexel University. It also includes a modified food and water restriction log form template available for use. Please note that the form provided is not required to be used and PI's can create their own form. This procedure does outline what information is required to be recorded.
      • A full list of revisions can be found in Section 6 of the procedure document.
      • Update Effective 4/9/2024
  • 3. ACU-211: Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Agents or Mixtures of Pharmaceuticals (Cocktails) Use [PDF]
    • Purpose: To ensure the use of non-pharmaceutical agents, mixtures of pharmaceuticals (cocktails) and non-drugs administered to animals by the parenteral route are of the appropriate chemical purity and quality and in the appropriate solution or compound, to ensure stability, safety, and efficacy.
    • Updates: This procedure has been updated to include procedures for the use of non-drugs administered to animals by the parenteral route procedures.
      • A full list of revisions can be found in Section 6 of the procedure document.
      • Update Effective 4/9/2024

We want to thank the IACUC members who participated in the review process, and their dedication and commitment were instrumental in the success we achieved. ORI is truly thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside you.

These documents are available on the animal care and use guidelines and procedures page.

Stay up to date on all animal care and use procedure updates on the post approval monitoring "The Latest" page

Questions? Email Liz Hann, Director of Animal Welfare and Radiation Safety, at elizabeth.ashley.hann@drexel.edu.

Drexel IRB Q&A: Research Personnel

Start by identifying the Principal Investigator (PI). Refer to the Drexel policy on PI eligibility (ORI-002) to determine who may be listed as a PI at Drexel: Guidelines and Procedures | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University. Then list any co-Investigators or others named as key personnel on the protocol or in any applications for research funding. Beyond that list any research coordinators, statisticians, or other research team members who will either interact with research participants and/or have access to any identifiable information on participants. Student research projects may list the student as the PI but are required to have a Faculty Advisor identified. The Faculty Advisor may also be listed as the PI on a student’s project provided the student is identified.  

Note that the Drexel IRB reviews on behalf of Drexel agents. Please refer to the policy describing Drexel agents (ORI-004): Guidelines and Procedures | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University. Some Drexel affiliates as noted in the policy may need to provide an exception form, CV and a reliance agreement to ensure IRB oversight for their activities. If you need to request that the Drexel IRB provide oversight for other external collaborators, the personnel requirements will depend on the kind of collaborating institution. External collaborators are typically added to the IRB submission after the initial review. External personnel would require an IRB Reliance Agreement to be executed in order for the Drexel IRB to provide services or oversight for their research activities. See questions on external collaborators and Reliance Agreements.

Drexel research personnel must meet our institutional requirements related to human subjects research trainings (CITI) and conflicts of interest (COI) disclosures. Depending on the activities the person may be engaged in on a project, the IRB may request to see additional evidence of qualifications.   

Information on the CITI trainings for human subjects research provided under the Trainings tab on the Researchers page: Researchers | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University.

Information on the COI requirements provided on the COI webpage: Conflicts of Interest | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University. Each research team member is required to complete a protocol-specific conflict of interest disclosure.

The CITI trainings and COI disclosures are checked for listed research personnel at the screening step of submission intake for each initial submission or any modification adding personnel to an ongoing project. IRB submissions fail screening and are returned to the investigator if any personnel’s CITI training or COI is not completed at the time of screening. Submissions may be re-submitted for screening after the personnel requirements are complete, at which point the submission is accepted into the review queue at the IRB.

Other personnel requirements may apply to a person’s activities, for example if they will be drawing blood samples for research they will need to follow Drexel policy on training for that activity. The PI is responsible for ensuring that all research personnel meet any IRB personnel requirements, as well as any other requirements from an institutional perspective, including any applicable licensures and/or credentialing.

The Drexel IRB reviews on behalf of Drexel agents. A Reliance Agreement would be executed to provide oversight for external collaborators (individuals or institutions). You may request that external collaborators be provided oversight by the Drexel IRB by including the HRP-205 Request for Drexel as the Single IRB form in the submission. Please note the following regarding external collaborators, reliance agreements and the ‘single IRB review’ mandate.

Currently, only federally funded, multisite collaborative research must meet the new ‘single IRB mandate’. If the research is not federally funded there is no requirement for a single IRB and the request is optional. The IRB will decide whether or not to provide oversight for collaborators. If the research is federally funded and Drexel is the prime on the federal award, the expectation is that the Drexel IRB would have first option to choose to serve as the reviewing IRB for all engaged sites. Drexel follows the Smart IRB SOPs and prefer to use the Smart IRB reliance agreement when possible Resources | SMART IRB Instructions on submitting requests for a Reliance are provided on the HRP website under the Reliance Agreements tab: Researchers | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University.

If adding Independent Investigators, these personnel must meet all of the trainings as Drexel agents, will need to submit a CV, sign an Independent Investigator reliance agreement and Agent Exception Form.

If adding an external institution, name the external PI in the Drexel submission. The IRB will need to determine whether or not to list the institutions others collaborators or not. If following the Smart IRB Reliance Agreement, personnel are managed according to their home institutions requirements and the list of their personnel is managed at the site as part of their local context review. These personnel would not need to be added to the Drexel personnel. There are other collaborators that may need to be listed as Drexel personnel instead and meet our institutional requirements. Requirements will need to be determined on a case by case basis and will depend on funding, the activities of the collaborators and the terms of the reliance agreement.

If Drexel has ceded IRB review to an external IRB, our personnel requirements are the same as if the Drexel IRB was reviewing the research. When IRB review is ceded to an external IRB there are typically terms of the reliance agreement which indicate that research personnel follow the requirements of their home institution. The CITI trainings and COI disclosures vary by institution and the most reasonable approach is for these requirements to be met and managed at the local level.

When a submission to the Drexel IRB requests ceded review to an external IRB, the local review checks all of the personnel requirements for Drexel agents have been met. We expect to still receive personnel modifications to the Drexel IRB for the life of the project even when the IRB review is ceded elsewhere, since the reliance agreement indicates that is a responsibility of the institutions.

Once approved to conduct research activities on a research project, personnel remain approved until the study ends, they are removed from the study, or they are no longer actively employed or a student at Drexel. If personnel leave the institution a decision needs to be made as to whether or not they will need to remain on the study. Reliance agreements may be necessary and determined on a protocol by protocol basis for each individual. The agreement may be executed with them as Independent Investigators, or a reliance agreement between Drexel and their new institution may be needed.

Allow as much advance notice as possible and contact hrpp@drexel.edu for assistance when departing personnel are identified. Please also refer to ORI-003 Departing Faculty Guidelines and Checklist: Guidelines and Procedures | Office of Research & Innovation | Drexel University.

Questions? Email the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) at hrpp@drexel.edu.

ORI/Research Compliance/Export Control and Research Security

High Risk List of Countries of Concern: On March 12, 2024, the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), Export Control and Research Security updated the Export Control website to include a high-risk list for countries of concern. This list includes a compilation of the most recent list identified by the US Department of Commerce, US Department of State, and the US Department of the Treasury for countries that are comprehensively embargoed or sanctioned or under special controls. ORI is partnering with the Office of Global Engagement to develop additional lists and tools for Drexel University to use for future purposes.

Learn More about High-Risk Countries

Questions? Email the Export Control team at export@drexel.edu.

IRB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Drexel HRP/IRB has updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) [PDF] document. The FAQs will be accessible from the Drexel HRP homepage. This document intends to guide investigators to resources and provide answers to questions that may not be answered in existing resources.

Questions? Email the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) at hrpp@drexel.edu.

New Annual Solicitation Process for Research Conflicts of Interest!

The Research Compliance COI team is excited to announce a new initiative aimed at streamlining and enhancing the management of conflicts of interest in research. Beginning on June 1, we will be launching our new annual solicitation process exclusively tailored to disclose and identify conflicts of interest related to research.

This is a significant step forward in ensuring the integrity, transparency, and credibility of our research endeavors. By instituting an annual solicitation process, we are empowering researchers to proactively disclose any potential conflicts of interest, fostering a culture of accountability and ethical conduct.

Through this initiative, we are committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to assist researchers in navigating the complexities of conflicts of interest. Our goal is to promote a culture of compliance while preserving academic freedom and innovation.

We are committed to continuously evaluating and refining our processes to ensure they remain responsive to the evolving needs of our research community.

Stay tuned for further details and instructions on how to participate in the upcoming annual solicitation process, starting June 1. Together, let's pave the way for a culture of integrity and excellence in research.

Questions? Email the Financial Compliance team at FCOI@drexel.edu.

 

 

Sponsored Programs

NSF Changes Beginning May 20, 2024

NSF has several changes taking effect for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024. Changes include:

Updates and additional information can be found on NSF's Policy Page

NSF webinar series on changes

Questions? Email Sarah Saxton, Executive Director, Sponsored Programs, at sarah.m.saxton@drexel.edu.

NIH Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025 (NOT-OD-24-084)

NIH just sent out a notice of several application and peer review changes impacting grant applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025, including:

Although each of these initiatives has specific goals, they are all meant to simplify, clarify, and/or promote greater fairness towards a level playing field for applicants throughout the application and review processes.

NIH will release additional details and guidance on these initiatives throughout 2024 which will be cross-referenced in this notice as well.

Questions? Email Sarah Saxton, Executive Director, Sponsored Programs, at sarah.m.saxton@drexel.edu.

Office of Sponsored Programs Reminders

  • Institutional Information for proposal submissions can be found on ORI’s Website. Please contact your Grants Administrator for any assistance in completing the required information.
  • All service provider, independent contractor, or consulting agreements on sponsored projects should be sent to ResearchContracts@drexel.edu for review and execution.
  • A budget template [XLS] is required for all collaborative research projects at the proposal stage. The budget breakdown will include a budget for each PI, Co-PI, or Co-I listed on a project. Please use the OSP budget template when completing this new requirement. If you use a different template, it must have the same information on each tab of the workbook. If the information is not sufficient, a revised budget template will be required at time of award. Additional information and guidance is available on the ORI website.

Questions? Email Sarah Saxton, Executive Director, Sponsored Programs, at sarah.m.saxton@drexel.edu.

 

 

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is now accepting submissions to its Mission Office-specific ISOs?

Mission Office-specific ISOs allow ARPA-H to fund health-related technology research and development outside of the traditional grant or contract structure by using solicitations designed for cooperative agreements and "other transactions" for flexibilities outside of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

All you need to do is submit an Abstract, and if interested, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.

The four ISO solicitations are: Health Science Futures, Proactive Health, Resilient Systems, and Scalable Solutions.

Questions? Email Research Development at researchdevelopment@drexel.edu.

 

 

Training, Education, and Meeting Opportunities

COEUS Replacement System Vendor Selection Webinar

The Office of Research & Innovation (ORI) is continuing its work to update Drexel’s research administration processes and systems. A key component of this effort is the replacement of COEUS with a modern, streamlined research administration solution.

The final steps of the selection process are completed, and we’re excited to share that we have selected Novelution as our vendor to replace and extend our research administration capabilities. Implementation will begin this summer and over the next 24 months eight modules will be implemented.

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, May 7 at 12pm for a virtual information session, including an overview of the selection process, vendor information, system details, implementation project structure, and the role you can play to help ensure we deliver the best product possible.

Registration is required for this event.

register for COEUS Vendor Selection webinar

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event!

Questions? Email Doug Stay, Director, Research Business Operations & Technology, at douglas.r.stay@drexel.edu.

Updates to NIH Training Grant Applications

Have you ever considered applying for an NIH Training Grant but were overwhelmed by the burden?

Good news! The NIH is making updates to its training grant applications.

The NIH Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) Training Grant Program application is undergoing changes that take effect for submissions due on or after January 25, 2025.

These modifications impact the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form (the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will become its own attachment instead of part of the 25-page program plan) and the NRSA Training Tables (NIH is updating the NRSA Data Tables to reduce burden on the research community).

NIH is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 1–2pm. Registration is required.

NIH Training grant Details and registration

Questions? Email Research Development at researchdevelopment@drexel.edu.

OSP Lunch and Learn "How to" Series

Please join the Office of Sponsored Programs for a new monthly Lunch and Learn "How to" series. Information will be provided on how to navigate research administration here at Drexel as well as with sponsors.

May’s Episode will be "Ep.4: Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs)"
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
12–1pm

Register for OSP Lunch and Learn Series

Questions? Email Sarah Saxton, Executive Director, Sponsored Programs, at sarah.m.saxton@drexel.edu.

Tech Talk Thursdays

Drexel IT is continuing their tech virtual round table discussions, with a focus on computing initiatives supporting their core pursuits of teaching and research.

Faculty, students, and researchers are invited to join weekly on Thursdays throughout the Spring term beginning at 10am. The first hour will cover instructional computing used for teaching courses and supporting student projects. At 11am, they’ll switch the focus over to research computing and the University Research Computing Facility (URCF) services.

The discussions will be led by Justin Mignone, Asst. Director of Technical Services and Andrew Marx, Director of Academic and Research Technology, both from Drexel IT, and Linh Ngo, Director of High-Performance Computing from the Office of Research and Innovation. Their aim is to facilitate an open exchange of information about the general state of IT and computing, to discuss new services and coming changes to existing ones, and to gather ideas for making the user experience more responsive to academic needs.

Spring Term: Thursdays from 10am–12pm

For more information or to request the Zoom link, please email ARTech@drexel.edu.

URCF Workshop Series for Spring 2024

University Research Computing Facility (URCF) is pleased to announce their remaining Spring 2024 workshop schedule an Introduction to Programming in Python and R. The workshops are disseminated live via Zoom.

  • Introduction to Programming using R (one section, two parts)

The Zoom link and setup instruction will be sent via email the day before the workshop.

Be on the lookout for future workshops hosted by URCF!

Questions? Email Linh B. Ngo, Ph.D, Director of High Performance Computing, at linh.bao.ngo@drexel.edu.

Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference

Mark your calendars to join the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference on June 3-5, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The hybrid conference will meet at and stream from the Philadelphia Marriott Old City.

This conference is designed to give new faculty, researchers, and administrators key insights into a wide range of current issues at NSF. NSF program officers representing each NSF directorate will be on hand to provide up-to-date information about specific funding opportunities and to answer attendee questions.

Register for the Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference
View recordings of sessions from previous conferences
Fall 2023 Virtual Grants Conference on YouTube

Questions? Email NSF at grants_conference@nsf.gov.

The 3rd International MXene Conference

Mark your calendars for the 3rd International MXene Conference at Drexel University, happening from August 5-7, 2024! This conference will delve into the chemistry and physics of materials, showcasing research innovations, and discussing the future of MXenes, an innovative class of two-dimensional materials discovered at Drexel University in 2011. Over three days, experts from various fields including chemistry, physics, materials science, and more will gather to explore the latest breakthroughs and the potential impact of MXenes on future technologies. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of shaping the future! Abstract submissions are due April 30!

Register for MXene conference

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