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Research Enterprise Support in 2023

 

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2023 was a banner year for research at Carolina and for the administrative offices within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) that support it. I am proud of the ways we worked together to improve and enhance the quality and efficiency of our research enterprise in support of outstanding talent across our campus. The results of those efforts have shown tangible impact for the University, our state, and beyond. None of these impacts would be possible without the support of staff across our research administrative offices and our talented workforce.

This year our offices supported research, critical equipment and infrastructure, drug discoveries for translational research with life-saving potential, and new, large awards. A few examples of those new awards include up to $50 million in FDA funding to establish the Research Triangle Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (or Triangle CERSI), $21 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to make pregnancy and birth safer for North Carolinians, and continued funding for the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute. We also revitalized the Creativity Hubs program to intentionally cultivate a culture that spurs innovation with a call for impact-oriented science.

The first phase of planning for our Strategic Research Roadmap, with cross-campus engagement and investment, was completed this year. We will begin implementing the results of our efforts in the new year which will help us grow our research enterprise and its supporting infrastructure, solidify and grow strategic research partnerships, and improve research administrative support.

The development of the new Translational Research Building also moved towards realization with designer approval. Once open, it will house the technology and translational programming needed to increase Carolina’s discovery and translational science market share and compete with top biomedical and research institutions across the country.

And we just surpassed $1.36B in research expenditures, ranking us the 12th largest research university in the nation.

This growth requires significant effort from the OVCR administration offices. Their contributions are essential to our continued success as a research enterprise. Although not an exhaustive list, the examples below capture a snapshot of the amazing work our OVCR offices conducted this year. Thank you to all those who supported these accomplishments and more.

Research Development in 2023 supported 5 ARPA-H Applications that feature high-risk technology proposals at the leading edge of innovation, assisted more faculty in pursuing federal and state contract opportunities than ever before, and received $190 million in extramural funding including large awards from the FDA and PCORI.
Research Translation in 2023 secured funding from NC Collaboratory to advance a leukemia relapse prevention cancer vaccine, funded a Creativity Hub proposal to study small molecules that break down proteins to create new cancer treatments, and completed therapeutic project assessments for 50+ research and innovation teams across campus.
Research Partnerships in 2023 solidified a talent pipeline for Durham Tech students to work as interns in Carolina clinical research labs under a new Memorandum of Understanding and supported Institute for Convergence Science’s NC VVIRAL gene therapy manufacturing team in securing a $500,000 award from TUCASI.
Clinical Research in 2023 launched the Research Navigation Hub to support research administration and partnered with UNC Health to support design and implementation of the ONE UNC Clinical Research Initiative to transform clinical research administrative processes.
Research Communications in 2023 created new interactive state map to demonstrate the impact of Carolina research across North Carolina, had the largest University Research Week to date with 67 events and more than 1,000 participants, and grew to over 14,000 social media followers.
Sponsored Programs in 2023 launched SPARC, an automated system that streamlines the subaward execution process, enhanced administrative tools to create nimbler contract execution, submitted 5243 proposals, issued 6262 awards, including non-competes, negotiated 5397 contracts, reviewed 25,655 IRB submissions.
Research Service Center in 2023 supported launch of the Research Date Management Core, supported 8 UNC Research centers and institutes, and helped the NC Collaboratory manage $50 million of ARPA funding.
Human Resources in 2023 successfully hired 322 new employees including staff, students, and postdocs, submitted over 10,000 personnel actions, and created 464 new positions of all employee types.
Postdoctoral Affairs in 2023 celebrated National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which included the largest gathering of postdocs in North Carolina and sponsored more than 70 professional development programs and events.
Human Research Ethics in 2023 received full AAHRPP reaccreditation and with Research Information System, they enhanced efficiency of the IRB approval application process (IRBIS).
Animal Care and Use in 2023 coordinated and led the AAALAC International Accreditation site visit with promising initial results and streamlines efficiency of ACAP and other animal care systems.
Export and Research Compliance in 2023 expanded training and support for telework, travel, and shipping processes and developed and implemented new policy/standards on Managing Clinical Research Administrative Data.
Science and Security in 2023 launched Dimensions, allowing for better reviews and an extra layer of protection for faculty and employees, streamlined the visa review process, and incorporated reviews of International IRB protocols.

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