A message from Andy Johns, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Dear Carolina Research Community,
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is coordinating with various campus units to address the rise in research infrastructure and service costs.
The proliferation of cybersecurity threats that require heightened information security, an increasingly demanding regulatory environment that introduces substantial administrative burden, and the sophistication of novel research methods that demand more and complex technologies all have added significant costs to doing research. At the same time, budget cuts and reductions in federal funding have had direct impacts on the UNC research enterprise, making it necessary to review current cost models for research support tools and services.
To ensure UNC can continue to support the infrastructure and resource needs of our research enterprise, OVCR is working with specific units to identify and implement new service models which will require nominal usage fees or recharge rates. Electronic Data Capture (EDC) tools are a critical component of our research infrastructure that are impacted by these new service models.
How to Select the Appropriate Electronic Data Capture Tool
To support researchers in identifying the appropriate tool for their needs, the Research Data Management Core (RDMC) and The Odum Institute have created a helpful guide describing available electronic data capture tools, their features, and recommended usage.
UNC Electronic Data Capturing Systems & Tools Guide
These guides will help research teams select the appropriate tool that meets the needs of their research projects. For questions on selecting an appropriate EDC for your project needs or to request an EDC consultation, please contact us through our Support Portal.
Changes in REDCap Service Model
As part of this effort, RDMC, under the direction of OVCR, has launched the updated REDCap@UNC, which now offers three distinct services designed to better support the evolving needs of research at UNC-Chapel Hill. These services are aligned with different research and operations use cases:
- REDCap Research: A secure, HIPAA-compliant environment for standard research data collection and study management
- REDCap Operations: A flexible environment for research-adjacent activities such as quality improvement, program tracking, and administrative workflows
- REDCap Part 11: A validated environment designed for FDA-regulated research requiring compliance with 21 CFR Part 11
These services strengthen regulatory support, improve system security, and enhance the overall reliability of REDCap@UNC. To ensure sustainability and provide the required support for these systems, fees will be applied to new projects added to these systems. These fees will vary depending on the type of service and funding sources of these projects.
REDCap Research & REDCap Operations Service Rates
| Description | Per Project Rate |
|---|---|
| Non-funded research | $500.00/year |
| Industry-funded research | $1,000.00/year |
| Federal or other non-profit funding | No Charges (Supported by Institutional Overhead) |
REDCap Part 11 Service Rates
| Description | Per Project Rate |
|---|---|
| Project initiation and onboarding, which includes project enablement, initial study-level validation support, and go-live support | $20,000.00 |
| Annual support | $4,000.00/year |
| 21 CFR Part 11 re-validation* | $2,000.00 |
*For study team-initiated system modifications after initial validation has been completed.
These rates will take effect on October 1, 2026. Projects initiated within REDCap@UNC prior to this date will not be subject to these fees.
Questions and Support
For guidance and questions specific to REDCap@UNC, we encourage researchers to contact us through the REDCap@UNC Support Portal.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting high-quality, compliant research at Carolina.
Sincerely,
Andy Johns
Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill