ORA Newsletter - Week ending 02/01/02

 

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Section 1 – Attention

Section 2 – What’s New

Section 3 – New Funding Opportunities

Section 4 – Conference and Workshops

Section 5 – Reminders

Section 6 – Closing Information and Unsubscribe Instructions

 

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ATTENTION

Please note:  Due to the Gatorlink virus monitoring the Office for Research Affairs is experiencing difficulties receiving some of our e-mails in a timely fashion. If you need immediate response to an e-mail sent to anyone in this office, please call to make sure the e-mail has been received.

 

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WHAT'S NEW

 

1) Don’t Forget!! 2002 Faculty Research Awards: Each year the College of Medicine Faculty Council presents awards to two faculty members for outstanding achievement, productivity, and research discovery.  Awards are given in two categories: Basic Science Research and Clinical Science Research.

 

The CLINICAL RESEARCH AWARD will be given for research having a close connection with clinical medicine and/or having a significant impact on the delivery of patient care.  The BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD will be given for research contributing to our understanding of the fundamental underlying principals of biology and medicine.

 

Under the rules governing the Faculty Research Awards, and faculty member can nominate another faculty member for one of the awards.  Nominations should be forwarded no later than 5:00 p.m. February 8, 2002 to the office for Research Affairs (Sandra Smith, PO Box 100215; Rm. M-134; Fax# 392-7427; email snsmith@dean.med.ufl.edu).  A complete nomination package should include:

 

1.      The letter of nomination;

2.      The candidate’s CV;

3.   The names and addresses of three potential supporters who are knowledgeable about the faculty member’s research, and who are not on the faculty at the University of Florida.  The faculty member making the nomination should not personally request the letters of reference, but merely submit the list of potential references to the Office for Research Affairs.   (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

 

2) The College of Medicine Annual Research Day will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2002.

 

A highlight of this event is the presentation of Research Posters by the Faculty.  Traditionally, this has served to showcase the ongoing research in the College of Medicine and foster interaction among faculty, fellows and students. 

 

We invite you to participate by presenting your research in a poster-session between 11:30 a.m. – 1: 45 p.m. on April 18, 2002.  In anticipation of an impressive attendance, we will hold the poster display in the Shands Hospital Atrium.  Lunch will be served. 

                       

            Please send information on your presentation(s) by Friday, March 1, 2002.

 

1.     Name(s) of the Author(s)

2.     Title of the Abstract

3.     Department Affiliation

 

This information should be sent to:

 

Sandra Smith

Office for Research Affairs

snsmith@dean.med.ufl.edu

Tel: 392-5398

Fax: 392-7427   (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

3) Contracts & Grants Accounting Q&A

 

Q. 

What do I do if I have a grant which will not allow payment of fringe benefits (e.g., NIH Training Grant)?

A. 

Email the staff member in Contracts and Grants who handles the account, indicating the name and SSN of the employee, the account number of the grant and the account number where you want the fringes charged. The staff member will review the request, and when approved, C&G will advise payroll to make the change. Bear in mind that any charges made prior to the payroll change will have to be moved using payroll cost transfers.

 

Q. 

How do I know who to contact in Contracts and Grants when I have a question?

A. 

The C&G web page, fa.ufl.edu/cg/, has a list of staff members by area of responsibility that includes phone extensions and email addresses. There is also a list by original fund source telling which accounts each staff member handles.

 

 

Q. 

What is the FDP?

A. 

The Federal Demonstration Partnership is a cooperative effort among research institutions and federal agencies. It grew out of the need to enhance research productivity by eliminating unnecessary administrative procedures and streamlining the procedures necessary to ensure accountability. Under FDP, certain approvals have been delegated to participating universities. However, the universities are still required to follow federally mandated cost principles outlined in Circular A-21 and administrative requirements for contracts and grants per Circular A-110. While FDP allows for greater flexibility, the awards are still considered restricted.

 

Q. 

Why were CAS Flags implemented?

A. 

The University recently initiated use of a new edit program that verifies occupation codes during the payroll distribution process. This program rejects payroll distributions to occupational class codes that are unallowable as direct charges to federal awards, unless they have been approved via the CAS exception process. If a department tries to distribute a person with an occupational class code that is generally unallowable under Federal grant regulations, the edit program will check to see if an exception has been approved. If so, the entry will be distributed; if not, it will be rejected, and corrective action will have to be taken. If a distribution is rejected and you do not have an approved exception, the payroll should be distributed to an unrestricted account. If an exception has been granted and the distribution is rejected, you should contact Kathy Clark at (352) 392-1235 ext. 606.

 

(Posted 02/01/02) 

 

4) From the FYI Digest:  UF Organizes for Research Compliance

The Office of Research and Graduate Program has been restructured in a way that is intended to take a proactive stance with regard to research compliance. Dr. Thomas E. Walsh will be the Director of Research and Compliance, acting on behalf of Vice President for Research Dr. Winfred Phillips as the institutional representative providing oversight for the Institutional Review Boards (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Conflict of Interest and Responsible Conduct of Research. Mr. Robert Vomacka is the Assistant Director for IRB and IACUC, reporting to Dr. Walsh.

 

In its ongoing plan to have a proactive approach to compliance, the Office of Research and Graduate Programs is pleased to announce that Ms. Roslyn Heath has joined the staff in the Division of Sponsored Research in the role of Assistant Director for Research Compliance. Ms. Heath's background in the business sector and sponsored research administration will assist in supporting research compliance by developing inter-related educational and training programs for compliance, as well as be a resource to faculty and staff with regard to Conflict of Interest matters. Ms. Heath may be contacted at 392-1582 or rheath@ufl.edu.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

5) From the FYI Digest: Improved IDC Distribution Method Planned

DSR annually distributes indirect cost (IDC) earnings to investigators, departments, centers and deans after the close of the fiscal year. Historically, the desired distribution has been indicated on a section of the DSR-1 form. The choices of distribution were limited by space on the form, leading to delays at the end of the fiscal year in determining the precise distribution desired. In an attempt to remedy this, DSR is planning to distribute a new version of the DSR-1 form that would not require the declaration of desired IDC distribution. Instead, a separate, on-line form (DSR-2) is planned that would allow more accurate declaration of the IDC
distribution anytime before the end of the fiscal year.

More information about the planned new process will be provided in the next issue of FYI. However, here are some of the features currently planned. Choices of up to three PIs, three departments, three colleges, and three centers will be offered. Distribution to more than three would be left to the PIs to accomplish through interdepartmental methods. A hard copy with signatures would be requested at the initiation of an award, and only thereafter if a change was desired. The form would be requested when the NOA was issued, but would not have to be submitted right away, only before the end of the fiscal year. Comments on the planned process are invited by e-mail to Dr. Tom Walsh at TWALSH@UFL.EDU.    (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

6) From the FYI Digest: Faculty Fulbright Recipients Sought

The UF International Center (UFIC) has developed a roster of UF faculty who have been the recipient of a Fulbright award (http://www.ufic.ufl.edu/fulbright/fulb_list.htm). Although the University is usually notified when UF faculty are awarded Fulbright scholarships, UFIC is also seeking information on those new faculty members who may have had Fulbright awards while at other institutions.

Departments are requested to send the name, department, host country visited, and year(s) of the award, of any faculty member who should be added to the roster, including retired faculty.

Additions and changes are needed by February 15 in order to invite all Fulbright awardees to a special event in March. Please respond to Barbara Wilkie, P. O. Box 113225 or by email at bwilkie@ufic.ufl.edu.   (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

7) From the NIH Guide: NICHD PROCEDURES TO ENHANCE EFFORTS TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS IN INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING GRANTS  NOT-HD-02-004

 

The NICHD supports the NIH effort to increase the participation of individuals from minority groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research (NIH Guide Vol. 22, No. 25, July 16, 1993; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not93-188.html). This effort established standard NIH-wide guidelines that require all applications for Institutional National Research Service Awards (T32 Institutional Training Grants) to devise and describe plans to recruit and retain underrepresented minority trainees.  Competing continuation applications also must report on the effectiveness of their plans during the previous award period.  Applications without these plans, and competing continuation applications without a report, are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed until the missing information is provided. 

 

For more information on specific requirements contact:

 

Dr. Steven Klein

Training Officer

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B01, MSC 7510

Bethesda, MD  20892-7510

Telephone:  301-496-5541

Fax:  301-480-0303

Email:  kleins@exchange.nih.gov    (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

 

8) From the NIH Guide: NIAMS POLICY:  CONVERSION OF A GRANT TO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOT-AR-02-001

 

All NIAMS grantees intending to conduct clinical research (all research involving human participants) should be aware that before an award is made, NIAMS will routinely consider the necessity of substantial program staff technical involvement or participation in programmatic activities of the award. These activities may include (but are not limited to): participation in the design or direction of research or training activities, coordination or participation in collection or analysis of data, and assistance in the management and technical performance of the activity.  If such involvement is deemed desirable by the NIAMS, the award mechanism will be converted to a cooperative agreement. 

 

As with any award, continuation is conditional upon satisfactory progress, even during the period recommended for support. NIAMS may conduct periodic external peer review of progress for any clinical research project.

   

General Inquiries related to this notice may be directed to:

 

Joanne Odenkirchen

Clinical Coordinator, NIAMS

Natcher Building, RM 5AS.43A

45 Center Drive, MSC 4500

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 594-5055

FAX:  (301) 480-4543

E-mail:  jo21x@nih.gov  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

 

 

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NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

 

1) The American Cancer Society is accepting applications for “Research Professorships”.  Applications are due by March 1, 2002. For more information, go to Professorships.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

2) The American Cancer Society is accepting applications for “Physician Training Awards”.  Applications are due by April 1, 2002.  For more information or an application, go to Training Award in Preventive Medicine.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

3) The Brain Tumor Society is accepting applications for basic scientific research on brain tumors.  Applications are due by April 3, 2002. For an application or more information, go to Grant Guidelines.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

4) Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary are accepting applications for “Cancer Research Fellowships”.  Applications are due by March 1, 2002. (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

5) The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is accepting applications for the “Translational Research Program”.  Preliminary applications are due by March 1, 2002.  For more information or an application, go to Translational Research.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 
6) The Lupus Foundation of America is accepting applications for Research Grants.  Applications are due by April 1, 2002. For an application or more information, go to Grants.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

7) The Stanley Foundation is accepting applications for their Research Grants Program.  Applications are due by March 1, 2002.  For more information, go to Research Grants.  (Posted 02/01/02) 


New NIH notices, requests for applications and program announcements can be found at NIH Notice  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

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CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

 

1) Workshop on Contracts and Grants Administration, March 20, 2002

If you are responsible for your department's post-award contract and grant administration or are a Principal Investigator, you may wish to attend a comprehensive workshop on Contracts and Grants Administration March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon in 282 Reitz Union. Attendance is particularly encouraged for staff new to the administration of contracts and grants.

This program will review the guidelines for contract and grant administration and what you need to know to administer your contracts and grants in compliance with the agency rules, Cost Accounting Standards, OMB Circular A-21, and University policies.

Please contact Helen Craft at 392-1235 x600 or hcraft@ufl.edu for reservations.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

2) The Office of Community Service and the UF Sustainability Taskforce presents “Universities as Citizens” on Monday, February 18, 2002, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the J. Wayne Reitz Union.  For registration information, contact Colette Taylor, Office of Students Activities, at (352) 392-1655, or the Office of Community Service at (352) 392-7872.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

 

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REMINDERS! (For Internal Competition Only)

Contact ORA or Dr. Kirsten Madsen a.s.a.p. to apply for any of these grants. 


1) The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation is accepting applications for the “Damon Runyon Lilly Clinical Investigator Award”.  Applications are due to ORA for an internal competition by February 8, 2002.  (Posted 02/01/02) 

 

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CLOSING INFORMATION

Please send any comments or suggestions about this newsletter to Aundrea Corbit UNSUBSCRIBE: 

 If you do not want to receive any more issues, please reply to Aundrea Corbit with "REMOVE FROM ORA NEWSLETTER" in the subject line or body of the email.