ORPA launches new Web resource

Liders

n recent years, the Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA) has overseen significant growth of sponsored programs at the University. To enhance services and provide principal investigators the information they need to comply with federal regulations, ORPA has developed an interactive Web resource. Director Gunta Liders discusses sponsored program growth and the development of the new Web resource.

How does ORPA define its role in overseeing sponsored programs?

Sponsored programs--whether they provide revenue to establish new programs, conduct faculty research, or support professional growth for faculty, staff, and students--are an essential part of the University community. Over the past five years, the Univer-sity's sponsored programs funding expenditures from federal and nonfederal sources has risen 43 percent, now the second largest source of revenue for the institution.

One of ORPA's missions is to advise investigators in all aspects of sponsored research, including assistance in obtaining funding as well as informing faculty on compliance and award management requirements.

How does the new Web site support that mission?

The unprecedented growth in sponsored programs makes it even more critical for the institution and its researchers and staff to understand and follow internal standards and requirements in addition to the complex external regulatory requirements that accompany federally funded programs.

The new Sponsored Programs Compliance Web site (www.rochester.edu/ORPA/resource) provides faculty and staff an interactive portal for understanding the obligations imposed by funding sponsors, especially federal agencies.

Built as a collaborative project between the central administrative and finance offices, University regulatory committees, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the site is an essential reference for all principal investigators at the University.

What types of information and services does the site provide?

This redesigned site assists investigators in understanding regulations and presents an overview that is organized around topics related to research conduct and administration such as environmental health and safety, expenditures of project funds, financial disclosures and conflicts of interest, invention disclosures, and reporting of scientific misconduct.

In addition, the site provides an interactive self-test for each content area as well as an "ask the experts" option where users can seek more detailed information on a specific topic. In the coming months, the site will continue to expand to include more information for administrative staff.

What is the guiding mission of this Web resource?

Sponsored programs compliance is a shared responsibility, and one that must be taken very seriously. We believe that this Web portal, with its easy-to-use and highly accessible format, will provide investigators with the basic tools and information needed to maintain proper stewardship of our federal funding. We encourage everyone involved in research to bookmark specific pages for personal reference and to utilize the site's interactive features to ensure compliance now and in the future.

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