Research Administration

Overview:

Introduction:

This program equips research professionals with the essential skills to efficiently manage research projects, funding, and compliance. Participants will gain practical insights into navigating the complexities of research administration, ensuring ethical, financial, and regulatory adherence for successful project execution. This program covers key aspects of intellectual property, funder requirements, risk management, and collaborative research agreements, providing a comprehensive approach to research administration.

Program Objectives:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify funding opportunities and develop competitive research proposals.

• Manage sponsored awards throughout their lifecycle, from acquisition to reporting.

• Ensure research financial management aligns with compliance and efficiency standards.

• Navigate regulatory requirements and maintain adherence to ethical research principles.

• Develop and manage intellectual property rights and technology transfer agreements.

• Assess and mitigate risks associated with research administration.

• Effectively negotiate and manage collaborative research agreements.

Target Audience:

• Research Administrators.

• Clinical Research Coordinators.

• Grants Management Specialists.

• Research Compliance Officers.

Program Outline:

Unit 1:

Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer:

• Overview of intellectual property (IP) and its role in research.

• Types of intellectual property: Patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

• Ownership and rights in research projects: Institutional policies and funding agreements.

• Technology transfer and its role in commercializing research outcomes.

• The patenting process, requirements, and protection strategies.

• Licensing agreements and commercialization pathways.

• Managing data sharing agreements in compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Unit 2:

Managing Funder Requirements:

• Understanding public and private research funding agencies.

• Grant and contract compliance: Key principles and expectations.

• Proposal development and submission processes.

• Budget development, justification, and financial reporting.

• Overview of major funding agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, ERC, Horizon Europe, Wellcome Trust).

• Understanding cost principles, allowable expenses, and financial compliance.

• Effective post-award management and funder communication.

Unit 3:

Subawards and Subcontract Management:

• Introduction to subawards and subcontracts in research administration.

• Distinguishing subawards vs. vendor agreements in research projects.

• Selection, negotiation, and monitoring of subrecipients.

• Prime award terms and conditions: Legal and financial obligations.

• Compliance, documentation requirements, and reporting for sub-awards.

• Subrecipient audits, accountability, and risk management.

Unit 4:

Identifying and Managing Risks in Research Administration:

• Understanding the types of risks in research administration.

• Legal and regulatory risks: Navigating compliance frameworks.

• Financial risks: Budget overruns, improper fund usage, and funding withdrawals.

• Ethical risks: Protecting research integrity and avoiding conflicts of interest.

• Risk assessment methodologies and mitigation strategies.

• Insurance, liability considerations, and institutional risk policies.

Unit 5:

Collaborative Research and Inter-Institutional Agreements:

• Structuring collaborative research arrangements.

• Negotiating and formalizing research collaboration agreements.

• Roles and responsibilities of collaborating institutions.

• Intellectual property rights, data sharing, and confidentiality agreements.

• Navigating research disputes and conflict resolution strategies.

• Ensuring compliance with institutional, national, and international research policies.