Helpful Links and Resources

Consistent with best-in-class shared services organizations, RAS performance will be measured and managed via clearly defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). RAS performance levels will be reported and shared via a monthly balanced scorecard – one for each RAS unit, and one combined for the entire RAS organization.

From concept to completion, the Emory Investigator's Guide provides links to online research administration content and tools for each stage of the grant life cycle.

Where to Start

Quick Reference Page

The Office of Research Administration provides the Emory community with administrative systems and expertise to facilitate scholarship, research and discovery from inception through dissemination and application.

"Pre-award" steps include finding funding and proposal development. The Office of Sponsored Programs and newly developing Research Administration Service Units play critical role prior to and during the receipt of an award.

"Post-award" steps include project start-up, award management, & award close-out. Grant and Contract Accounting and Research Administration Service Units typically play a critical role once the award has been received.

The Conflict of Interest Office, Office of Research Compliance, Office for Clinical Research, Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Environmental Health & Safety Office, Investigational Drug Office, and Office of Technology Transfer provide extensive work in both the pre and post award areas dependent upon the specifics of the award and the needs of the PI.

The Office of Research Administration provides helpful tips and tools for faculty and staff looking to conduct research. There are also pages dedicated to both the pre-award processes and post-award processes. Please visit the Schools and Centers webpage for more information regarding each school and unit.

For additional questions, please contact the RAS staff, who will be more than happy to assist you in locating resources.

The Office of Research Administration provides the Emory community with administrative systems and technical expertise to facilitate scholarship, research, and discovery from inception through dissemination and application.

Conflict of Interest Office (COI) oversees the administration and enforcement of conflict of interest policies as a central, University-wide office.

Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) develops and implements environmental health and safety programs and policies for Emory University, the University Hospital and Clinics, and other University satellite facilities.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a research oversight committee charged with the responsibility of ensuring the proper care, use and humane treatment of animals used in research, testing and education. The IACUC also assists investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) facilitates ethically responsible human subjects research by assuring the rights and welfare of study participants.

Office for Clinical Research (OCR) ensures leading-edge, efficient clinical research investigations, yielding improved patient care and outcomes.

Office of Research Compliance (ORC) provides regulatory education, guidance, policy development and implementation to research faculty. The Office was created to ensure that Emory University complies with the federal, state, and local regulations impacting research.

Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) assists faculty and staff in the submission of grants to sponsoring agencies and negotiates research contracts with government and industry partners.

Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) provides assistance to research faculty by identifying, patenting, and licensing new technologies developed at Emory, and is available for consultation regarding faculty start-up companies. The office also executes Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), which document the acquisition of valuable research materials.

ORA-Information Technology (ORA-IT) develops and maintains electronic research systems such as TOPAZ, CLICK Commerce, eNOA, and ORA's internet footprint. ORA-IT also supports research administration by providing reporting services to units (PeopleSoft excluded).

High Level Overview

RAS Pre-Award Activities:

• Assistance with proposal preparation
  • RAS Proposal Preparation Toolkit Overview
• Budget development
• Entering proposal into EPEX
• JIT process management

RAS Post-Award Activities:

• Requesting sub-awards
• Reconciliation and projection of expenses
• Invoicing (for some award types)
• Preparing financial status reports
• Effort pre-certification
• Facilitating award changes
• Financial close out of the award

RAS Roles and Responsibilities for Grants and Contracts: This document provides an overview of RAS Roles and Responsibilities and includes touch points to other roles/functions involved in research administration activities including: PI, Dept, School/Unit, and Central ORA groups.

RAS Roles and Responsibilities for Clinical Trials: This document provides an overview of RAS Roles and Responsibilities and includes touch points to other roles/functions involved in research administration activities including: PI, Dept, School/Unit, and Central ORA groups.

For staff transitioning into a RAS unit, more information will be provided to you in the future during the transition.