Strategic Research Infrastructure Initiative

“As a major research university, we are committed to pursuing the truth, wherever it might lead. . .

In order to lead in research, we must improve our research infrastructure, make it easier for faculty to work together, and focus particular attention on addressing some of the world’s most critical challenges.”    - A Great and Good University, The 2030 Plan

See UVA Today article here

Investment areas

Goal: 

To develop a prioritized list of infrastructure investments that we would like to make in the short term (1-3 years), medium term (4 – 6 years), and longer term (7+ years). 

Some of these will be investments that UVA plans to make using institutional funds; others will be aspirational, based on access to extramural funding, philanthropy, or state funds.

Framing Questions:  

  •   Where should we invest to move the needle?

  •   How will these investments assist us in achieving our goals? 

  •   What barriers do we need to remove?

Download PDF Overview

Building

Building a Foundation for Research Success

  • Faculty Hires
  • Post-Docs, Grad Students 
  • Equipment & Cores 
  • Advanced Research Computing & Analytics 
  • Space/Facilities 
  • Compliance (EHS, IRBs, etc.)
Translating

Translating Ideas Into Action

  • Clinical Trials and Human Studies
  • Entrepreneurship and Licensing
  • Partnering with lawmakers, NGOs, and communities on solutions
  • Communicating our discoveries
Leveraging

Leveraging Opportunities for Funding Streams

  • Research Development
  • OSP (broadly defined)
  • Foundations & Corporate 
  • Advancement/Philanthropy
  • Federal and State Relations

Steering Committee

Steering Committee members

Send us your comments, inputs, questions or suggestions! research_infrastructure@virginia.edu 

Working Groups:

Communication

The communication working group will focus on external communications that support the research mission. Public relations, marketing, and communications to promote visibility and reputation of UVA research.  They will consider the range, organization, and integration of communications across the University, focusing on communications to support UVA’s research mission broadly defined.  Will also recommend policy changes or cultural/organizational changes that would improve and support communications about UVA research. 

chaired by: Mike Gilbert

Space

The space working group will consider and prioritize the possibilities of increasing quality of and/or square footage of different types of space (wet labs, collaborative space, etc.) in the disciplines across the University, as well as specific buildings. Will also recommend policy changes and cultural/organizational changes that would improve the efficient and effective use of space and improve research outcomes.

chaired by: Jeremy Sibiski

Research Translation for Impact

The Research translation for Impact working group will consider the infrastructure necessary to help translate UVA research into treatments, products, and policies, and ensure their dissemination & impact.  This could include support for commercialization and entrepreneurship, support for the development of interventions and clinical trials, and support for translation of research into policies or other types of solutions that will impact the public good.  Will also recommend policy changes and cultural/organizational changes that would improve and encourage such translations.

chaired by: Mike Lenox

Faculty, Graduate Students & Postdocs

This working group will consider resources to support post docs and graduate students in the disciplines across the University.  They will also recommend policy changes and cultural/organizational changes that would improve the logistics of recruiting and conducting research with post docs and graduate students.  Recommendations about curricular matters or the educational component of the grad student/post doc experience are not within the scope of this working group. The group will also consider faculty policies, practices and professional resources.                       

chaired by: Jeffrey Blume

Cores

The cores working group will consider the range, organization, and integration of cores and equipment across the disciplines and schools, particularly what types of cores are needed and how they are managed.  Will also recommend policy changes and cultural/organizational changes that would improve the efficient and effective use of cores and improve research outcomes. 

chaired by: Laura Galloway

Extramural Funding & Research Administration

The extramural funding and research administration working group will consider the size, organization, and integration of the various entities across the University that help acquire and administer extramural funding for research. This includes OSP (broadly defined), Research Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and others.  They will also recommend policy changes and cultural/organizational changes would improve the acquisition and administration of extramural funding. This group has three sub-groups:

Pre& Post Award and Foundations  Process for submitting and administering grants and contracts, including central OSP and unit-based research administration.

Compliance Federal requirements, COI, Export controls, data security, IRB, Animal welfare, etc.

Research Development   Facilitate individual faculty members, teams of researchers, and central research administrations in attracting extramural research funding, creating relationships, and developing and implementing strategies that increase institutional competitiveness.

NOTE: Research Computing/Data analytics - part of Core work group. 

chaired by: Colleen McNamara

General Timeline