Resources for Researchers

  • COVID-19 Resources

    Find CHM COVID-19 information here. 

    Information included is:

    • Links to Dean Sousa's weekly Town Hall Meetings
    • Dean's Updates
    • Current COVID-19 research projects happening in our College
    • Return to the Workplace information

    NIH COVID-19 Related Funding Opportunities

    Find the latest COVID-19 related funding opportunities here. 

  • STROBE Statement
    Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist
  • Research Facilitation Team

    Research Facilitation Team

    The on-campus Research Facilitation & Dissemination team provides grant proposal support for faculty, including help with proposal development, finding funding, editing, and grant project management. The team assists faculty with proposals to any agency.

    To schedule a VIRTUAL appointment, contact Lauren Aerni-Flessner, Ph.D.,MBA, aernifle@msu.edu, Shobha Ramanand, Ph.D., ramanand@msu.edu, or Mary Anne Walker mawalker@msu.edu, or call (517) 432-4499.

  • Getting Started in Research at MSU- New Tool

    The Research Facilitation team has developed a checklist tool to help new researchers walk through the steps of setting up their first research project. This finding aid points to important policies and resources and is organized in a sequential manner from securing funding and building your team, to compliance and technology transfer.

     

    View the tool here. 

  • Find Funding

    This funding opportunities database maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies contains selected grant opportunities that may be of interest to the MSU community.

    “Faculty Insight” is an internal site, accessible via MSU Net ID, and displays grant funding opportunities from federal, corporate, and foundation sources, as well as experts at MSU for collaboration possibilities. The site can be accessed at this URL: https://insight.discovery.academicanalytics.com/msu

     

  • Pre-Award Support

    CHM Research Office Pre-Award Support

    Over the last 18 months, the CHM Research office has undergone significant staffing changes and restructuring. We identified a need in the College to provide high-level research related administrative support. 

    Overall Goals:

    • Increase the number of grant submissions for the College
    • Increase the quality of applications being submitted
    • Streamline the grant submission process
    • Lead grant transfers for new faculty recruits (GII, IQ and other)
    • Provide standardized metrics for strategic planning at the department and college level
    • Establish and maintain a presence on campus research committees (SPROUT, CORD, SPAC)
    • Establish a CHM research administrators group to share best practices and information

    Groups currently supported by the Research Office: 

    • Division of Public Health - Flint
    • Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology
    • Breslin Cancer Center – Clinical Trials (Marianne Chaps)
    • Family Medicine
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Pediatrics and Human Development
    • Surgery
    • Radiology (COM and CHM)
    • Community Researchers in Marquette, Traverse City, Midland, Grand Rapids (Mary Free Bed)
    • Psychiatry (COM and CHM– EL) and Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Grand Rapids
    • OMERAD
    • Department of Medicine
    • Overflow as needed for Translational Science & Molecular Medicine
    • MD/PhD Students applying for Fellowships

    Services Provided - Coordinate the preaward process for submission including: 

    • Perform a thorough review of RFAs/Proposal Solicitations
    • Ensure limited submission solicitations are properly vetted
    • Coordinate PI exception requests
    • Develop budgets that align with sponsor regulations and RFA guidelines
    • Prepare Kuali Coeus grant package and ensure all required forms/documents are included for submission
    • Obtain all subaward documentation for submissions
    • Submit award supplements – administrative, diversity etc.
    • Process grant transfers from other institutions for newly hired faculty

    Procedure:

    When you know you are interested in submitting an application, go to  https://research.chm.msu.edu/faculty-investigators and select the Proposal Request Form link. Complete and submit the online form and it will route to our general email - Proposals@hc.msu.edu. Someone from our office will reach out to you to assist. 

    Staff 

    • Erin Gorman – based in East Lansing
    • Lu Liu – based in East Lansing
    • Teresa Thomas – based in East Lansing

    Note: the University Proposal Submission deadline policy implemented December 2014 remains in effect (see below). However, you should reach out to the CHM Research Office as soon as you decide to apply for funding. As soon as you know you plan to submit!

    “In order to provide the best service possible, OSP has a “10:6:3” proposal preparation policy. “10:6:3” means that the solicitation, if applicable, should be provided to OSP at least ten (10) business days in advance; the final budget for OSP review at least six (6) business days in advance; and the complete proposal for submission three full business days (3) before the submission deadline.”

  • Post-Award Support

    DOM OFFICE FOR RESEARCH

    Post-Award Information

    Notice of Award (NOA)

    • Read the NOA document thoroughly; it explains Principal Investigator (PI) responsibilities, budget flexibility, reporting requirements, communications, agency contacts, Terms and Conditions, rules re publications and publicity, data sharing, restrictions and compliance.
    • Forward the Notice of Award to the Post-Award Office to keri.morris@hc.msu.edu.

     

    Finalize the Details

    • If Human Subjects (HS) are involved, you will need to obtain IRB approval (see the Human Research Protection Plan (HRPP) Web site: https://hrpp.msu.edu/
    • If animals are involved, you will need to get approval from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Campus Animal Resources (CAR)
    • Sponsor may require Just in Time (JIT) materials, i.e., current and pending grant and contract activity for investigator(s)
    • When all pre-requisites for award receipt are cleared, CGA will issue an account number. This will be the number you use for all grant-related purchases

     

    Plan/Initiate Personnel Actions

    • Communicate with the pre-award office to assign faculty and staff personnel to the grant. If you wish to hire hourly or student labor, use the attached Hiring Form

     

    Balance Carryover

    • If you are granted “expanded authority” within the NOA to roll over funds into the next grant period, no persmission is required to do so. However, the agency may require that you create a budget and justification for expending the rolled over funds.
    • If no expanded authority, most sponsors require a re-budgeting of the unexpended funds, and a justification for the roll-over.

     

    No-Cost Extension

    • Most grants allow awardees to establish a no-cost extension period in which to expend remaining funds after the end of the grant period.
    • Most Medicine contracts – especially those awarded by private sponsors for clinical trials and clinical research – do not call for MSU to return unspent funds at the completion of the project. These become fungible dollars to the division and the PI, to be spent at their discretion.

     

    Effort Reports

    • Most Federal grants require effort reporting on the part of grant personnel. MSU’s effort reporting is done over half-year increments. The CGA site for this is https://www.cga.msu.edu/PL/Effort/EffortByPerson.aspx. This is a complicated form. It is also a critically important process; most contract and grant-related sanctions of major research universities are because of issues related to effort reporting. If you, as a PI or Co-I, are required to do this, and you have any questions at all (especially if you are “cost-sharing” your time), you need to contact the pre-award office, please email erin.gorman@hc.msu.edu and discuss.

     

    Grant Close-out

    • The grant close-out period is usually 60-90 days after the grant period end date
    • There is usually a final activity report, a series of ancillary reports (income reports, invention and intellectual property reports) and a final Financial Status Report (FSR) due at the end of that time
    • The pre-award office will work with CGA to finalize the FSR and some of the ancillary reports
    • For standard cost-reimbursement grants, any unspent funds are forfeit back to the sponsor. Funds from fixed-cost agreements such as with private firms, as mentioned above, are generally kept by the University and the department.

     

    Post-Award FAQ's

    I’VE BEEN TOLD ONE OF MY GRANT/CONTRACT PROPOSALS WILL BE FUNDED, WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

    Follow these steps:

    • Inform the DOM Office for Research Post-Award Office (keri.morris@hc.msu.edu) of your award
    • Share your notice of award and any other materials with the Office for Research

    Office for Research will support your grant/contract as follows:

    • Grant/contract administration, including budget, human resources and compliance issues
    • Interface with Contract & Grant Administration (CGA) from creation of the project account thru closeout of the account
    • Add personnel salary distribution to the grant in accordance with the budget and at the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI).

    CAN I SIGN A CONTRACT TO ACCEPT AN AWARD AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT?

    • No. Only an authorized agent such as a CGA manager can sign an agreement and bind the University in an agreement. Remember, the grant/contract is with the University; the Principal Investigator executes the project on the University’s behalf.

    WHAT IF I AM A PI ON A SUB-AWARD, i.e., WITH ANOTHER UNIVERSITY?

    • Basically, this is treated like a grant. However, all terms and conditions of the prime contract with the prime awardee (i.e., NIH) “flow down” to MSU, and MSU (and you, the PI) must comply.

    WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP ME MANAGE MY GRANT?

    Specific funders may require use of a portal to manage grants and comply with requirements, i.e:

    • ERACommons (NIH)
    • Research.gov
    • E-Grams (State of Michigan)

    Portals are used to obtain copies of grants and proposals, submit progress and financial reports, and to request approvals for changes.

    WHEN DO I NEED TO CONTACT THE FUNDER FOR PRE-APPROVAL OF PROJECT CHANGES?

    Generally, when you need pre-approval for the following:

    • Scope changes
    • Prolonged absence of PI, co-investigator(s) and/or Key Personnel
    • Significant change in effort level of PI, co-investigator(s)
    • Change of PI, co-investigator(s)
    • Significant budget line deviations (>15% or $10,000)
    • Request for rollover of funds or no-cost extension (if no Expanded Authority)

    HOW DOES MY GRANT/CONTRACT BENEFIT MY COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT?

    • At least 20% of all indirect cost dollars generated by the grant come back to the unit and College
    • The department gains ‘salary savings’ to the extent that salaries of unit faculty are covered by the grant

    WHAT MSU COMPLIANCE ISSUES DO I NEED TO BE AWARE OF?

    • Human Subjects authorizations (IRB)
    • Animal use authorizations (IACUC, Animal Care)
    • Responsible Conduct of Research (generally pertains to grad assistants)
    • Semester Effort Reports (especially if the faculty member is “cost sharing”)
    • Publication restrictions (sponsor-specific)
    • Public announcement restrictions (sponsor-specific)
    • Fly America Act
    • Human Subjects protections

    The post-award office will review the award document and sponsor guidelines with CGA and with the PI and discuss applicable compliance issues.

    HOW CAN I TRACK MY ACCOUNT BALANCE?

    The post-award office will provide periodic reports that tell you:

    • What is my account balance?
    • What personnel are assigned to my grant?
    • What is the projected ending balance on the account?
    • Am I overs-pending or under-spending?

    PIs are encouraged to contact Keri Morris and discuss account budget issues, especially as grants/contracts are winding down.

    MY GRANT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, NOW WHAT?

    • Work with the post-award office to insure that all allowable expenditures are incurred within the grant period, and are correctly assigned to the grant account
    • Avoid large purchases, especially of computer equipment, in the last three months of the grant period
    • Most grants allow 90 days from the end of the grant to receipt of final activity report and final Financial Status Report (FSR)
    • If no-cost extension is necessary, the pre-award office will coordinate with CGA and if necessary, with sponsor
    • Maintain project records for requisite period
  • University Resources
             A brief handout for didactic sessions for the internal medicine residents.
  • College Resources

    College of Human Medicine
    Office of Research 

    Principal Investigator

    Research Administrator

  • NIH Resources

    NIH Systems

    • eRA Commons
      The Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Commons is where NIH grantee organizations and grantees exchange information about the administration of proposal submissions and funded proposals.
    • NIH RePORTER
      Site where the public can find research funded projects based on title, primary investigator, and other criteria.
    NIH General Reference NIH Grant Submissions NIH Grant Review NIH Grant Management
  • Journal/ Author Name Estimator (JANE)

    Jane can help!

    • Have you recently written a paper, but you're not sure to which journal you should submit it?
    • Or maybe you want to find relevant articles to cite in your paper?
    • Or are you an editor, and do you need to find reviewers for a particular paper?

    Or perfom a Keyword Search -

    • Instead of using a title or abstract, you can also search using a keyword search, similar to popular web search engines.

    Additional information at http://jane.biosemantics.org//faq.php

  • Recommended Reading

    Abstract Writing 

    • Alexandrov, A.V. & Hennerici, M.G. (2007). Writing good abstracts. Cerebrovascular disease. 23, 256-259. 
    • Fisher, W.E. (2005). Abstract writing. Journal of Surgical Research, 128, 162-164. 
    • Haigh, C.A. (2006). The art of the abstract. Nurse Education Today, 26, 355-357. 
    • Happell, B. (2007). Hitting the target! A no ears approach to writing an abstract for a conference presentation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16, 447-452.
    Intervention Design

    Intervention Reporting

    Manuscript Reviewing

    Manuscript Writing Groups

    • Salas-Lopez D, Deitrick L, Mahady ET, Moser K, Gertner EJ, Sabino JN. Getting published in an academic-community hospital: the success of writing groups. J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Jan;27(1):113-6. doi: 10.1007/s11606-011-1872-9. Epub 2011 Sep 16. Review. PubMed PMID: 21922155; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3250544.
    • Ness V, Duffy K, McCallum J, Price L. Getting published: reflections of a collaborative writing group. Nurse Educ Today. 2014 Jan;34(1):1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2013.03.019. Epub 2013 Apr 25. Review. PubMed PMID: 23623744.
    • Dwyer T, Friel D, McAllister M, Searl KR, Rossi D. The write stuff: A proactive approach to increasing academics' writing skills and outcomes. Nurse Educ Pract. 2015 Jul;15(4):321-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2014.12.004. Epub 2015 Feb 25. PubMed PMID: 25773450.
    • Grzybowski SC, Bates J, Calam B, Alred J, Martin RE, Andrew R, Rieb L, Harris S, Wiebe C, Knell E, Berger S.
      A physician peer support writing group. Fam Med. 2003 Mar;35(3):195-201. PubMed PMID: 12670113. 

       

    Poster Presentations