Abstract
Background: Frequently, only a short time exists between preparation of a multi-site HMORN proposal and its submission. When a collaborative project is under development, the prime institution needs to work individually with other institutions to gather information for submission. This approach is significantly time consuming.
Methods: Over the past year and a half, the above presenters have been addressing ways in which collaborative HMORN grant submissions and awards could be streamlined and facilitated. This working group has begun to address such issues as: developing a web site in order to house HMORN members’ resources, boilerplate documents, guidelines, etc.; effort reporting practices; standardizing checklists and statement of intent forms; compiled human subjects training requirements; facilitating the implementation of multi-site clinical trials; and developing post award subcontract boilerplates. Several working committees were established and convened on a monthly basis to address each of these issues. Each committee was charged with the responsibility of creating guidelines and/or documents that would successfully address these issues.
Results: The results of this year’s efforts will be presented at this workshop. Materials that have been created will be distributed to all audience participants and subsequently posted on the HMORN website. In addition, all attendees will be asked for additional input to the final recommendations of the committees. Lastly, participants at this workshop will be asked to indicate those issues that, as administrators, they believe will continue to need to be addressed in order to further facilitate collaborative grant applications among the HMORN members.
Conclusions: Multiple multi-site grants have been submitted and awarded to one of the HMORN members on behalf of the HMORN. The CRN, CERT, CCSN, IDSRN, as well as the Vaccine Data Safety Link, the Cancer Care and Outcomes Research Surveillance Consortium and, most recently, the Cardiovascular Research Network are examples. In a tight funding environment, additional collaborative grant applications will become increasingly necessary. Success can be further enhanced with streamlined research administration practices.
Footnotes
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↵1 Deceased October 17, 2008
- Received September 11, 2008.
