Abstract
Background: Preparation of timely and accurate PHS-398/2590 Other Support (OS) and the Research Support component (Section C) of the PHS-398 biosketch can be challenging. Project information for investigators needs constant updating as projects are funded and completed. Responsibility for creating and maintaining Other Support and Research Support information typically spans multiple individuals and departments, including the investigator, administrative and project support staff, and business services, and generally no one has all the required information. Although there are commonalities between Other Support and Research Support, there are also significant differences and the two are not directly interchangeable.
Methods: Center for Health Research (CHR) enhanced an existing Microsoft Access database used for project lifecycle tracking to collect the common elements for investigator Other Support and Research Support. The enhanced database includes: PI, project title and alias, funder, grant number, a concise project description, annual project dates and direct costs, roles and yearly FTE for key personnel associated with the project, and overlap statements. Also included is an entry screen that captures and allows editing required information, and queries to produce formatted MS Word output for Other Support and Research Support.
Results: CHR will make available a CD-ROM version of the database preloaded with sample data, entry screen, queries, and examples of formatted output to HMORN members. A summary discussion of NIH policy and guidelines for Other Support and biosketches, along with use of tools such as the eRA Commons, CRISP, and the Notice of Grant Award to populate fields will also be presented.
Conclusions: A database-driven strategy allows key project information to be entered and maintained in a single location. Accurate and correctly formatted Other Support and biosketch Research Support can then be generated for multiple investigators with a touch of a button. Programming logic separates projects as active, pending, or completed within 3 years of the query date. MS Access and MS Word are common business tools at most sites, so this system is essentially cost-free and can easily be maintained and modified by persons without extensive programming expertise. After an initial time investment in populating the database, significant labor savings and an increase in accuracy can be expected compared to a manual system.
- Received September 11, 2008.
