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June VPR Update
June 10, 2021
VPR Update is a monthly email produced by the Office of the Vice President for Research that aims to increase awareness around important research and scholarship items that impact our community. VPR Update is sent to all active researchers, including those engaged in human research, and research administrators across the three U-M campuses.
Dear Colleagues,
As part of our ongoing efforts to catalyze, support and safeguard research and scholarship across the three U-M campuses, I am pleased to share with you the June installment of VPR Update.
Human research activation checklist, committee approval no longer required
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Based on significant decreases in COVID-19 transmission rates, researchers who lead studies that involve human participants are no longer required to submit a Human Research Activation Checklist and/or seek approval from the Human Research Activation Committee. The health and safety of all researchers, participants and the individuals accompanying them remains our top priority, and so human research study teams must continue to follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines as referenced on the Research Re-engagement webpage, which includes face coverings and social distancing.
Treasurer’s Office explores additional payment options for U-M research participants
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In an effort to ensure equity in the disbursement of human subjects incentive payments to U-M research participants, the Treasurer’s Office is evaluating alternative payment methods beyond the current options of cash, checks and stored value cards. The Treasurer’s Office administers the incentive payment process for all U-M research participants, and its team is partnering with groups across all three campuses to address this important matter.
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In response to concerns raised by the research community, the Treasurer’s Office has begun working with a payment consulting company that specializes in higher education to help with the evaluation process. A key part of that process involves meeting with members of the research community to better understand their concerns and what is needed in a new payment option. As such, the Treasurer’s Office will partner with key stakeholders as the evaluation progresses.
Call for nominations: AVP for Research - Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts
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OVPR is seeking nominations for the position of Associate Vice President for Research - Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts. The AVP works closely with the Vice President for Research and other members of the OVPR Leadership Team, along with university leaders, to catalyze, support and safeguard research and scholarship across all three campuses.
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This is a 50 percent appointment anticipated through August 30, 2024. Interested candidates must be a U-M faculty member with an appointment at the full professor level or equivalent, with a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant discipline. Please review the position description for further details. To be considered for the position, please submit a letter of interest and CV to Karen Houghtaling at houghtak@umich.edu by June 21.
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OVPR also would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Dr. Tabbye Chavous, who has held this position since 2019. Under her leadership, the university has advanced important research, scholarship and creative practice in the social sciences, humanities and the arts. Dr. Chavous will take on expanded roles as director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity, a member of the LSA DEI Leadership Team, as well as her faculty roles in psychology and education.
June 30 deadline for all researchers to complete expanded training course
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Faculty, employees and students engaged in research and scholarship across the three campuses are required, by June 30, to complete an expanded training course that outlines important guidance about responsible conduct in research and scholarship. The updated PEERRS Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship training course, which is designed to include expanded federal requirements, is available through MyLINC. An individual’s noncompliance with the RCRS training requirement will result in a hold of a pending sponsored project award or award modification until the individual completes the course.
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Learn more about RCRS training, and if you have any further questions, please contact UMOR.RCRS@umich.edu.
July 1 deadline for Large-Scale Center and Initiative Planning Grants
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U-M researchers are encouraged to apply for the OVPR Large-Scale Center and Initiative Planning Grants, which aim to promote impactful interdisciplinary research and provide research teams with support for preparing and submitting competitive, external large-scale proposals. These grants will support multi-unit PI teams in pursuing external, multi-component, large-scale grants in the range of $5 million or more.
M-Inform disclosures impacted by new NIH requirement
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently implemented a new reporting requirement that may impact how some researchers across U-M disclose their outside interests through M-Inform. When the university’s outside interest disclosure cycle begins July 1, researchers who disclose an outside activity, relationship or interest with an international entity will be required to upload applicable supporting documentation in M-Inform if they have active or pending NIH funding.
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For more information, please refer to the What’s New for FY22 webpage or contact COI.Support@umich.edu for further assistance.
Stay safe and healthy, and research onward.
Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.
Vice President for Research
William G. Barsan Collegiate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Questions?
If you were forwarded this email and would like to receive future installments of VPR Update, please contact ovpr-mail@umich.edu.