The Office of Research Program Development

The Office of Research Program Development (RPD) was established in 1993 to facilitate and foster multidisciplinary biomedical science at

the Perelman School of Medicine. Our mission centers on assisting faculty-led research activities in order to expand the

PSOM’s capacity to pursue large and complex multidisciplinary research initiatives.RPD offers a broad range of services.

Multidisciplinary Grant Proposals and Federal Contracts

• RPD provides coordination, preparation and submission of large-scale, multidisciplinary grant proposals and federal contracts, including

• NIH• Department of Health non-formula grants• Schedule permitting, some degree of assistance with R- and K-

series proposals

For all federal and state grants and contracts, RPD

– Serves as a resource for PSOM faculty regarding state and federal submission guidelines and policies that impact research funding and the research enterprise

– Facilitates and coordinates preliminary meetings to discuss new research initiatives or opportunities

– Prepares proposals, and assembles biographical sketches and other administrative components

– Duplicates, packages and mails the proposal

Federal Contracts

– Assembles administrative components, such as past performance, travel policies, etc.

– Develops the Small Business Subcontracting Plan based upon the final budget• Identifies small businesses that can provide the necessary services or products

required by the contract

– Reviews budgets for accuracy and compliance– Coordinates all production related activities; duplicates, packages and

mails proposal– Assists with Final Proposal Revisions (FPR) , Best and Final Offers

(BAFO) and helps respond to NIH inquiries

Project Management

• Tailored to the specific needs of the investigator • Administrative expertise and guidance on organizing and

preparing proposals• Provide information about PSOM resources available for

research projects– Template language– Current documentation on centers, institutes and facilities– Updated information on building activities, campus maps

• Contact program officers with questions• Work with PI, co-investigators and staff to compile all

required aspects of proposal in a timely fashion

Grant Writing and Editorial Services

• Technical copy edit– to detect errors in spelling, punctuation and syntax and verify non-

scientific facts, dates and statistics • Adherence to formatting specifications

– Fonts, margins, figure placement, references• Comprehensive edit

– To improve clarity and readability and to ensure that all funding agency requirements have been met

– Provide integration of distinct projects to create a cohesive proposal • Response to study section critique

– Read revised proposal against this critique to be sure that all questions have been addressed

Letters of Support

• Draft letters of support– Institutional – Collaborators, consultants and advisory boards,

internal & external• Route through institutional channels for

review and signature• Follow-up with co-investigators, collaborators

& consultants to insure timely receipt of signed letters

Biographical Sketches and Other Templates

• Formatting of NIH biographical sketches– Review for

• Compliance with guidelines (fonts, margins, current form page)• Review and edit personal statement (project appropriate)• PMCID numbers (NIH Public Access Policy)

– Creation of NIH biographical sketch from CV• Assistance with the preparation of other form pages,

including abstracts, resources, personnel report, table of contents

• Follow-up with key personnel to ensure timely receipt of biographical sketches and other required components

Budget Review

In conjunction with the departmental Business Administrator, RPD will provide secondary budget review– Review against guidelines to determine accuracy

and compliance– For Federal Contracts, RPD can secure quotes for• Clinical supplies, travel expenses and other direct costs

included in the Small Business Subcontracting Plan

Additional RPD Services

RPD has a broad range of services beyond the coordination, editing and preparation of grant proposal and federal contracts.

Funding Opportunity Notices

• Disseminate funding opportunity notices to departmental chairs & center and institute directors for distribution to appropriate faculty

• Work one-on-one with faculty to tailor funding opportunity notices targeted to a specific research focus

Research Retreats

• The PSOM supports multidisciplinary research retreats through RPD, with the goal of generating an increased number of multidisciplinary proposals and awards

• Bi-annual solicitation announcement & application instructions

• Requests that include a plan for submitting a multidisciplinary proposal for extramural funding will be given priority

• RPD provides expertise in retreat organization

PSOM Digital Signage &

Research Web CalendarRPD manages requests for the PSOM research electronic signage boards, as well as the PSOM research web calendar.

• Announcements and flyers sent via email

– Invited speakers– Retreats– Seminar series– Special events– Thesis defenses

• RPD will check for accuracy and post for the allotted time period• Announcements can be cross-posted to the research web calendar

The Office of Research Program Development

ContactOffice of Research Program DevelopmentUniversity of PennsylvaniaPerelman School of Medicine322 Anatomy-Chemistry BuildingPhiladelphia, PA 19104-6061

Telephone: 215-898-0132 (General)Fax: 215-898-0993RPD@mail.med.upenn.edu

Elizabeth R. BienDirectorTelephone: 215-898-2726E-mail: biene@mail.med.upenn.edu

http://www.med.upenn.edu/rpd

Kate Musselman Grant Writer and Scientific Editor Telephone: 215-898-2754E-mail: musselmk@mail.med.upenn.edu

Stephanie OramContracts ManagerTelephone: 215-898-0273E-mail: oram@mail.med.upenn.edu

Tammy GowansStaff AssistantTelephone: 215-573-5817E-mail: tgowans@mail.med.upenn.edu

Constance WeinsteinAdministrative CoordinatorTelephone: 215-898-0132E-mail: clw@mail.med.upenn.edu