Author: Ashley Myers

  • MTA/DUA Processing Enhancements Continue

    In the past six months as part of the ORA’s commitment to process improvement, the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) took significant steps to address higher than average turnaround time in reviewing and executing unfunded research contracts like Material Transfer and Data Use agreements. In working with the ORA Dragon Team, OTT implemented a number of new or improved strategies for these contracts including: a renewed push to…

  • Increase in Personnel Density for Research Laboratories

    On November 30, personnel density for research laboratories will be increased from one person per 250 square feet per one person to one person per 150 square feet.  This increase in occupancy density continues to require the use of face coverings and maintaining a minimum distance of 6-feet between people.  This physical distancing requirement is…

  • Environmental Health and Safety: Year In Review

    The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) has the mission of providing comprehensive environmental and occupational health and safety support services to our research community and other Emory stakeholders with an aim of protecting people, environment and reputation by ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.  This past year’s activities contributed to the mission of ORA and…

  • Consultant Research Recommendations Drive ORA Process Improvements

    As part of the ORA’s ongoing efforts in continuous improvement, all offices are actively implementing cross-functional initiatives suggested by external consulting firms. Recent work with McKinsey and Huron produced more than 160 operational recommendations. The scope of these recommendations extends from simple changes to cross-office policy overhauls. Accordingly, the suggestions have been vetted and assigned priority levels for implementation. The ORA is proud to announce that more than 30 of the recommendations have been fulfilled. …

  • Uniform Guidance Changes Effective November 12, 2020

    Recently the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued updates to Uniform Guidance 2 C.F.R Part 200 which become effective November 12, 2020.  The revised guidance if applicable for awards issued after this date.  Previous awards are subject to the existing uniform guidance provisions.  The UG is primarily directed to federal agencies.  OMB expects all…

  • AHA Transitioning Proposal/Award Management from Grants@Heart to Proposal Central

    Starting in May 2020 American Heart Association (AHA) announced that it would be transitioning its proposal/award management portal from their own proprietary portal Grants@Heart to Proposal Central. As such, future reporting will need to be submitted in Proposal Central. For financial reports for research awards, this transition presented some challenges to our existing internal workflow…

  • ORA Mission Metrics Project Moving Forward

    The Office of Research Administration (ORA) has worked diligently to bring metrics to the forefront, as a priority for this office.  Over the past fiscal year, we reached out for input and developed a process to identify and report on metrics that matter most to campus.  The ORA Mission Metrics Project was tasked with establishing…

  • eIACUC Upgrade Completed

    The message below was sent on behalf of the Emory Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Dear Colleagues, We just wanted to let you know that the eIACUC upgrade has been completed and the site is back on line and available. IMPORTANT NOTES: Just as a reminder “Extensible Help” now is available! This can be…

  • New Childcare App for Emory Faculty, Staff, and Students

    The message below was sent on behalf of the Emory Work-Life Resource Center: In support of working parents, Emory is offering a new resource for childcare support: Komae, a cooperative childcare app.  This app provides a flexible management option for Emory parents. Komae enables parents to identify and vet families with similar parenting styles and…

  • ORA Quality Improvement Spotlight: The Dragon Team Continues to Push Improvements for ORA

    The Dragon Team has been busy developing, managing and implementing quality improvement initiatives.  The ORA Dragon Team consists of Inger Garnett, Director of Strategic Operations, as well as Sharon Jones and Julie Flores (Strategic Operations Associates).  This team has been diligently working to identify gaps while assisting with improvements that have lasting impact and can…