Category: ORA

  • 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…

  • 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. …

  • 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…

  • Emory COVID-19 Prevention, Tracing, and COVID Positive (COVID+) Response During Return to Campus for Research

    In response to returning to campus for research, Emory University has put processes and protocols into place to prepare Faculty, Staff, and Researchers to return to campus and how to maintain a healthy environment while on campus. A COVID-19 Dashboard was also recently launched to provide accurate and timely updates of all positive case reports…

  • ORA Office Overview

    The Office for Research Administration encompasses many individual offices, each of which retain expertise in different areas of the research process. Your first point of contact will usually be your local RAS representative. They will help you determine which of the other touchpoints are necessary to submit a grant application, conduct a clinical trial, or…

  • ORA Workflow Adapts to Accommodate COVID’s Influence on Research

    During these unprecedented times, Emory researchers are working hard to understand the coronavirus as quickly as possible through research ranging from vaccine clinical trials to basic science exploration of the virus’s properties. Through hard work and flexibility, many ORA individuals are working hard to facilitate quick coronavirus research and ensure that other research operations continue…

  • Rapid Response Expedites COVID-19 Related Studies at Emory

    In January 2020, the Georgia CTSA Quality & Efficiency program finalized their SOP for the Rapid Response Team to obtain fast-track approvals across the Emory system. This new SOP allows for the coordination of needed approvals within 48 hours. The process was a collaboration, with Office for Clinical Research (OCR) leading Emory’s Rapid Response Team…

  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: ORA Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    March 11, 2020, The following message is sent on behalf of Dr. Deborah Bruner, Senior VP for Research and Dr. Robert Nobles, VP for Research Administration Dear Colleagues, To follow up on the message we shared recently (can be found here), we wanted to provide you with additional guidance regarding existing travel restrictions. New CDC…

  • ORA Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    Link to Faculty and CBO COVID-19 Webinar from 3/16/2020 UPDATE- March 11, 2020: Additional information regarding the below message can be found here. March 9, 2020, The following message is sent on behalf of Dr. Deborah Bruner, Senior VP for Research and Dr. Robert Nobles, VP for Research Administration Dear Colleagues, The Senior Vice President…

  • Continuous Improvement: Spotlight on RAS

    In January, the Office for Research Administration released the Huron report to the Emory community: an in-depth assessment of the research life cycle at Emory. The major strengths identified by the Huron team reflect the strength of ORA’s biggest asset: its people. As a whole, leaders and staff are committed to identifying areas for improvement…