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Implement effective models for financial sustainability and regulatory processes for animal welfare, research ethics and clinical trials to ensure proper operations and compliance.

The Clinical Trials Funding Expansion Initiative Pilot was launched in 2024 to support clinician scientists, clinicians, health researchers, and other relevant researchers in developing investigator-initiated clinical trial proposals. 

The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ made the decision to operationally consolidate animal facilities in July 2024, with full consolidation effective January 1, 2025.

After its successful implementation streamlining research ethics board (REB) reviews between researchers at the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, the University of Calgary, and community physicians, the was enabled across provincial boundaries in May 2024, connecting ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ REBs with five REBs under the University of British Columbia. As a first in class exemplar enabling an interprovincial single REB review, we will continue to explore expansion to additional health authority REBs and the UBC Cancer REB in the coming year.

Support researchers in grant development with funding for activities such as management of proposal development processes, grant writing and editing.

The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) invested in comprehensive development support, including funding and coordinated proposal reviews, to applicants to the 2025 CFI-IF and NFRF-T competitions. 

The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) invested in comprehensive development support for the CBRF and BRIF applications that resulted in the establishment in 2024 of the PRAIRIE HUB for Pandemic Preparedness led by the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

The Research Partner Network (RPNet) is part of an integrated research support model in collaboration with the colleges/faculties. RPNet offers researcher-focused and competition-specific research development and administrative support. Senior Research Partners develop and coordinate the pre-award/proposal development support offered by the Research Partners. The Manager coordinates the pre and post award support offered by the Research Administration Specialists.

Develop communication and training assets for researchers and trainees at all stages, focusing, especially on early-career researchers.

The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and launched the workshop series in December 2024 with modules on Funding Your Research, Multidisciplinary Perspectives, and Developing Your Grant Proposal. The series was designed and delivered in collaboration with the Research Partner Network, the Indigenous Research Program Officer, Safeguarding Research Office, the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Library, and researchers from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. 

The implemented three research security training modules in 2024 that were developed by the Government of Canada. This training will be required  effective September 1, 2025, for all applicants for federal research funding submitting an pursuant to the (STRAC Policy). 

The Research Partner Network (RPNet) developed and launched the Research Administration Education Series in September 2024. Sessions are offered to researchers and research administrators throughout the year online and in hybrid formats. Series 1 is focused on Research Funding and Series 2 is focused on research administration policies, procedures, and systems.

Improve, coordinate, and expand institutional researcher onboarding and support processes for administrative, operational, facilities, safety, and financial matters.

In 2024, the Research Administration Stream of the Continuous Administrative Service Improvement Program (CASIP) began work towards strengthening support for the research community by developing solutions that enable timely, value-driven administrative services that are centered on researchers' needs and enabling the university’s core business of research.

Develop a searchable database with research proposal development resources, grant examples and templates for researchers, trainees and innovators

The Research Partner Network (RPNet) maintains a grants library and funding opportunities database and provides sponsor-specific proposal tipsheets to support researchers in applying for grants.

Strategically streamline and implement institutional processes and systems for safeguarding research, technology transfer protocols, intellectual property protections, and research data management processes.

The has developed a where researchers can access information, guidance, tools and other resources, and can . The institutional approval process for Risk Assessment Forms was streamlined to allow for faster risk-based approvals. 

In 2024, VPRI collaborated with Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment (HRHSE) and Shared Services to introduce recruitment process enhancements to support hiring managers to inform decisions for hiring of roles with research requirements. The development of an optional standardized statement was integrated at the job posting stage to proactively identify any security impediments to holding federal research funding during screening. This process will enhance the hiring of research talent eligible to receive funding on behalf of the institution.  Implementation to take place in early 2025 for existing processes with further enhancements planned through technology enhancements in summer 2025.

The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) Technology Transfer Services has developed an inventor-friendly IP approach that includes a new Agreement/Inventor Portal for researchers to easily and confidentially report their inventions as a first step to determining their patentability and commercial potential. 

The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Library (UAL) provides information, guidance, tools and resources to support researchers with the effective management of data across the research lifecycle, including with respect to data management planning, data deposit, sharing and preservation. The Library’s RDM Strategies Director additionally chairs the Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s Data Management Planning Expert Group (DMPEG), which has a lead role in supporting the evolving DMP landscape and supporting researchers in meeting requirements set forth within the release in 2021.

Launched in 2023, the Institutional Research Data Management Strategy aims to cultivate a culture of responsible RDM and develop institution-wide support services for researchers.

In 2024, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada with the Data Management Planning Expert Group (DMPEG) announced the release of a new example data management plan (DMP) using the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s customized bilingual version of the recently released Alliance Simplified Template (Funding Application Stage) available within the DMP Assistant platform.

Develop resources and processes for evaluating the risks and mitigating any impacts of unauthorized disclosure of research information and data.

The Safeguarding Research Office (SRO) developed a number of to support researchers in evaluating and mitigating security risks and hired two new Implementation Support Leads to assist in the implementation of risk mitigation .