title: Model for a university-based clinical research development infrastructure.
abstract: The Research Development Core (RDC) is housed within the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) at the University of Michigan (U-M). Established in 2006, RDC provides no-cost, in-person consultations to help U-M investigators strengthen their grant proposals. RDC offers investigators feedback and critique on all aspects of their study design, plus partnerships, funding mechanisms, and future directions. This article describes RDC's model and provides data describing the success of its services.RDC is composed of a multidisciplinary team of professionals in grant development. It comprises two senior faculty codirectors from the U-M Medical School, two senior biostatisticians, outside faculty content experts, and RDC administrative staff. Investigators contact RDC to request a consultation and submit advance grant materials for review by the RDC team. During the consultation, investigators explain their project and identify challenges. The RDC team and additional experts offer feedback that is captured in meeting notes and provided to investigators. RDC commitments beyond the meetings are implemented and carefully tracked. Investigators may also request grant editing, budgeting, or proposal submission assistance. Investigators using RDC have been awarded $44.5 million since 2011.The demand for RDC consultations doubled from 2010 to 2011 and reached a high of 131 consultations in 2012. Investigator feedback has been positive: 80% reported that RDC had a strong impact on their proposal, and over 90% indicated that they would recommend RDC to colleagues. MICHR is committed to providing investigators with RDC services to better ensure strong grant applications and successful research careers.
authors.affiliation: Ms. Havermahl is manager, Research Development Core, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. LaPensee is grant writer, Research Development Core, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Williams is professor, Departments of Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Clauw is professor, Departments of Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Parker was research professor of biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the time of writing. He is now director of biometry, Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and visiting professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Downey was a grant and contract specialist, Research Development Core, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the time of writing. He is now fiscal technician, Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort, South Carolina. Dr. Liu is study development specialist, Research Development Core, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Myles was manager, Biostatistics Program, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the time of writing. He is now global group lead, Biometrics and Statistical Sciences, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Havermahl
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: LaPensee
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clauw
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myles
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D056808:Biostatistics; D002017:Budgets; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D017145:Models, Educational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014956:Writing