Expanding the role of the DRA:

Moving from and Island culture to a global community

Leadership Project

NCURA Region VI & VII 2010 Spring Meeting

April 18-21, 2010

MenteeDerick Jones- Medical Genetics Institute

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Mentor

Debbie Caulfield

University of California San Francisco

The Departmental Research Administrator (DRA) assists and advises the PI (Principal Investigator) in pre-award activities in accordance with:

• Sponsor’s terms and conditions,

• applicable regulations and

• institutional policies.

What is the Role of a DRA?

The DRA assists the PI in compliance with post-award activities in accordance with:

• Terms and conditions,

• Regulations and

• Institutional policies.

What is the Role of a DRA?

The DRA is a “Cradle to Grave” pre- and post- award management position.

The DRA is responsible for monitoring the compliance and allowableness of expenses for all funded research.

What is the Role of a DRA?

DRAs are the primary interface with the scientific staff members that are responsible for sponsored project conduct. 

Because DRAs are “on the ground,” they have an important understanding of issues a central administrator may not or cannot know. 

What is the Role of a DRA?

An experienced and competent DRA is an asset to both his/her assigned PIs and Central Administration’s pre- and post-award offices.

What is the Role of a DRA?

The DRA is one of the most important players in Research Administration Operations

What is the Role of a DRA?

YouAre

in Grant Administration

What is the Role of a DRA?

Your Importance does not eliminate the challenges and hurdles associated with

getting your job done, especially when you are a one person office.

What is the Role of a DRA?

In order to be a successful DRA:

Understand your value to your organization

Understand your limitations Determine your strengths Identify your weaknesses

What is the Role of a DRA?

You are a DRA in a one person office but you have the ability to expand your network of

Staying on Track

Develop key relationships throughout your organization.

• Introduce yourself to others in your organization and let them know your needs

• Network within your resource community.

• Please and thank you go

long way.

Staying on Track

The DRA must have relationships with:

• Other DRAs

• Central Administration

• Prime award office and officials

• Purchasing

• Finance/accounts payable

• Human resources

• Information technology

Staying on Track

For many DRAs, life is lived in a bubble on remote deparmental islands. The DRA must become part of a global and local Reseach

community in order to maximize the knowledge basis at their disposal

The need for Community

For many DRAs, life is lived in a bubble on remote deparmental islands. The DRA must become part of a global and local Reseach

community in order to maximize the knowledge basis at their disposal

There is an overwhelming need for the DRA to have interaction with others in their roles in

order to move departments from operating as ‘mom and pop” entities into a conglomerated

body of research knowledge

The need for Community

In order to meet the need for community among DRAs, I propose

• The creation of Department Research Administrators Work groups.

The Proposal

The DRA group can benefit an organization by:

• Becoming better trained staff who are current with industry shifts

• Simplifying communcations while bridging the historical divides between Investigators and Central Administration

• Having invested partners in the Research enterprise operations of a organization

The Benefit

The focus of the group is to:

• Promote commonality in business practices.

• Shared knowledge base • Cross-departmental training.

The Benefit

The DRA group meeting is essential to the future growth of an organization.

The DRA is your institutions first line of defense for compliance.

The DRA is where the rubber meets the road. An investment in them coupled with training, will become the life force of any research organization.

In Conclusion