Welcome to UTSA

From the Vice President for Research

The mission of the Office of Vice President for Research (VPR) at the University of Texas at San Antonio is to promote all aspects of research and other creative endeavors among all colleges, research institutes and collaborating partners. This includes strategic planning and implementation of research thrusts, building infrastructures to support research, creating policies to provide an environment conducive to collaborative scholarship, and promoting the importance and visibility of the institution's research activities. [more]

Robert W. Gracy, Ph.D.
Short Bio

The office manages a variety of research programs, including seed funds for pilot projects, minority research grants, initiatives for commercialization of intellectual property, and assists in local and state economic development through interactions with public and private parties, the military community and industry.

In order to accomplish this mission, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) supports and advises the entire academic community in securing external support for sponsored programs and collaborations. OSP reviews, negotiates, approves, and provides administrative oversight related to proposals and establishment of awards on behalf of The University of Texas at San Antonio in accordance with all applicable policies, and regulations.

The mission of the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) is to promote the ethical conduct of research. ORIC serves the UTSA research community by providing independent oversight in coordinating institution-wide research compliance policy, procedures and training through partnering with researchers. ORIC works with researchers to navigate the complex maze of federal, state, and local regulations that impact research undertaken at academic institutions. ORIC facilitates research integrity in the following areas: the use of humans and animals in research, biosafety, time and effort reporting, conflict of interest, export controls, and the responsible conduct of research.

News & Events

New Web Based System for UTSA Researchers to File Conflict of Interest Disclosures Online

The Office of the Vice President for Research at UTSA has introduced a new electronic system to provide full lifecycle support for conflict of interest disclosures for researchers and institutional officials - from initial submission and modifications to annual review.

All UTSA researchers are required to file their annual disclosures by February 15th, 2010.

Quick Facts

How is Research defined?

A systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed or developed to contribute to generalizable knowledge (45 CFR 46.102(d)) including behavioral and social-sciences research. This term encompasses basic and applied research and product development utilizing either quantitative or qualitative methods.

Why must financial interests be disclosed?

The University of Texas at San Antonio is committed to ensuring that research and scholarly activities are carried out under the highest standards of ethical conduct and to preserving the public's trust in the integrity of the activities the University undertakes.

Who must disclose financial interests?

All UTSA Researchers (employees) engaged in funded or unfunded research as well as sponsored activities/programs so this includes post docs, graduate assistants, and others having direct responsibility for the design, conduct or reporting of research, and any other person specified by a Department Chair or Dean. Disclosures include information on financial interests for themselves and their spouse/domestic partner, dependent children and other persons in their household. This includes those individuals who will be named in an informed consent form for projects involving human research subjects.

Before you can file the annual disclosure with the Conflict of Interest Electronic Disclosure system, you must complete the mandatory compliance acknowledgements at: http://mytraining.utsa.edu

If you have any questions, please contact the eRA Help Desk at: vprhelp@utsa.edu or 458-7805.

Spring 2010 STCEID Seminar Series Presents

"New Technologies in Using Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine Vectors"

SPEAKER:	Dr. Roy Curtiss III Professor of Life Sciences National Academy of Sciences Member Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Arizona State University
DATE/TIME:	Friday, February 12, 2010, 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.
LOCATION:	BSE 2.102

Continental Breakfast will be served from 8:15 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. at the BSE Atrium.

Click here to download the seminar flier.

SALSI Proposal Submission Deadline

The San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI) has consolidated its grant funding cycles for 2010. The next and final submission deadline for Research Enhancement Fund and Innovative Education Initiative proposals is Monday, March 1, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

As with our earlier round, proposals are for twelve (12) month budget periods. Proposers should factor about three months from the submission date for the start of their periods of performance. We recommend a tentative start date of June 1, 2010 for this submission cycle.

As always, please refer to the SALSI website: http://www.utsalsi.org for more information.

FY2009 Research and Sponsored Programs Expenditures

FY2009 Research and Sponsored Expenditures is now available online at:

http://www.utsa.edu/grants/images/GrantsContracts/Stats%20FY%2009.pdf

New HOP Plicy Approved by the UT System

The UT System has given final approval for the following new policy:

Chapter 10.09 - Research and Other Sponsored Projects Data or Record Ownership and Retention

URL:http://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter10/10-9.html

UT System Awards New Round of Commercialization Grants

The University of Texas System today (Jan. 12) announced awards totaling $394,000 to commercialize technologies developed at eight UT System institutions.

Among the discoveries is a wireless device produced by researchers at UT San Antonio that monitors breathing, which could be used for SIDS, epilepsy and sleep apnea patients. Another discovery, made by researchers at the UT Health Science Center at Houston, could lead to the development of a test using salivary biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer.

Read the news release

New Training Classes on Research Administration and Research Compliance

The Office of the Vice President for Research is pleased to announce a number of new classroom courses on Research Administration and Research Compliance topics being offered in Spring 2010. Please refer to TX Class (Access through the UTSA Training Website at http://www.utsa.edu/hr/Training/index.cfm) to view detailed class descriptions and class times, and register for classes. Contact Rachel Graves at 458-4601 or the instructor listed in TX Class with any additional questions on specific class offerings.

Click here to access the complete list of the new training classes.

NIH Announces Changes to Submitting Applications in 2010

If you are planning to submit an NIH application soon, please follow these 3 steps:

Return to the updated Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or reissued parent announcement and read the new language.
Read the new application instructions carefully
Be sure to choose the correct forms based on the application due date:

	Until January 25, 2010	On and after January 25, 2010
Electronic SF 424 (R&R)	ADOBE-FORMS-A	ADOBE-FORMS-B
Paper PHS 398	Revision date "11/2007"	Revision date "06/2009"

Note also that reissued Parent FOAs with new Enhancing Peer Review language with links to the new, restructured application forms are being posted according to this schedule.

For those of you submitting an unsolicited R01 application, the parent R01 announcement (PA-10-067) was issued on December 17, 2009. Read the Guide Notice for more information

Enhancing Peer Review Website has received several updates and new resources to help applicants with the transition:

Updates to the Restructured application page
A short video overview of the changes
Updated FAQs
Updated list of policy notices
New One-Page Updates and PowerPoint presentations

FY 2011/2012 TRAC and CRSGP

The Office of the Vice President for Research is pleased to announce the FY 2011/2012 Tenure-track Research Award Competition (TRAC) and the Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program (CRSGP). For questions on either program, please call Jim Massaro, the Assistant Vice President for Research Development, at 210-458-6691, or e-mail jim.massaro@utsa.edu.

For CRSGP, VPR is providing up to $110,000 (contingent upon state funding) in grants to start new and innovative collaborative and multidisciplinary research programs for research in one or a combination of the following areas: health, security, energy and the environment, human and social development or sustainability. The lead PI must be a UTSA tenure or tenure-track faculty member. Co-PI.s must be from outside the department, college, center or institute of the lead PI. Proposals will be accepted in two categories: 1.) Proposals from multiple departments within a single college and 2.) Proposals from multiple UTSA colleges, centers, or institutes or a single UTSA organization with collaborators from one or more outside organizations (e.g. Southwest Research Institute, UTHSCSA or industry). Two awards within each category are anticipated. Maximum awards for Category 1 will be $25,000 and maximum awards for Category 2 will be $30,000. Proposals are due 5pm, March 8th, 2010. Proposals will include a completed application, a budget for each different institutional PI, statement of work for outside organizations, five page narrative and both PI's CV. (See guidelines)

TRAC awards promote new and innovative research and scholarship of the highest quality by full time, tenure - track, junior faculty (Assistant Professors). Up to one hundred and thirty two thousand dollars ($132,000) will be provided (contingent upon state funding). Awards from $5,000 up to $22,000 will be awarded for research in one or a combination of the following areas: health, security, energy and the environment, human and social development or sustainability. These five areas represent disciplines in which UTSA is further developing expertise and activities and are integral to the strategic plan. Proposals must be received at the Assistant Vice-President for Research Development's Office (MS 4.03.55) by 5pm, March 8th, 2010. Proposals will include a completed application, budget, five page narrative and the PI's CV. (See guidelines)

NOTE: PIs cannot submit for both the TRAC and CRSGP the same year. Last year's TRAC and CRSGP award winners are not eligible for this year's award. PIs may submit for both SALSI and either the TRAC or CRSGP but if selected may only win one.

FY 2011/2012 Tenure-track Research Award Competition (TRAC)

TRAC Guidelines
TRAC Application Form
TRAC Budget Form

FY 2011/2012 Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program (CRSGP)

CRSGP Guidelines
CRSGP Application Form
CRSGP Budget Form

Department of Homeland Security Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has online applications available for three education programs:

The DHS Scholarship Program is intended for students interested in pursuing the basic science and technology innovations that can be applied to the DHS Mission. The program supports students at the undergraduate level. The award includes full tuition and fees and a monthly stipend plus a 10-week summer internship doing research in a DHS-related area.
The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides a 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant areas at various federal research facilities. Participants receive a stipend of $500 each week plus transportation expenses to/from their internship location.
The DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions provides research opportunities to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions in research areas that support the mission and goals of DHS. The program supports research teams composed of a faculty member and up to two students (undergraduate or graduate level) for a 10-week summer internship doing research at a DHS Center of Excellence. The award includes a stipend plus transportation expenses to/from the internship location.

For more information, please visit DHS Education Programs website at:
http://www.orau.gov/dhseducationprograms/

We want to hear from you!

In a continuous effort to better serve the UTSA research community, the Office of the Vice President for Research is soliciting feedback as an aid to provide ideas and ways for improving our website.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this short online feedback form to let us know what you think. Thank you very much for your time and support!

VPR Online Feedback Form