Additional University Research Support

The University Radiation Safety Division (412-624-2728) oversees the safe use of radioactive isotopes and other sources of ionizing radiation and ensures compliance with federal and state regulations and with institutional licenses. Procedures for obtaining authorizations for the use of sources of ionizing radiation may be found at the Radiation Safety Website.

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is available to assist the research community in all matters related to the safe conduct of research, including the control of hazards such as chemicals, biological materials including blood-borne pathogens, lasers, and fire. The University’s Safety Manual is found at the EH&S website and may be requested in hard copy from EH&S.

The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a comprehensive suite of services for Pitt innovators, from protecting intellectual property to the commercialization of new discoveries through licensing and new enterprise development. The Institute also provides a wealth of educational programming, mentoring, and networking for Pitt faculty, students, and partners. The Innovation Institute works to create, support, and sustain a culture and environment of innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration on-campus and off-campus for the benefit of the University community, the region and society.

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is the authorized University business office charged with reviewing, submitting, and endorsing research proposals and budgets for grants and contracts to sponsoring agencies, whether governmental or private. Material transfer agreements, data use agreements, and non-disclosure agreements are also processed through this office. The director of the Office of Sponsored Programs must approve and sign all such documents as the authorized University signatory. The functional areas supported by Office of Sponsored Programs staff include information services, project and proposal development assistance, and grants and contracts administration for pre-award and selected post-award tasks.

The Office of Research, Health Sciences, OORHS, mission is to foster both the emerging and the established research enterprises within and across the schools of the Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. These schools are Dental Medicine, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health. OORHS serves the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences community by:

• Providing Information about research funding announcements, federal and University policy changes, and the latest scientific news
• Administering institutional grants programs, such as the Competitive Medical Research Fund (CMRF) and the Health Science Bridge Funding program
• Providing editorial assistance, grantsmanship advice, and scientific review of grant applications for Health Science faculty members
• Facilitating the preparation of multi-investigator and multi-disciplinary grant applications
• Providing guidance to new research faculty in the Schools of the Health Sciences
• Fostering the development and use of research resources and core facilities

Issues or concerns related to biomedical research should be brought to the attention of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Interdisciplinary Research, Health Sciences or its staff.

The Investigator-Sponsored IND and IDE Support Program (IIS) assists researchers in the development and submission of investigator-sponsored Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for acceptance by the FDA and in the conduct of clinical research under such FDA-accepted applications and exemptions.

Pitt’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) supports transformation of scientific research and clinical discoveries into modern medical techniques that improve lives. CTSI works directly with researchers in collaboration with regulatory agencies to navigate all necessary regulatory pathways, at any stage of their research. CTSI-supported programs and resources extend to all six of Pitt’s schools of the health sciences — and through community engagement efforts — to the Pittsburgh region. Through the establishment of 12 Core divisions, CTSI is building institutional infrastructure, including educational, programmatic, facility, and equipment resources to support a wide range of clinical and translational research.

The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Center provides education on the ethical standards and responsible practices essential for successful scientific research. At any step in the research process, researchers may need to address ethical issues in a thoughtful, responsible manner. The CTSI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Center serves as a resource for researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Our objective is to provide education so researchers learn to effectively recognize issues and avoid research misconduct while informing them of the resources that are available to support research. The RCR Center offers workshops that cover subject matter/topics as described in the guidance provided by NIH.

The purpose of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Support (OSPARS) is to facilitate the implementation and provided institutional oversight of the conduct of industry-initiated and sponsored clinical trials within UPMC. OSPARS facilitates sponsored programs and clinical trials by:

• Assisting in reviewing and endorsing proposals
• Negotiating agreements
• Accepting and authorizing awards
• Interpreting sponsor rules and guidelines
• Providing post-award administration services

All questions and submissions may be directed to OSPARS@upmc.edu.

The Office of Research Protections (ORP), is the umbrella entity encompassing various units that oversee and facilitate the conduct of ethical and regulation-compliant research. The ORP aids investigators in designing and performing research studies so they meet current ethical standards and conform to all applicable laws and regulations. The units that comprise the ORP accomplish this goal through education, prospective review of research protocols, consultations with investigators, and monitoring of ongoing studies.