About University Research Administration (URA)

Overview of URA Mission

URA provides review and institutional endorsement of all applications for sponsored funding including clinical studies/trials and Material Transfer Agreements; URA reviews, and negotiates when necessary, awards prior to acceptance, and accepts awards officially on behalf of the University. URA maintains a program of sponsored project information services and data for University faculty and administrators. See Proposal Submission & Award Acceptance and Authorized Signature.

URA reports to the Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories. Its two sections are under the direction of the Associate Vice President for Research Administration. These sections are: (1) Grants and Contracts Management and (2) Information Services.

URA Services

Grants and Contracts Management

  • Grants and contracts managers review each proposal to the federal, state, and local governments, foundations, corporations, and associations prior to submission. They verify the accuracy of budget and administrative information provided in applications; ensure that commitments made in proposals can be honored; and confirm that proposals and awards meet sponsor and University guidelines. They work directly with faculty members and University administrators in this process. URA is the authorized institutional signatory for all proposals and awards.

  • URA grants and contracts managers negotiate grants and contracts on behalf of the University; assist in the preparation of requests for additional funding, extensions in time, and changes in scope or principal investigator; coordinate the submission of interim project reports; and coordinate all steps needed to terminate an award.

  • URA is the authorized institutional signatory for all Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs). Sharing of materials such as cell lines, transgenic animals, and human/animal tissues are handled through MTAs. URA negotiates and executes MTAs on behalf of University faculty and staff.

  • URA is authorized negotiator and signatory for clinical studies. Faculty are urged to consult with the Office of Clinical Research for additional assistance with company-sponsored trials.

Information Services

The Information Services section coordinates sponsored project information services for University faculty and staff. Services include:

  • Assisting faculty members in identifying potential sources of federal and nonfederal sponsored support using the Illinois Researcher Information System (IRIS), the World Wide Web, and other resources;

  • Maintaining the URA Web site; and

  • Maintaining TRACS, an administrative database which tracks information about proposals submitted and awards made to the University of Chicago.

URA conducts a series of training courses on grants and contracts management and identifying potential sources of sponsored funds.

URA is located on the third floor of the University's bookstore building, 970 East 58th Street. Our main phone number is (773) 702-8669. Our fax number is (773) 702-2142. Feel free to call us or to come by the office.

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