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.
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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.
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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
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Maintaining TRACS, an administrative database which tracks information about proposals submitted and awards made to the University of Chicago.
Electronic Research Administration (eRA), Training and Communications
The Section of eRA, Training, and Communications provides training resource to campus and ANL on topics related to research administration. This section is developing a web-based certification program for on-campus research administrators; they meet with new administrators to orient them to the University and research administration in general. This section works with department/units when there are specific problems or applications which require additional support. eRA, Training, and Communications also oversees the multitude of electronic research administration submission platforms, maintains and creates user accounts, and provides desk top assistance relating to application submissions. In addition, URA releases a bi-weekly newsletter on current funding opportunities, announcements, funding tools and training. This section will staff the new eRA enterprise wide project. To contact this section, email ERA-HELP@lists.uchicago.edu.
URA is located at 6030 South Ellis Ave, Room 114. 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.
