Strengthening capacity of UCT researcher community to manage NIH grants

简介（由申请人提供）：申请“国际校外研究发展奖”（IEARDA）的理由，是希望透过建立研究管理方面的人力资源能力，提高大学研究办公室的效率，以达致以下长远目标：_提高大学研究人员获得国际机构，特别是美国国立卫生研究院资助的国际竞争力；提升科技大学科研人员的科研能力；-致力提升香港科技大学的国际地位；促进非洲合作机构研究办公室的能力发展。因此，拟议的基础设施发展计划旨在实现以下目标：发展和保持NIH政策和程序的知识和专业知识；制定符合美国国立卫生研究院政策和程序的战略支持措施和流程；-按照国际奖助金管理原则，建立及维持优秀的奖助金制度；提高研究人员在准备竞争性研究资助申请方面的知识和技能。已经提出了各种干预措施作为实现上述目标的手段。这些在很大程度上围绕着国际能源署候选人在实习和远程培训期间所获得的知识和专业知识。然后，她将主要通过促进培训课程，将这些知识转移到更大的UCT研究社区。后者将侧重于(i)发展和/或完善研究人员的拨款写作技巧；（ii）提高研究人员对国际研究伦理原则的认识，以确保更多的遵守；（iii）向研究人员和拨款管理人员传授有关NIH政策、程序和流程的知识。除了向大学社区提供这些机会外，伦敦科技大学在非洲大陆的一些研究伙伴也将从上述培训活动中受益。另外的活动是编写手册和通过不同媒体分享信息。在上述工作的同时，亦会进行一些活动，以确保为实施基建发展计划（“计划”）提供有利的环境。通过让研究界和其他角色参与者参与进来，它的目的是设计内部流程和程序，以加快奖励前阶段，同时为研究人员和资助管理人员合作创造有利的环境。《计划》已列入编写手册以协助这方面的工作。在整个计划的执行过程中，将在不同的阶段和层次上进行持续的监测和评价。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The rationale for applying for an International Extramural Research Development Award (IEARDA) is to increase the efficiency of the research office at UCT by building human resource capacity in research administration in order to achieve the following long-terms goals: _ to increase the international competitiveness of UCT researchers to access grants from international agencies, in particular from the NIH; _ to promote the research capacity of UCT researchers; _ to work towards increasing UCT's international standing; and _ to contribute to developing capacity of research offices at collaborative institutions in Africa. The proposed infrastructure development plan is thus aimed at achieving the following: _ to develop and maintain knowledge of, and expertise in, NIH policies and procedures; _ to develop strategic support measures and processes in alignment with NIH policies and procedures; _ to establish and maintain excellent grantsmanship in accordance with international grant management principles; and _ to enhance researchers' knowledge of, and skills in, the preparation of competitive research grant applications. A variety of interventions has been proposed as means towards achieving the above. These revolve to a large extent around the knowledge and expertise to be gained by the IEA candidate during both the residency and distance training. She would then transfer these onto the bigger UCT research community mainly via facilitating training sessions. The latter will focus on (i) developing and/or refining researchers' grant writing skills; (ii) improving researchers' knowledge of international research ethics principles to ensure greater compliance; and (iii) imparting knowledge about NIH policies, procedures and processes to both researchers and grant administrators. Besides these opportunities being presented to the University community, some of UCT's research partners on the continent will also be afforded a change to benefit from the above-mentioned training activities. Developing manuals and sharing information through different media are additional activities. Parallel to the above, there will be activities aimed at ensuring a conducive environment for the infrastructure development plan (the Plan) to be implemented. By bringing the research community and other role-players on board, it is intended to devise internal processes and procedures that will expedite the pre-award stage while simultaneously contribute to a favourable context within which researchers and grant administrators could collaborate. Developing a manual to assist in this regard has been incorporated in the Plan. Continuous monitoring and evaluation will happen at different stages and levels throughout the implementation of the Plan.