Fostering a robust research, innovation, and creative research enterprise focused on the development of new ideas and platforms is key to our success. We must reduce real and perceived barriers to conducting investigator-initiated research and team-based projects across the university.
3.1 Improve and expand facilities
- Received certificate of occupancy for the North Florida Innovation Lab building and prepared for grand opening.
- Completed conceptual design phase for the FSU Health academic health research building planned for the TMH Campus
- Initiated a space policy and committee for Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB).
- Secured $2.5 M in HRSA funding for simulation and VR equipment to be used for educational and research purposes in our Nursing program at the new FSU Health Tallahassee Center.
- Secured a $98.4 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. to develop and build new aerospace and manufacturing facility in Panama City.
- Provided a parking solution for faculty needing to perform research during football Saturdays.
- Broke ground on a new FSU Health Facility.
- Completed construction on the Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building (IRCB), and researchers have begun occupying the facility.
- Invested in a new mechanical cage washer and automated bedding dispenser in the shared-use Biomedical Research Facility vivarium to increase capacity and modernize operations.
- Updated the FSU radioactive materials/radiation safety manual.
- Leased clinical operations space for FSU Health Panama City facility.
- Secured space to house health clinical facing operations on Phillips Road.
- Created a program to provide parking for research personnel to access campus on FSU gamedays.
- Secured collaboration space for advanced manufacturing equipment for InSPIRE PC.
- Completed implementation of lab safety measures at IGNITE Tallahassee preparing the building for research clients.
3.2 Streamline and enhance administrative support systems
- Developed a pooled fringe rate to reduce administrative burden in budgeting.
- Added an additional research attorney and engaged two contracts attorneys to address the growing number of contracts and improve contract review time.
- Increased the CRC Small Grant Program to $5K, added subventions, and simplified the application and approval processes.
- Created a parallel portal to facilitate competitive research funding programs beyond the CRC.
- Began using Teams to internally negotiate and mark up sponsored research agreements to speed up review times.
- Initiated the use of Veterinary Verification and Consultation procedure to streamline review and approval of some ACUC amendment submissions.
- Formed a working group with TMH to help streamline IRB processes when collaborating.
- Streamlined hiring efforts through the development of training materials in RAMP.
- Created standardized templates for master agreements, NDAs for diverse use cases, customized MTAs for specific companies, and equipment transfer agreements to streamline contracting processes.
- Updated the Contractual Language Tips, the internal contracting guidance document, to improve negotiation efficiency.
- Created a financial dashboard for sponsored project overview.
- Reduced average approval time by 7–23% across three ACUC submission types in 2025 vs. 2024
- Leveraged Microsoft Teams to streamline agreement reviews and negotiations between central office grant administration and ancillary reviewers.
- Developed a worksheet to assist investigators with ACUC protocol development and a protocol checklist for ACUC members to promote review consistency.
- Implemented a new Commercialization input and tracking database including a streamlined Invention and Works disclosure form. 58% increase in disclosures in fiscal year 2025.
3.3 Enhance training programs
- Offered 21 Research Development Workshops for Faculty in FY2024 with 1,078 FSU attendees.
- Offered 27 Research Administration educational opportunities in FY2024 with 1,308 attendees.
- Provided a 4-hour grant writing workshop “Funding Your Vision” in fall, 2024.
- Providing ongoing SciENcv training to investigators.
- Implemented and made available the “Researcher Pathway” to the FSU research community.
- Developed online modules for NSF and NIH awards. Now available to community.
- Initiated monthly lunch and learns to assist faculty and staff in ACUC protocol development.
- Initiated monthly wet-lab opportunities to provide technical training on animal handling and procedures to animal users.
- Hosted or co-hosted 12 seminars and networking events with a focus on tech entreprenuership topics (IP, funding, patents, SBIRs) to the University and Tallahassee community.
- Co-hosted masterclass with TiE Master Class with TiE Tampa Bay, a chapter of TiE Global entreneurepurial association in April 2025.
- Launched the Laboratory Animal Resources Partner Certification Program, a voluntary training program for research personnel.
- Held Human Subjects Protection lunch and learn series for medical students.
- Provided core compentencies checklists for human subjects research staff.
- Held a workshop on Best Practices for Engaging with Clinical Partners with over 45 participants.
- Hosted 4 virtual orientation sessions for new and returning animal users.
- Provided 9 research administration educational opportuntities with 523 attendees (Jan-June 2025).
- Provided 11 research development workshops with 878 registrants (Jan-June 2025).
3.4 Increase and maintain shared resources
- Initiated a Chemical Inventory database (EH&S).
- Updated the scientific equipment database. Please send your equipment that can be shared across our campus to aspire@fsu.edu!
- Began effort to centralize management of research software inventory, licensing, and procurement.
- Created an Amazon Web Services Matching Credits Program to launch in Spring.
- Began hiring process for a Research Administrative Services unit to bolster departmental representative support.
- Procured and installed shared lab equipment in IGNITE Tallahassee to support emerging startup companies.
- Migrated IT professionals under the ITS umbrella for centralized/standardized management.
- Initiated grant-related software services review to identify services that may impact campus operations if discontinued.
- Created an inventory of shared research software (working independently with departments).
- Formed partnerships with Amazon to provide introduction and training on AI and Cloud Services, known as" AI/Cloud Research Days".
- Migrated RedCAP to ITS to expand access to the entire campus.
