One university has attempted to improve the quality of proposals and proposal reviews for internal grant competitions by allowing external peer review of grant proposals, with the option of modifying the proposals or otherwise responding to the critiques, before final review by the internal committees making the grants. (MSE)

When conflict-of-interest issues affect research programs and sponsored activities, research administrators make take several crucial roles: participant/advisor in forming, implementing, and overseeing relevant institutional policies and guidelines; counselor to develop ways of avoiding conflict-of-interest situations; and mediator-expeditor for…

A pilot program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City included creation of a part-time administrative position to enhance cooperative ventures between the university and the pharmaceutical industry through placement of clinical trials among academic units with interdisciplinary research programs in the health sciences. Sponsored funding levels…

Issues in sponsored research are addressed: institutional commitment and targeted budget allocations, administrative and faculty commitment--structure and support services; sponsored research and institutional characteristics; and faculty development programs--research-oriented. (MLW)

The various long-term factors and strategies used to promote sponsored research program development at the University of Missouri-Kansas City during a five-year phase are analyzed. Implementation of a set of specific initiatives is cited as a major factor in establishing an institutional climate for change. (Author/MSE)