The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“the university”) actively promotes and nourishes research as one of its primary missions; the pursuit of external sources of funds to support research through sponsored projects is one of the most important efforts of the faculty and staff of the university.
The determination of appropriate research efforts resides with individual faculty members, departmental chairs and deans. The determination of the technical merit of a solicitation is the responsibility of the sponsoring department and the appropriate dean. Faculty are allowed to identify potential sponsors for sponsored project activities.
The university provides assistance in the business and administrative aspects of grant and contract proposals through the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), which facilitates the submission of contract and grant applications and determines the accuracy of the business and administrative aspects of the applications. OSP is responsible for ensuring all proposals are submitted in accordance with the requirements of the sponsor and conform to university policies and The University of Texas System Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations. Note: The Development Office is responsible for all proposals to corporation general headquarters and foundations that do not have established grant programs.
No sponsored project contracts and/or sponsored project grant applications may be submitted by a university employee (faculty, staff, administrative and professional) through any organization other than the university, Office of Sponsored Projects. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be submitted to the Executive Vice President for Research, justifying the reason for exception. The letter of justification must bear the signatures of the faculty member's department chair and dean indicating their approval. The Executive Vice President for Research will consider the request based upon the best interest of the university in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and will document the decision and rationale in a written response to the requestor. Approval of the Executive Vice President for Research must be received prior to submission of the grant.
For questions regarding this policy, contact the Office of Sponsored Projects.
All grant applications and contracts/agreements processed by OSP require a completed institutional Review and Approval Form except Confidentiality Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs).
After a proposal for a contract or grant from government agencies, industry, foundations, or other private granting agencies is initiated by a university faculty member (or other appropriate official who will direct the work) and approved by designated administrative officials, it must be submitted to OSP for review and processing. Facilities, equipment, or other resources of the university may not be used in the project by the faculty member (or other appropriate official who will direct the work) until the contract is executed or the award accepted by the designated administrative official.
Faculty should submit proposals to OSP as soon as possible to expedite the review process. The final administrative and financial portions of the application and the Review and Approval Form (complete with signatures and appropriate approvals for use of animals, human subjects, etc.) are due to OSP 10 working days prior to the sponsor deadline. The final application, complete with science, is due three working days prior to the submission deadline. OSP will handle late applications (i.e., applications not submitted in accordance with the above schedule) at the discretion of the director of OSP.
Additionally, if the application is for a source other than standard National Institutes of Health, any additional guidelines or instructions provided or required by the proposed sponsor must also be submitted to OSP along with the Review and Approval Form.
Updated 08/05; 01/08