uconn

UConn Quantum Technologies Translation Award (QuTech) Program

The Quantum Technologies Translation Award Program (QuTech), made possible through investments by the Connecticut Office of Innovation (CTNext), supports the derisking of use-inspired innovations centered on quantum and quantum adjacent technologies through Academic / Industry partnerships.  The program provides up to $30,000 to help accelerate the translation of UConn/UCH developed quantum and quantum adjacent technologies / applications for real world impact. QuTech is open to UConn/UCH researchers who have:

  1. Completed research and developed (at minimum) a Proof of Concept,
  2. A use-inspired application with strong market potential and a path for IP protection, and
  3. A partnership with an established quantum-related company or startup (the proposing team cannot have an ownership stake in the partner company).

Funds can be used for:

  1. Supporting students to conduct experiments designed to de-risk the technology for targeted applications,
  2. External validation of the technology and/or its use cases with an industry and/or startup partner, and/or
  3. Use of in-house or external resources critical for de-risking the technology.

Applications will be reviewed by internal and external researchers familiar with quantum technologies and/or associated markets.

Important Dates (all due dates by 12 noon) 

  • 5/15/25 – program opens.
  • 6/30/25 Full Proposal deadline.  Submissions are made via the UConn Quest Portal
  • Award Notifications are expected in August, 2025

Award details:

  • The OVPR anticipates funding up to 2 awards of $30,000.
  • Award periods will be for one year
  • Awards will be funded in two equal payments.  The second payment will be made six months into the award period, pending completion of milestones, submission of a report, and adherence to program guidelines.
  • QuTech awards are intended to support the translation of quantum-related innovations developed within the labs / research groups of UConn/UConn Health faculty members.  Funds cannot be used for
    • a) continuing previous/ongoing commercialization projects,
    • b) costs related to creating/operating start-up companies, or
    • c) development activities that take place within startup companies.
  • Awardees will be connected with commercialization experts from OVPR’s Technology Commercialization and Venture Development group.  Awardees should expect to work closely with TCS to discuss progress/obstacles, undergo commercialization-related training, and to gain access to advice and resources that will enhance the project’s chances for commercial success.  Awardees are required to work with TCS's IP team to protect their innovation (target: provisional patent filing 6 months to 1 year after project launch).

Eligibility / IP & Licensing Requirements:

The QuTech program is available to UConn/UConn Health faculty members, within the following parameters:

  • IP: Projects should have intellectual property at their core. To be eligible, project-related UConn IP must exist and a UConn invention disclosure must be filed prior to applying.  Projects based on IP not developed at UConn are not eligible.
  • Startups and License Options: If a startup related to the QuTech project exists at the time of award, an option agreement must be taken within 6 months of the award.  If a startup company related to the project is formed at any point in the future, an option agreement must be taken within six months of the startup creation.
  • Effort and Salary:
    • The award does not pay for any PI salary or for time spent on the project
    • Although no minimum effort level is required for QuTech projects, a PI/Co-PI must have institutionally-funded research time available during the award period to lead and complete the project.
    • Research Professors / those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) must include details about their institutionally-funded research time as part of the budget justification to confirm eligibility.
  • UConn Primary Appointment:
    • PIs must be faculty or staff whose primary appointment is at UConn/UConn Health. Awards are available to tenure-track, tenured, Clinical, Research, and in-Residence faculty with Assistant Professor rank or higher.
    • Researchers with primary appointments to CCMC, Jackson Labs, or TIP or other startup companies are not eligible to apply.
    • Individuals who are not eligible to apply as a PI may be able to serve as a collaborator/consultant on an eligible PI’s project.
  • Number of submissions: Eligible faculty may only submit one proposal as lead PI. Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.

Proposal Submission Instructions:

Elements to include in the full application are as follows:

  1. A one-paragraph abstract (type or copy/paste into a form on Quest).
  2. Project plan document three page maximum, 11-pt font and 1” margins), including
    1. Problem/Unmet need: Describe the problem or unmet need that the innovation will address.
    2. Description of the innovation: Describe the innovation or technology concept.
    3. Estimate Market Size:
      1. Which industries are likely to adopt the technology? Why is this technology important for these industries?
      2. Please describe the total available market this technology addresses (TAM) and how much of the TAM this technology will address.
    4. Competing Products:
      1. Identify any currently available products/technologies and explain why they do not adequately satisfy the problem or unmet need.
      2. Explain how the proposed innovation is different from or better than those that are already available.
    5. Intellectual property (IP): Describe your IP position, and the competitive IP landscape. List your current patent applications or patents pending as well as any granted patents related to this project. If you currently have no patent applications, please mention plans for future invention disclosures.
    6. Commercialization Plan:
      1. Explain how the proposed de-risking activities will allow you to achieve the major milestones required to further develop the technology for market entry.
      2. Describe your plans for funding development of this technology beyond the QuTech grant (through SBIR/STTR, Angel and VC funding, etc).
    7. Preliminary evidence: Summarize any preliminary data available that substantiates the proposed innovation usefulness for the applications envisioned.
    8. Proposed work with project milestones: Outline the proposed scope of work approaches with timelines and a clearly defined set of objective milestones to be completed by the end of the initial award period.  Please include an analysis of how the proposed activities will sufficiently de-risk the innovation to allow for further commercial development.
  3. Biosketches/CVs: Please include brief biosketches/CVs (formatted as appropriate for your field) for all PIs/Co-PIs (No more than 3 pages).  Include your most recent publications or those most relevant to the work proposed.  Also include current/pending support from external sponsors and UConn sources (including start-up funding).  Biosketches/CVs may be uploaded as one PDF or as separate PDF documents.
  4. Budget: Provide a preliminary budget estimate and proposed use of funds. Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template.
  5. The budget spreadsheet should be converted to PDF format prior to upload.

              Review Criteria

              Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:

               

              Market Need—does the innovation address an unmet need and is there evidence that there is a market for the proposed solution?

              • Does the applicant make a strong case that there is a need/problem that needs to be met?
              • Is the science/technology strong enough to evidence its success
              • Does the proposal include data about how much of the market the technology may realistically capture?

               

              Innovation and Novelty—Is the innovation novel and/or does it make a significant improvement over currently-available solutions?

              • Does the proposal make a convincing argument that the innovation is novel and or makes a significant improvement over currently-available solutions?
              • Is there existing or the potential for intellectual property protection?
              • To what degree does the innovation solve the unmet need differently (e.g., better, faster, cheaper) than the current state-of-the art?
              • If novel, is the innovation a disruptive technology, a platform technology, or an incremental improvement over the current state-of-the art?

               

              Commercialization Plan—Is there a realistic path for commercializing the innovation?

              • Does the proposal present a path to bring the innovation forward to market?
              • Does the proposal present plans for future financing of the project, such as SBIR/STTR or industry investment?
              • For future development, will this technology require regulatory approval?  If so, does the proposal address plans for successfully navigating the process?
              • Does the applicant point to any obvious potential licenses / commercial partners for this innovation?

               

              Approach and Feasibility—Are the activities proposed attainable in the proposed timeline and are they consistent with the high scientific/scholarly standards?

              • Does the investigator/team have appropriate expertise and laboratory facilities available to conduct the work?
              • Does the project include the involvement of a UConn core facility or a third party be required to complete the work (e.g prototype development)?  If so, have appropriate commitments been obtained?
              • To what degree will the activities proposed de-risk and advance the development of the innovation?

               

              Postaward Considerations

              QuTech awardees agree to provide regular progress reports to the OVPR during and after the award period. Reports fall into four categories:

              • Consultations with TCS: Awardees are expected to connect regularly throughout the award period with their point of contact within OVPR Technology Commercialization Services to discuss progress, to talk through potential problems, and to consider future steps and additional resources that may be of use. Each PI will work with their TCS contact to set up the best check-in schedule, but it is expected that consultations would happen at least on a quarterly basis.
              • Six-month Reporting: After six months of each award period, applicants will be asked to submit a progress report via the Quest Portal.  After review of this report, the second payment of the award period will be made to the award account.
              • Annual Reports: Recognizing that investments made by the OVPR can often take some time to produce their full results, we will be asking that all recipients of OVPR Internal Funding, including QuTech, submit outcomes reports over the life of the project. This will allow us to better understand the impact of internal funding and make the case for it continuing / increasing.
                • Reporting requirements: PIs will need to prepare a brief report, using this Award Report Template to summarize project progress within one month of posting final expenses unless an extension from the OVPR has been received.
                  • We’ll be interested in hearing about the results of your project,
                  • the significance of those results, and
                  • gathering statistics about graduate students supported, publications, external grants / patents received, other projects launched, etc.
                  • Other questions may also be included as needed. The OVPR may request updates annually for up to five years following the end of the award period to track the development of the project longitudinally.

              Program Contacts

              The QuTech program is jointly administered by OVPR Technology Commercialization Services and Internal Funding Program.

              Program Director
              Dr. Vivek Ramakrishnan
              Director, Venture Development, OVPR Technology Commercialization Services
              vivek.ramakrishnan@uconn.edu

              Dr. Matt Mroz
              Manager, Research Development Services
              matthew.mroz@uconn.edu

              Program point of contact (Contact for information on program/process, application status, award management/extensions)

              Charlotte Nelson
              Internal Funding Coordinator
              research@uconn.edu

              MPS Seed Grant Program

              Overview

              The OVPR’s MPS Seed Grant Program is to provide funding support for UConn/UCH researchers to use the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Javelin MPS (microphysiological system or organ-on-a-chip platform), recently acquired thanks to a generous gift by UConn Aluma Jane Hirsh, to generate preliminary data in support of grant submissions.

              The OVPR is providing one-time matching funds in response to Ms. Hirsh’s gift because of the strong potential MPS and other new approach methodologies (NAMs) offers for reducing the need for animal studies in human health research and speeding up the development of new therapeutics. The use of MPS and other NAMs in health research is in strong alignment with FDA, NIH, and international efforts to develop ethical, human-specific non-animal methodologies. OVPR offers this seed investment to enable UConn/UCH researchers to effectively leverage these new approaches for high-impact research that can establish the University as a leader in this promising area.

              Award Details

              The MPS Seed Grant Program will award 8-10 grants up to $25,000 each to cover the experimental costs described below.

              Proposed research projects should include the design and the execution of Javelin’s organ-on-a-chip platform studies that addresss high-value questions such as.

              • Population and species differences in metabolism
              • Mechanisms of off-target toxicity
              • Optimization of dosing regimens using human-relevant models
              • Efficacy, ADME, or toxicity assessment for promising therapeutics

              Awards include funds to support up to two rounds of experiments. Budgets can only be used to support the following costs:

              • Chips from Javelin
              • Reagents and other supplies needed to carry out experiments using the Javelin platform

              Expected outcomes

              • External fund proposals seeking NIH, FDA, and foundation support for alternative testing strategies. Applicants need to name their targeted external funding opportunities and provide details about expected submission timelines.
              • Peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations at regional and national meetings focused on MPS and pharmacology.
              • Other visible outputs that will reinforce UConn’s reputation as a hub for innovative, ethical drug development science.

              Timeline

              • Full proposals must be submitted by 4/6 at 12 noon via the UConn Quest Portal (you may be prompted to first log in and then click the link again to access the application)
              • Notifications of results will be announced by May 29th, 2026 (delayed by two weeks from the originally anticipated award announcement date)
              • Awardees will be announced publicly on the OVPR’s Internal Funding Program website and through UConn Today.

              Funding Period

              Awards will be made for a 6-month period, with the expectation is experiments will be completed within 6 months unless a compelling justification is made by the PI(s) for an alternate funding period. Standard award period will be June 1 to December 31. Projects that are expected to take more than 9 months to complete are not encouraged.

              Budget

              In the application, please indicate how many chips (each chip costs $850.00) are needed and the amount of funds needed for reagents. (total amount not to exceed $25,000.00)

              Eligibility

              • Lead faculty PI needs to be a UConn/UCH faculty member
              • Faculty must be tenure-track, tenured, Research, and in-Residence faculty with Assistant Professor rank or higher with an active research program.  Investigators need to have institutionally-funded research time available to devote to the project.
              • Faculty may only submit one proposal as lead PI. Investigators may serve as collaborators on multiple projects.
              • Multi-PI, interdisciplinary projects are encouraged. Faculty are encouraged to use the School’s website or Lincus, a search engine that will assist in identifying specific faculty expertise at all UConn campuses, including UConn Health. You can also reach out to OVPR Research Development Associate Quinn McAdam at mcadam@uconn.edu.

              Guidelines

              PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

              Please be sure to read all the guidelines thoroughly. Each item/section should be prepared, labeled, and ordered as indicated below.  Some information will need to be entered into a form on the application site.  Other documents will need to be uploaded.  See below for details.

              Proposals must be submitted electronically through the UConn Quest Portal by 4/6 and will require the following information:

              Faculty Applicant Information Form (some information may pre-populate into the form)

              • Submitting PI Name
              • Home Department
              • School/College
              • Email
              • Phone
              • Faculty/Academic Rank
              • Primary Employer
              • Question - is your position contingent on grant funding?

              MPS SEED GRANT APPLICATION FORM

              Faculty Applicant Information

              • Special Reviewer Expertise (optional): If your project requires reviewers to possess specific expertise within the context of your discipline (i.e. familiarity with a specialized approach or methodology), please specify.
              • Size of Team: 0-8
              • Key Personnel: Co-PIs, department affiliation, role on project
              • Project Title:
              • Total Amount Requested for Reagents and Chips: (not to exceed $25,000.00)
              • Total Amount Requested for Reagents:
              • Total Cost of Chips: (each chip costs $850.00)
              • Project Abstract / Lay Summary: Succinctly state (for a non-specialist audience) the objectives, methods to be employed, and the significance of the proposed activity.
              • Future Funding and/or Activities: The applicant should specify where extramural grant proposals will be submitted and/or the high-level disciplinary accomplishments that will result from the MPS Seed Grant Program award.
              • Keywords: List 4-5 keywords relevant to project

              Project Plan (PDF upload)

              The Project Plan should be 2-3 pages in length (12-pt font and 1” margins). The Project Plan should address each of the areas below in sufficient detail using the headings provided. Proposals should be written in straightforward language, keeping in mind that reviewers will possess general content knowledge but not necessarily specialist expertise. Proposals should avoid the use of technical jargon. Acronyms that are not universally understood should be spelled out the first time they are used.  References should be included in the project plan document, but they do not need to be counted against page limits

              Significance/Importance: Provide a clear and compelling scientific rationale for the proposed project and how using the MPS platform will accelerate research progress in your chose area of inquiry. Narratives should address both the significance of the scientific questions being explored and the significance of using MPS techniques in the project.

              Approach and Feasibility: Describe the plan for carrying out the proposed activities, including research aims, design, work plan, and methodological approach.

              Overview of future work enabled by these pilot studies:

                • Identify the external funding opportunities you are targeting (sponsor, specific funding opportunity, targeted submission dates).
                • Briefly describe the team that you will gather for the external submission.
                • Describe other expected research products (publications, presentations, etc.) that you expect to emerge from the project.
                • Describe how the preliminary data produced using this funding will improve your competitiveness for external funding.

              Biosketches/CVs (PDF upload, single document)

              Please include biosketches/CVs (formatted as appropriate for your field) for all PIs/Co-PIs.  Include your most recent publications or those most relevant to the work proposed.  Also include current/pending support from external sponsors and UConn sources (including start-up funding). This may be appended to the end of the CV/biosketch or integrated within it, if your discipline format already provides space for current/pending.

              Appendices (PDF upload, single document)

              Additional information may be included when it is truly essential for adequate peer review of the proposal.

                          Review Criteria

                          Review Process

                          All proposals will be evaluated by the OVPR for eligibility, then assigned to reviewers whose expertise aligns with the proposals.  The reviewers will in turn recommend proposal(s) for funding to the Faculty Co-chairs who will make final funding recommendations to the OVPR.

                          • The Faculty Co-chairs provide reviewer suggestions to be invited to review specific proposals. (2 reviewers for each proposal)
                          • The OVPR will invite reviewers based on disciplinary areas consistent with the proposal category, scholarly reputation, and expertise and specialization consistent with the proposal topic.
                          • Once the reviews are complete, the Faculty Co-chairs will review the recommendations by the reviewers, identify the strongest proposals for funding, and select the proposal(s) to be recommended for funding, keeping the review criteria in mind.

                          Review Criteria

                          Using a 5-point rating scale from 1 (Excellent) to 5 (Poor), reviewers will rate and evaluate 3 criteria; Significance, Approach/ Feasibility and Overview of future work enabled by these pilot studies in alignment with the MPS Seed Grant Program mission to support innovative and collaborative research using Javelin’s MPS (organ-on-a-chip platform).

                           Significance/Importance

                          • Does this study clearly address an important scientific problem in a way that successfully leverages the MPS platform?
                          • If the aims of the project are achieved, will scientific knowledge, technical capability, clinical practice, and/or social conditions be advanced in meaningful ways?
                          • Does the proposed project significantly contribute to the concepts, theories, methods, technologies, applications, treatments, outcomes, services, and/or preventive interventions?

                          Approach/Feasibility

                          • To what degree does the proposal outline a clearly articulated and well-reasoned plan of action that includes activities, research aims, design and work plan?
                          • To what degree are the proposed approaches appropriate for the aims of the project? Do they reflect intellectual rigor?
                          • To what degree is the project, as described in the proposal, achievable?  Are there any concerns about feasibility?
                          • Does the environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?

                          Overview of future work enabled by these pilot studies

                          • Are the identified external funding opportunities targets within the next year?
                          • To what extent are the selected funding opportunities appropriate for the proposed project?
                          • If the proposed project is successful, to what extent will the team’s competitiveness for the targeted external funding opportunities be improved? 

                          Postaward Reporting

                          After awards are made and the project has been completed, the OVPR would like to evaluate project progress and to learn more about the impact on the work that has been done.  To this end, you will receive a link to a short survey asking questions about the outcomes and impacts of your project; publications, abstracts, external grant applications, patents, and awards related to the MPS Seed Grant Program once your project has been completed.

                          Program Contacts

                          PROGRAM CONTACTS

                          Program Director: Matt Mroz, Interim Director of Research Development, OVPR
                          Email: matthew.mroz@uconn.edu

                          Technical Content Contact: Xiaobo Zhong, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences
                          Email: xiaobo.zhong@uconn.edu

                          Administrative Contact: Charlotte Nelson, Internal Funding Coordinator, OVPR
                          Email: research@uconn.edu

                          Reminder: Transition Amendments for UConn IRB

                          Posted on by

                          The IRB module of InfoEd was updated on December 16th.  For the system to work as intended, most open studies will need to be transitioned to the new application form:

                           

                          The following studies need to be migrated:

                          • Open studies that received approval or exemption determination from UConn Storrs IRB prior to the system updates (December 16, 2024);
                          • Open studies that were approved by an external, non-UConn IRB, that have a record in InfoEd.

                          The following projects do not need to be migrated:

                          • Research studies that are closed;
                          • Determinations that a project is not research or projects that are determined not to involve human subjects (aka NHSR determinations);
                          • Projects for which data collection is complete, and the only remaining activities are data analysis;
                          • Projects that can be closed because they no longer involve human subjects.

                          When are transition amendments due?

                          • Projects that require continuing review with the continuing review application submitted after March 16, 2025 must have been migrated to the new form via a transition amendment prior to the continuation. 
                          • Effective March 16, 2025, projects that do not require continuing review must be updated via a transition amendment the next time a submission to the IRB is needed. 

                          For more information, please see the Study Migration Guide. User Guides are also available on the Human Subjects Module webpage.

                           

                           

                          Register for IRB Office Hours – Human Subjects Research Support

                          Posted on by

                          The Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) team invites students and faculty to attend virtual (via Webex) and in-person office hours for assistance with IRB submissions and human subjects research regulations.

                          RIC staff will be available to answer questions regarding IRB submissions, human subjects regulations, post-approval support, and general IRB guidance.

                           

                          Office hours schedule:

                          • Wednesday February 26, 2025: 10:00am – 1:00pm (In Person)

                                    Location: Whetten Graduate Center, 2nd floor, Room 211

                           

                          • Tuesday March 4, 2025: 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Virtual via Webex)

                           

                          • Monday March 24, 2025: 10:00am – 1:00pm (In Person)

                                    Location: Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, 2nd floor

                           

                          • Wednesday April 9, 2025: 3:30pm – 6:30pm (Virtual via Webex)

                           

                          • Tuesday April 22, 2025: 10:00am – 1:00pm (In Person)

                                    Location: Whetten Graduate Center, 2nd floor, Room 211

                           

                          • Wednesday May 14, 2025: 10:00am – 1:00pm (Virtual via Webex)

                           

                           

                          To schedule an in-person or virtual appointment, please follow the link below:

                          https://nexus.uconn.edu/secure_per/schedule1.php?stser=4475

                           

                          RIC Education & Training Sessions

                          The RIC office also offers educational and training sessions for researchers, research teams, and classes on topics, such as informed consent, successful IRB submissions, post-approval research management, category of review, research subject to FDA regulations, and other human subjects research best practices.

                           

                          For questions about IRB office hours or educational sessions, please contact Joan Levine at joan.levine@uconn.edu.

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                          Subaward Resources

                          Forms

                          Subrecipient Information and Compliance Form – To be provided along with subaward proposal documentation (scope of work, detailed budget and budget justification, additional documents required by proposal guidelines) when forwarded to Pre-Award Services (as part of an initial prime application/proposal) or in support of requests to sponsor for post-award addition of subaward/subcontract

                          Subrecipient Profile Questionnaire – Requested by SPS from subrecipients who are not members of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) to collect information used during required SPS risk assessment

                          External Investigator Financial Disclosure Form – Completion required by all responsible personnel from other institutions which do not have a compliant Financial Conflict of Interest policy.

                          Other Resources

                          Provides full instructions for initiating a subaward-related Purchase Requisition (for new subawards) or Purchase Order Action (for subaward amendments).

                          Provides a listing of subaward-related actions corresponding to common prime award activities.

                          IRB Office Hours

                          Posted on by

                          The Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) team invites students and faculty to attend virtual (via Webex) and in-person office hours for assistance with IRB submissions and human subjects research regulations.

                          RIC staff will be available to answer questions regarding IRB submissions, human subjects regulations, post-approval support, and general IRB guidance.

                           

                          Office hours schedule:

                          Monday, January 27, 2025: 10:00am – 1:00pm (Virtual via Webex).

                           

                          Wednesday, January 29, 2025: 1:00pm – 4:00pm (In Person)

                          Location: Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, 2nd floor

                           

                          To schedule an in-person or virtual appointment, please follow the link below:

                          https://nexus.uconn.edu/secure_per/schedule1.php?stser=4475

                           

                          RIC Education & Training Sessions

                          The RIC office also offers educational and training sessions for researchers, research teams, and classes on topics, such as informed consent, successful IRB submissions, post-approval research management, category of review, research subject to FDA regulations, and other human subjects research best practices.

                           

                          For questions about IRB office hours or educational sessions, please contact Joan Levine at joan.levine@uconn.edu.

                           

                          Human Subjects Module

                          The InfoEd Human Subjects module supports the submission and review of human subjects research protocols and related activities.

                          Major updates to the Human Subjects Module were implemented on December 16, 2024.  The User Guides below apply to the updated application form and procedures.  The How To Materials apply to those who are still working with the old forms and procedures.

                          Most active studies will need to be migrated to the new form for the system to work as intended. Information and instructions, including important deadlines, are available in the Study Migration GuideUPDATED 7-1-2026.

                          USER GUIDES – NEW

                          HOW TO MATERIALS – OLD

                           

                          For technical issues with InfoEd, please email era-support@UConn.edu.

                          IRB Submissions, Forms & Templates

                          Effective Monday, March 9, 2026 new minimal risk studies that are eligible for Exempt or Expedited review should be submitted to BRANY IRB rather than the UConn IRB, unless an exception has been granted.  This is in addition to studies that already meet existing criteria for BRANY submission (external funding, more than 2 external collaborators).

                          This means that the majority of new projects should follow instructions found on the UConn BRANY webpage when creating an Initial Application in InfoEd. Do NOT create an Initial Application in InfoEd before reviewing this BRANY IRB Announcement.

                          Note: Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determinations, External Exempt (REG) and Full Board studies should continue to be submitted in InfoEd as usual for review by the UConn IRB Office.

                           

                          IRB Submission Platform

                          Applications to the IRB, including requests for review by BRANY IRB, requests for other external IRBs to serve as the reviewing IRB, and Human Subjects Research Determinations and requests are submitted using the Human Subject/IRB Module of the UConn InfoEd eRA Portal at https://www.infoed.uconn.edu.  The platform has undergone significant updates, users are strongly encouraged to consult the new User Guides before using the system.

                          Migration of Existing Studies to the New Application Form

                          The IRB module of InfoEd was updated on December 16, 2024, The system does not allow for an automatic migration of documents and information from existing InfoEd records. Additionally, the upgraded system includes questions built into the application that were not previously captured electronically. As such, currently approved studies will need to be manually transitioned by the investigator to the upgraded version. Please see the Migration of Study Information guide for details.

                          Adding Undergraduate Students to InfoEd

                          Undergraduate students are not auto-populated into InfoEd. Each undergraduate student must be manually added to the system. Click here to add undergraduate students to InfoEd prior to adding these students as personnel on a study. Adding the students before completing the application form will result in less time and effort completing the form as it can take 20 minutes for the student’s name to become available in the system.

                          Uploading CITI training completion reports to InfoEd

                          Please follow these instructions for uploading CITI completion reports.docx as part of your IRB protocol submission. Completion reports are only required when (1) adding UConn personnel who completed training elsewhere or (2) adding non-UConn personnel.

                           

                          Submission Forms

                          The new IRB application form in InfoEd will ask you to upload certain supplemental forms and materials.  Be sure to check this page to ensure that you are using the current versions, most of our forms and materials have been updated or will be updated soon.  For assistance with preparing your IRB submissions, contact the IRB Office at irb@uconn.edu to schedule a help session. If you experience technical issues with InfoEd, please contact era-support@uconn.edu.

                          Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determination

                          Investigators who are unsure if their proposed activity constitutes “human subjects research” according to federal regulations, may submit a request for a Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determination through InfoEd. Investigators are especially encouraged to submit for a determination when there are plans for dissemination as requests for IRB documentation are increasingly common. Based on the information provided, the IRB Office will determine if the proposed activity meets the regulatory definitions of “human subjects” and “research” and either grant a Not Human Subjects Research (NHSR) letter or advise as to next steps regarding the need to secure formal exemption or approval from the IRB.

                          This form is also used for 45 CFR 46.118 certifications (aka Approval in Principle, Development Only, Delayed Onset).  A grant or contract may require certification of IRB approval as a condition of submitting for or releasing funds but before definitive plans for the involvement of human subjects have been fully developed (e.g., measures or tools need to be developed, animal studies are needed).  Refer to 4.1.15.2 in the NIH Grants Policy Statement or the NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter II: proposal Preparation Instructions, Section E(5) for information.  Note that 45 CFR 46.118 certifications are not limited to proposals submitted to Federal Agencies.

                          Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determination Form

                           

                          IRB Reliance Forms

                          Please see the IRB Reliance pages (IRB Reliance – General, BRANY IRB) for instructions and information about requests for external IRBs to serve as the IRB of record for a study and for requests for the UConn IRB to serve as the IRB of record for other entities (including UConn Health). Requests to cede review to an external IRB, including BRANY IRB, are initiated in InfoEd.  Requests for UConn to serve as the IRB of record for other entities are initiated outside of the system using the Request for UConn to Serve as the IRB of Record Form on the IRB Reliance – General webpage.

                          BRANY IRB template forms are available on the BRANY IRB webpage.

                          Cede Application Form Updated 8-31-2026

                          External Personnel Log

                          Request for UConn to Serve as the IRB of Record

                           

                          Protocol Templates

                          A study protocol must be included with all applications to the IRB for expedited or convened board review. Protocols for exempt studies are optional at this time, but may be requested by the IRB staff when the application alone doesn’t provide sufficient detail.

                          These protocol templates should also be used for submissions to BRANY IRB.  BRANY IRB does require submission of a protocol for exempt research.

                          Standard Protocol Template

                          Ethnographic Protocol Template

                          Repository Protocol Template

                          Please refer to the following guideline for information about contact databases and when IRB approval is and is not required: Guidelines for Researchers: Establishing and Managing Contact Databases.  Please use the Repository Template when IRB approval is required.

                           

                          Supplemental Forms

                          Based on study specifics, the IRB Application Form may guide you to upload one or more supplemental forms.  A Data Security Assessment Form (DSAF) is required for all exempt, expedited, and convened board submissions.

                          Data Security Assessment Form Updated 8-6-2026

                          IND Assessment Worksheet

                          International Research Supplement Updated 7-30-2026

                          IRB Conflict of Interest (COI) Disclosure Form

                          Language Translation Certification Form

                          Request for HIPAA Waiver or Alteration

                          Sample Demographic Worksheet – for Continuations

                           

                          Consent/Authorization Templates

                          Informed Consent Resource for Secondary Research with Data and Biospecimens.

                          Consent Checklist for Investigators.docx

                           

                          Standard Language Glossary: NEW

                          Standard Language Glossary.docx  Updated 6-30-2026 This glossary provides a compilation of commonly used language for inclusion in consent materials and protocols. Sample language should be modified by research teams so that it is appropriate for the study, and, for consent materials, the subject population. The IRB may also require study-specific changes to the language included in this glossary for similar reasons.

                           

                          For BRANY IRB submissions, please refer to the BRANY IRB Consent, Permission and Assent Form Templates.

                          For Non-exempt (Expedited, Full Board Review) Studies:

                          Adult Consent Form Template.docx Updated 6-18-2026

                          Simplified Consent Form Template.docx This template may be used in conjunction with the template for the adult consent form for people with communication disorders. Emily Myers, Ph.D. developed this form for research participants with communication disorders, such as aphasia, and generously provided permission for its use by others. This form or another method may be proposed when enrolling individuals with communication disorders where the process will help facilitate comprehension and enable participants to make informed decisions about research participation.

                          Parent Permission Form Template.docx (for participants under 18 years old) Updated 7-30-2026

                          Assent Form for Minor Participants.docx (under 18 years old)  Federal regulations do not dictate how minor assent is documented. This template is designed to be used with younger children with the content of the Adult Consent or Parent Permission Form used as a guide. The assent process should convey the information noted in the assent template using age-appropriate language. Use of this template is not required; Investigators should develop assent processes and forms that are appropriate for the population that they will enroll.  For example, when enrolling teens, it may be more appropriate to have an assent form that is similar to the Adult Consent or Parent Permission Form.

                          HIPAA Authorization Form Template.docx (A HIPAA Authorization Form is needed in addition to a research consent form when the research includes the access, use, or disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) unless a waiver of the requirement for authorization is approved or another exception applies (e.g., use of a Limited Data Set with a Data Use Agreement).

                           

                          For BRANY IRB submissions, please refer to the BRANY IRB Consent, Permission and Assent Form Templates.

                          For Exempt/Limited Studies:

                          Exempt Study Adult Prospective Agreement/Consent Form Template.doc

                          Exempt Study Parent Prospective Agreement/Permission Form Template.doc (for participants under 18 years old)

                          Exempt Study Assent Form for Minor Participants.docx (under 18 years old)  Federal regulations do not dictate how minor assent is documented. This template is designed to be used with younger children with the content of the Adult Consent or Parent Permission Form used as a guide. The assent process should convey the information noted in the assent template using age-appropriate language. Use of this template is not required; Investigators should develop assent processes and forms that are appropriate for the population that they will enroll.  For example, when enrolling teens, it may be more appropriate to have an assent form that is similar to the Adult Consent or Parent Permission Form.

                           

                          Debriefing Statement Template : NEW

                          Debriefing Statement Template.docx Updated 5-27-2026

                           

                          Recruitment Flyer Template

                          Important! When preparing an announcement for the Daily Digest, Lifeline or similar, please be reminded that online platforms often have character limits that could impact study postings; tag lines and headings should provide information about the study and should not emphasize that subjects are paid for participation. The IRB study number is required on any announcement.

                          Sample Recruitment Flyer Template (with tabs).docx Updated 7-23-2026

                          InfoEd Updates

                          InfoEd IRB module updates were implemented on December 16, 2024.

                          The IRB Office is pleased to announce that the long-awaited updates to the IRB module of InfoEd were implemented on December 16th. The updated system streamlines IRB submission and review processes, and makes it easier to keep track of your protocols.

                           

                          IS TRAINING AVAILABLE? 

                          Training sessions are available and open to all UConn faculty, staff, and students. Please contact Nick Lacafta (nicholas.lacafta@uconn.edu) for information about upcoming sessions. A recorded session will be made available soon for those unable to attend in person.

                          WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

                          • Consolidated Smart Forms: The prior electronic application forms (e.g., IRB-1, IRB-5, IRB-7, IRB-9) have been consolidated into a single Main Application form that uses logic to drive your experience. If the IRB determines that a different level of review is required, you will not need to start from scratch, you will simply modify the review type and answer the additional questions that populate.
                          • Responding to IRB Feedback: System enhancements make it easier for study teams to respond to IRB feedback. IRB staff can add pre-review comments directly into the electronic form for study team review and response. IRB staff can also compare new and historical versions of e-forms and the most documents uploaded within them reducing the need to submit clean and track changes versions of documents.
                          • Routing: Routing is automated; submitters will not have to add the PI and Department Head to the route for review and sign-off. Automated emails will inform study teams as the submission moves through routing and when it arrives to the IRB.
                          • Personnel Roles: Personnel roles (i.e., PI, Co-I, Student Investigator, Correspondent) drive who on a study team is able to edit, manage, and submit submissions to the IRB and who will be included on system messages and IRB correspondence. All submissions other than personnel changes and reportable events will be automatically routed to the PI for review and sign-off.
                          • Amendments: There are three types of amendments: Personnel Changes, Transition Amendments (for transitioning to the new form), and regular Amendments (for changes to the study itself or study materials). Only one amendment can be in process at any given time. Differentiating the amendment types allows the IRB office to identify personnel changes at a glance so that they can be prioritized.
                          • Ancillary Reviews:  Questions are now built into the application form that determine the need for most ancillary reviews (e.g., Privacy, Information Security) and automatically inform the responsible party that a review is needed.
                          • Reportable Information/Events: All reports of issues that arise during research or information that is required to be reported to the IRB are now reported using a single smart form. There are no longer separate forms for Adverse Events and Protocol Deviations.
                          • Administrative Check-Ins: Exempt studies, studies that do not require submission of a continuing review application, and studies overseen by external IRBs will receive periodic notices to either complete an administrative check-in or a study closure. This will allow the University to have current information about studies and to be able to accurately report.
                          • IRB Reliance: Requests for UConn to cede IRB review to another IRB, including BRANY IRB, will now be initiated in InfoEd. Requests for UConn to serve as the IRB of record for other entities are initiated outside of the system using the Request for UConn to Serve as the IRB of Record Form on the IRB Reliance – General webpage. Please see the IRB Reliance pages (IRB Reliance – General, BRANY IRB) for additional information.

                          WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EXISTING STUDIES?

                          Most existing studies will need to be migrated to the updated application form for the system to work as intended. Migration will be required before continuing review or with the next submission to the IRB (for studies without continuing review). A Study Migration Guide with detailed information and instructions is available here: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-it/infoed/human-subjects-module/.

                          The following studies need to be migrated:

                          • Open studies that received approval or exemption determination from UConn Storrs IRB prior to the system updates (December 16, 2024);
                          • Open studies that were approved by an external, non-UConn IRB, that have a record in InfoEd.

                          The following projects do not need to be migrated:

                          • Research studies that are closed;
                          • Activities that received a Not Human Subjects Research (NHSR) Determination;
                          • Projects for which data collection is complete and the only remaining activities are data analysis;
                          • Projects that can be closed because they no longer involve human subjects.

                          Investigators are encouraged to close studies that are eligible for closure as soon as possible. Studies are eligible for closure when:

                          1. Enrollment is closed,
                          2. Interactions and Interventions with participants are complete,
                          3. Data collection is complete, and
                          4. Analysis of identifiable information and/or identifiable biospecimens for the purposes of the current research is complete.
                          5. When the UConn IRB is serving as the IRB of record for other sites, the study may be closed when all sites meet the above criteria.

                          Simply maintaining identifiable data/biospecimens without using, studying, or analyzing the data/biospecimens does not require an open protocol with the IRB.

                          WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? 

                          The IRB Office (irb@uconn.edu) is always available to answer any questions you may have.

                          User Guides with step-by-step instructions are available including:

                          • Study Migration Guide
                          • User Guide for Researchers
                          • User Guide for Ancillary Reviewers
                          • User Guide for Department Reviewers

                          IRB InfoEd Updates and Training Sessions

                          Posted on by

                          IRB InfoEd Updates 

                          The UConn IRB Office is EXCITED to announce that the updates to the IRB module of InfoEd will go-live later this Fall. The updated system will help streamline IRB submission and review processes, making it easier to keep track of your protocols and communications with the IRB staff, and streamline the review process. 

                          WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT? 

                          • Consolidated Smart Forms: the application forms have been consolidated into a single Main Application form that uses logic to drive your experience.  
                          • Updated Protocol Templates:  Comprehensive protocol templates will be introduced with the goal of reducing back and forth during the review process. 
                          • Responding to IRB Feedback: System enhancements will make it easier for study teams to respond to IRB feedback.   
                          • Routing: Routing will be automated; submitters will not have to add the PI and Department Head to the route for review and sign-off.  
                          • Personnel Roles: Personnel roles will drive who on a study team is able to edit, manage, and submit submissions to the IRB and who receives messages. 
                          • Amendments: There will be two types of amendments: Personnel Changes and Amendments (for changes to the study itself or study materials). Only one amendment can be in process at any given time. 
                          • Ancillary Reviews: Questions are built into the application form that will determine the need for ancillary reviews and automatically inform the responsible office. 
                          • Reportable Information/Events: All reports of issues or information that is required to be reported to the IRB will be reported using a single smart form.   
                          • Administrative Check-Ins:  Studies that do not require continuing review will receive periodic notices to complete an administrative check-in or a study closure.  

                          WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EXISTING STUDIES? 

                          Most existing studies will need to be migrated to the updated application form for the system to work as intended. Migration will be required before continuing review (starting on February 25th 2025) or with the next submission to the IRB (for studies without continuing review). 

                          A study migration guide is forthcoming. 

                          Investigators are encouraged to close studies that are eligible for closure as soon as possible.  Studies are eligible for closure when: 

                          1. Enrollment is closed, 
                          1. Interactions and Interventions with participants are complete, 
                          1. Data collection is complete, and 
                          1. Analysis of identifiable information and/or identifiable biospecimens for the purposes of the current research is complete. 
                          1. When the UConn IRB is serving as the IRB of record for other sites, the study may be closed when all sites meet the above criteria. 

                          Simply maintaining identifiable data/biospecimens without using, studying, or analyzing the data/biospecimens does not require an open protocol with the IRB.  

                          IS TRAINING AVAILABLE? 

                          Research Integrity & Compliance will offer weekly training opportunities both in-person and online via WebEx or Teams. They are open to all UConn faculty, staff, and students. A recorded session will be made available for those unable to attend in person. 

                          Sign up for an online or in-person training session on our InfoEd Training webpage.

                          WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? 

                          The IRB Office (irb@uconn.edu) is always available to answer any questions you may have.  

                          How-To Guides with step-by-step instructions will also be made available including: 

                          • InfoEd Guide for Researchers 
                          • InfoEd Guide for Ancillary Reviewers 
                          • InfoEd Guide for Department Reviewers 
                          • InfoEd Guide for IRB Members 

                           

                          IRB Virtual and In-Person Hours in September

                          Posted on by

                          The Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) team will be holding office hours via Microsoft Teams to assist students and faculty with IRB submissions and human subjects regulations.  To accommodate varying schedules, late afternoon and early evening appointments will be available.

                          RIC staff will be on hand to answer any questions regarding IRB submissions, human subjects regulations, post-approval support, and general IRB guidance.

                          Office hours will be held on the following dates and times:

                          Wednesday, September 25, 2024: 3:00pm – 6:30pm

                          Location: Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, 2nd floor.

                          Thursday, September 26, 2024: 10:00am – 1:00pm

                          Follow the link below to schedule an in person or virtual meeting.

                          https://nexus.uconn.edu/secure_per/schedule1.php?stser=4475

                           

                          Education & Training Sessions Offered by RIC 

                          The RIC office provides educational and training sessions to researchers, research teams, and classes.  These sessions cover a range of topics, including best practices for obtaining informed consent, successful IRB submissions, managing research post-approval, and other aspects of human subjects research.

                          For questions about the office hours or educational sessions, please contact Joan Levine at joan.levine@uconn.edu.

                           

                          UConn Policy on Participation in Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs

                          The Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment (MFTRP) Program Participation Policy at UConn and UConn Health aims to safeguard the integrity of federally funded research. In alignment with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the policy emphasizes international collaboration but prohibits covered individuals involved in UConn research from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs which pose research security risks.

                          Participation in a MFTRP is prohibited for those seeking funding from US federal agencies (such as the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), etc.). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits MFTRP participation looking back for the past 10 years. Researchers must certify they are not involved with a MFTRP at proposal submission and annually thereafter. Violations may result in disciplinary actions or disqualification from federal research funding.

                          A Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (FTRP) is an effort by a foreign government (including affiliated institutions of higher education and other affiliate entities) to recruit science and technology professionals and students. While participation in a FTRP will not necessarily impact a researcher’s ability to obtain U.S. federal grant funding, participation in a Malign FTRP will impede receipt of federal grant funding.

                          A Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP) is any program, position, or activity that provides compensation (including in-kind compensation such as research funding, complimentary foreign travel, honorific titles, access to laboratory spaces, and other forms of renumeration) by a foreign collaborator on a U.S. restricted party list OR a foreign country of concern, or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country of concern (including institutions of higher education or government designees), in exchange for the individual conducting “malign” talent activities.

                          Currently, the listed countries of concern are China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, although more countries could be added (or removed) in the future.

                          Activities that constitute “malign” talent activities can include:

                          • transferring intellectual property developed through a U.S. federal research grant to a foreign country;
                          • an obligation to recruit students, trainees, or researchers to the foreign institution of higher education;
                          • establishing a laboratory or company in a foreign country in violation of a federal research award;
                          • accepting a faculty position or other employment or appointment in violation of the terms of a federal research award;
                          • being unable to terminate the FTRP contract except in extraordinary circumstances;
                          • being limited in capacity to carry out a federal research award due to effort required for the FTRP;
                          • providing work that substantially overlaps or duplicates a U.S. federal research and development award;
                          • being required to submit research grant applications to foreign funding agencies on behalf of the foreign sponsoring organization;
                          • being required to omit acknowledgment of your U.S. home institution or U.S. federal funding agency;
                          • begin required to not disclose participation in the FTRP; or
                          • having a conflict of interest or commitment contrary to a federal research award.

                          Disclosure Requirements

                          More than anything else, federal funding agencies stress transparency in a researcher’s disclosure of participation in activities abroad. Individuals must disclose participation in a FTRP by:

                          • Updating the UConn and UConn Health Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure form within 30 days of participation; and
                          • Working with UConn and UConn Health Sponsored Program Services (SPS) to update Current & Pending (Other) Support Pages to ensure disclosure to appropriate federal sponsors.

                          If you suspect involvement in or have been approached by a MFTRP, contact UConn’s Research Security and Compliance Office immediately at researchsecurity@uconn.edu. Fraudulent statements or claims (including intentional omissions) in violation of this policy may result in criminal, civil, administrative or university penalties.

                          UConn offers a 3 minute overview training on Malign Foreign Talent Program Participation:

                           

                          If you have questions regarding compliance or need further clarification on policies related to MFTRPs, please reach out to the UConn Research Security and Compliance Office at researchsecurity@uconn.edu.

                          Research Security Training

                          Research Security Training

                          The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 requires that PIs and senior/key personnel complete annual research security training on an implementation schedule to be driven by federal funding agencies. Each individual identified as a “covered individual” (defined below) must certify that they have completed the requisite research security training within 12 months prior to proposal submission.

                          UConn requires all Principal Investigators and key personnel included on a sponsored program proposal to complete research security within 12 months before any proposal submission.

                          • Any new covered individuals added to the project must also certify that they have completed the research security training within 30 calendar days of joining the project.
                          • Research security training must be refreshed annually to certify completion within twelve months prior to proposal submission.
                          • A particular RFP or federal funding agency may include additional training requirements specific to that award, such as requiring training for all participants (not just covered individuals) on the project. Please review your RFP for any such requirements or ask SPS.

                          UConn’s Sponsor Program Services (SPS) cannot submit a proposal unless all covered individuals have received training by the deadline required by the federal sponsor.

                          The training is currently open to all UConn and UConn Health employees and will facilitate your readiness for this requirement upon implementation by your targeted funding agencies.

                          Applicability: The law introduces a new term of “covered individuals” subject to this research security training requirement. A covered individual is an individual who:

                          • Contributes in a substantive, meaningful way to the development or execution of the scope of work of a project proposed for funding by a federal agency; and
                          • Is designated as a principal investigator (PI), project director (PD), coprincipal investigator (Co-PI), co-investigator (Co-I), co-project director (Co-PD), project manager, key personnel, and any individual regardless of title (inclusive of consultants, graduate students, or postdoctoral associates) that is functionally performing in one of these named roles.

                          At proposal, covered individuals will default to PIs, key personnel, anyone identified as responsible for the design, conduct or reporting of the research, and anyone else identified by the PI as a contributing in a substantive, meaningful way on the Internal Proposal Routing form.

                          Training: Research security training is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to understand behaviors that have led to improper or illegal transfers of U.S. government-supported research and development (R&D) based on incidents reported by federal research agencies. The training will also highlight the critical role of U.S. researchers in global scientific discoveries and the importance of attracting international talent to U.S. research institutions.

                          Commencing Fall 2026, the UConn is using the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program’s “Research Security Training (Combined)” and “Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher” modules to meet this training requirement. These CITI training modules have been developed by the NSF SECURE Center as Annual/Refresher Training Modules specifically for IHE researchers as a condensed version of NSF’s initial four-hour Research Security Training modules. Both the “Research Security Training (Combined)” and the “Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher” meet federal agency training requirements.  Please allow yourself one (1) hour to complete the CITI training. You can complete the training in stages and save your progress.

                          To complete the training, follow these steps:

                           

                          Storrs and Regional Campuses: 

                          1. Register for the training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program.
                          2. To create an account in CITI, click on the Register button in the upper right.
                            • Returning users may log in in the upper right corner.
                          3. Click on “Log in through my Organization” at the top of the page.
                          4. Enter “UConn – Storrs and Regional Campuses” in the search box.
                          5. Select “Continue to SSO Login/instructions.” The CITI Single Sign-on (SSO) will use your UConn NetID and password for your account (the system will ask you if there is another CITI account you would like to associate with your NetID account, and this option can be used to merge an old account with your new SSO account).
                          6. Follow the prompts to create an account.
                          7. Once you are logged in and under the UConn affiliation, on the page under your “Active Courses” and “Courses Ready to Begin,” scroll down to the gray box labeled “Learner Tools for UConn – Storrs and Regional Campuses” and select “Add a Course.”
                          8. Under the “Select Curriculum” webpage, scroll to the bottom of the webpage and tick the box for “I would like to review the Research Security courses.”
                          9. Under the “Select Curriculum – Research Security” webpage, select either “Research Security Training (Combined)” or “Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher” based upon whether you have completed a research security training previously.
                            • NOTE: Either training fulfills the requirements, and you will not be penalized if you take the “Refresher” without having a record of completion of the initial “Combined” course.
                          10. Complete the training.

                           

                          UConn Health:

                          1. Register for the training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program.
                          2. Click on the “Register” tab on the right side of the top screen.
                            • Returning users may log in in the upper right corner.
                          3. Click on “Select Your Organization Affiliation” – In the box to “Search for organization,” enter “University of Connecticut Health Center,” selecting this option when it becomes available. (Note: Be sure to include Health Center in your selection)
                          4. Follow the prompts to create an account.
                          5. Course Enrollment Procedure –Once logged into CITI, under “Institutional Courses” to the right of “University of Connecticut Health Center,” click “View Courses” to see any assigned courses.
                          6. Click “Add a Course” from the gray box toward the bottom of the screen.
                          7. You will see multiple questions on the CITI course enrollment page. For the purposes of the Research Security Training requirement, you will need to scroll down to Question 11, Research Security. Please check the “Research Security Training (Combined)” or “Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher”  course to satisfy the Research Security Training requirement.
                            —————————–Question 11——————————-

                            Research Security

                            Please select a Research Security from the options below:

                                • Research Security Training (Combined)
                                • Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher
                              • NOTE: Either training fulfills the requirements, and you will not be penalized if you take the “Refresher” without having a record of completion of the initial “Combined” course.
                          8. Complete the training.

                           

                          Your Completion Report will automatically be shared with SPS and will also be accessible to you and SPS at any time from the CITI Program. 

                          If you experience problems locating or logging on to the training, please email researchsecurity@uconn.edu.

                          For more information on Research Security and Export Controls, please visit the OVPR Research Security Training page.

                          Thank you for your attention to this important new requirement. Your cooperation is essential in meeting these new research security requirements and maintaining the highest standards of compliance at UConn.

                          External Funding Resources Overview

                          The Research Development Services team offers several resources to assist faculty in finding external funding opportunities for their research and scholarship.

                           

                          Listservs

                          Sign up for our Funding Opportunity Listservs to receive periodic emails with funding opportunities in topic areas of interest to you.

                           

                          Databases

                          UConn subscribes to two grant funding search engines:

                          Pivot-RP, encompassing state, federal, corporate, non-profit, and foundation sponsors. Create an account to identify potential funding opportunities, receive weekly funding alerts based on your research profile, and identify potential collaborators within UConn using Pivot Profiles.

                          Foundation Directory Online, specializing in private and corporate foundation funding.

                           

                          Specific Topic Areas

                          UConn is a key member of the QuantumCT initiative. Our team has curated funding opportunities specific to research, workforce development, and education related to the quantum sciences.

                          ARPA-H – a new research funding agency focused on transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs. See our ARPA-H funding resources page for more information.

                          OVPR’s Technology Commercialization Services maintains a listing of industry funding opportunities relevant to UConn faculty.

                           

                          Contact our team!

                          For assistance with any of these tools or questions regarding external funding opportunities, please contact the RDS team at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

                          ARPA-H Current Funding Opportunities

                          The RDS team suggests contacting us for support on ARPA-H submissions well before submitting a solution summary or proposal, as their programs and requirements frequently change. We are keeping up to date with these changes and can help your submission meet current requirements.

                          Background

                          Mission: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) accelerates better health outcomes for everyone by supporting the development of high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.

                          Who They Are: ARPA-H advances high-potential, high-impact biomedical and health research that cannot be readily accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. ARPA-H awardees are developing entirely new ways to tackle the hardest challenges in health.

                          Contact

                          This contact form can be used to connect with ARPA-H directly.

                          Mission Office ISOs

                          The four current ARPA-H focus areas translate to four mission offices. Each mission office has its own Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) to replace the previous Open BAA. Interested applicants should submit their proposal to the Mission Office ISO that best fits their subject matter.

                          All Mission Office ISOs require solution summaries prior to a full proposal and have a closing date of March 3, 2029.

                          Health Science Futures (HSF)

                          Expanding what’s technically possible. Accelerating advances across research areas and removing limitations that stymie progress towards solutions. The tools and platforms developed apply to a broad range of diseases.

                          Proactive Health (PHO)

                          Keeping people from being patients. Reducing the likelihood that people become patients. Preventative programs will create new capabilities to detect and characterize disease risk and promote treatments and behaviors to anticipate threats to Americans’ health, whether those are viral, bacterial, chemical, physical, or psychological.

                          Resilient Systems (RSO)

                          Building integrated health care systems. Developing capabilities, business models, and integrations to endure crises such as pandemics, social disruption, and economic instability. Resilient systems need to sustain themselves between crises, from the molecular to the societal, to better achieve outcomes that advance American health and wellbeing.

                          Scalable Solutions (SSO)

                          Reaching everyone quickly. Addressing challenges that include geography, distribution, manufacturing, data and information, and economies of scale to create programs that result in impactful, timely, and equitable solutions.

                          Current Programs and Exploration Topics

                          Note: Solution summaries and full proposals are due at varying times of day on due dates depending on the program. Be sure to confirm these times on each program’s program page, linked in the table below.