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Research Offices & Services

Accounting Services for Research and Sponsored Projects (ASRSP)



ASRSP is responsible for the financial administration of sponsored research grants and contracts.

ASRSP Home Page


Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM)



The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) is the centrally administered animal resource that acts as a service and teaching unit for all of the animals used in research, testing, and education at Northwestern University.

CCM Home page


Office for Research Integrity (ORI)



ORI supports the Northwestern research community in understanding and upholding the laws, regulations and policies to which the University is subject, supporting the University's commitment for innovative research and intellectual growth, and emphasizing a culture that focuses on ethics and integrity.

The mission of ORI is to support and safeguard Northwestern University's research community by:
  • Identifying compliance risks in our research practices and communicating those risks to the research community;
  • Partnering with the research community in innovative and effective ways to minimize and manage research risks;
  • Educating the research community with respect to appropriate business practices related to the conduct of research at Northwestern University; and
  • Monitoring and correcting non-compliance in accordance with University and federal guidelines.

The values of ORI reflect our commitment to supporting research at Northwestern and emphasize the ways in which we interact with our research community:
  • Service - partnering to help and support the research community
  • Ethics - establishing and interpreting standards and principles for research misconduct
  • Responsibility - promoting trust and accountability
  • Vigilance - identifying and mitigating research risks throughout the research community
  • Integrity - serving the research community with honesty and respect
  • Community - promoting cooperation and coordination to manage research risks
  • Excellence - improving research at Northwestern through innovation and participation

ORI Homepage


Office for Research Information Systems (RIS)



RIS is responsible for the development and delivery of technical training programs for all users of research administrative and business systems.

RIS Homepage


Office for Research Planning, Finance and Communications (ORPFC)



The role of the Office for Research Planning, Finance and Communications is to forward the goals of the Research enterprise by:
  • Performing financial analyses and strategic planning to determine the optimal use of resources
  • Promoting fiscal responsibility and compliance with internal and external policies and regulations
  • Developing human resources practices and operational processes that lead to enhanced effectiveness
  • Advocating on behalf of the Research community and acting as a conduit for information
  • Providing direct support to the Vice President and Associate Vice Presidents for Research
  • Serving as a consulting and training resource for management and staff in the Office for Research

OROP Contacts


Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS)



The Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS) assists investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct experiments using human or animal subjects in accordance with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles, as well as in conformity with all laws, regulations, and rules governing research subjects. OPRS facilitates the work of the institutional oversight committees -- five Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) -- and serves as a liaison between investigators and the federal government, interpreting the guidelines and regulations that govern research involving human or animal subjects.

OPRS Homepage


Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC / ACUC)



The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews and approves protocols for Northwestern's program for the humane care and use of animals, inspects the animal facilities and investigator laboratories, and reports its findings to the Associate Vice President for Research. It also makes recommendations to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies regarding any aspect of the institution's animal program, facilities, or personnel training.

IACUC Homepage


Institutional Review Board (IRB)



The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is designated by Northwestern University (NU) to review, to approve the initiation of, and to conduct periodic review of research involving human subjects or materials obtained from human subjects. The Office for the Protection of Research Subjects' IRB consists of trained professionals dedicated to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects, to assist investigators and the NU research community to minimize risk to the human research subject, and achieve compliance with all federal, state and institutional regulations.

IRB Homepage


Office for Research Safety (ORS)



The Office for Research Safety (ORS) develops, implements, and coordinates the radiation, chemical and biological safety programs for all research laboratories and all other areas of the University where hazardous chemicals and human blood or other potentially infectious human materials are used. In addition to providing health and safety services, ORS is responsible for assuring University compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

ORS Homepage


Office of Sponsored Research (OSR)



OSR facilitates research at Northwestern University by efficiently and effectively identifying funding sources, assisting in proposal development, reviewing and endorsing proposals, negotiating agreements, accepting and appropriating awards, interpreting guidelines, and promoting compliance with agency and University policies.

OSR Home Page


Other Research Related Offices


Research & Academic Technologies (R&AT)



Research & Academic Technologies (R&AT) provides information technology services and consulting to Northwestern faculty in support of their teaching activities and in selected research computing areas.

In addition to providing course management system services for all NU schools, the department works with NU faculty on: video-conferencing services, visualization technologies, and software application development for learning activities or research. AT department staff have particular expertise in the development of digital repositories, high-resolution digital imaging projects, and high-bandwidth streaming video and audio.

The department partners with NU faculty on grant proposals and it engages with NU schools in the planning process for new uses of information technology for teaching and research.

R&AT reports to the CIO.

Homepage

The Northwestern Center for Clinical Research (NCCR)
Formerly the Office of Clinical Research and Training



NCCR is part of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. NCCR is dedicated to facilitating and conducting clinical research. Since NCCR's establishment in 1997, it has served as a central resource for physicians, clinical research professionals, patients, and industry sponsors wanting to pursue clinical research activities.

NCCR's mission is to:
  • provide a full range of clinical trial services to investigators
  • establish strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies
  • provide education and training for research faculty and staff members at Northwestern University and beyond

NCCR reports to the Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine.

NCCR Home Page

Office of Corporate Relations (OCR)



The Office of Corporate Relations serves as a gateway for the corporate community. Its primary mission is identifying and fostering mutually beneficial relationships between business and industry and all academic areas of Northwestern University.

OCR reports to Alumni Relations and Development.

OCR Homepage

Office of Foundation Relations (OFR)



The Office of Foundation Relations serves as a liaison between Northwestern and private charitable foundation that are potential funding sources for University projects and programs.

OFR reports to Alumni Relations and Development.

OFR Homepage

Office of Industry Relations (OIR)



The Office of Industry Relations serves as industry's portal to Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The mission of the office is to broaden the relationship between industry and McCormick and to foster meaningful interactions among industry, the School, and faculty that will lead to collaborative research projects, cooperative education links and graduate recruitment opportunities.

OIR reports to the Dean of the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Homepage

Technology Transfer Program (TTP)



The Technology Transfer Program, a self-supporting unit, assists faculty, students, and staff in moving academic innovation from the bench to the market. The specific functions of its mission are to:
  • Facilitate commercialization of University's innovative technologies for public use and benefit
  • Educate faculty, students, and staff on what constitutes intellectual property and its timely protection
  • Protect the inventors' and University's rights in novel technologies, copyrights, software, and marketing to the private sector
  • Assist faculty, students, and staff to determine the market opportunities of their ideas and technologies
  • Assist entrepreneurs in creating start-up companies
  • Structure and negotiate license deals to generate revenue
  • Reward inventors, departments, schools, and centers by sharing license revenue under University policies

TTP reports to the President.

TTP Homepage