Institutions prioritize improving research administration efficiency. In 2020, US research expenditures reached $550 billion, funded by government and private industry. To streamline operations, institutions adopt electronic research administration (eRA) systems. eRA systems consolidate tasks and provide various benefits to research institutions. Let’s explore what an eRA system is and how it positively impacts them.
Managing the Grant Life Cycle
Many organizations use their electronic research administration systems for grant management, which consists of two phases: pre-award and post-award. These phases are connected, as actions taken before receiving an award affect its management. To simplify the process, an electronic research administration system that handles both pre and post-award functions is essential.
This integrated system reduces the need for extensive data collection and entry throughout the grant’s lifecycle. It also provides budgeting tools for proposing, adjusting, and managing budgets, documenting expenses, and obtaining approvals. These features enhance efficiency and purposefulness in grant management.
Route proposals that are efficient
Many organizations use their eRA for grant management, which consists of two phases: pre-award and post-award. These phases are connected, as actions taken before receiving an award affect its management. To simplify the process, an electronic research administration system that handles both pre and post-award functions is essential.
This integrated system reduces the need for extensive data collection and entry throughout the grant’s lifecycle. It also provides budgeting tools for proposing, adjusting, and managing budgets, documenting expenses, and obtaining approvals. These features enhance efficiency and purposefulness in grant management.
Get rid of the paper in favor of an electronic research administration system
A paperless system enhances efficiency by storing all important documents electronically, encompassing everything from proposal to closeout. This reduces the need for physical storage space in an organization.
Furthermore, electronic storage ensures the preservation of program documentation without the risk of loss or destruction. Additionally, an electronic research administration system can generate a comprehensive audit trail, enabling the system records to display the actions and timing of individuals involved, in case of any inquiries.
Access from anywhere, at any time
The electronic research administration system offers convenient access from anywhere and at any time. This cloud-based eRA eliminates delays caused by unavailable authorizers. As long as users have Internet access, they can manage processes effectively, whether they are in the office or not. Researchers and administrators can easily access the system and ensure smooth management even when they are not physically present.
Increasing the visibility of the research administration process
An electronic research administration system brings transparency to the research administration process. It informs team members of project progress and alerts them to necessary approvals. The system actively seeks approvals, sends compliance reminders, and tracks important dates and deadlines. Managing details electronically eliminates wasted time for institutions.
Easy submission of proposals
The eRA system is a leading industry tool for proposal development and award management. It offers research administration tools to efficiently prepare and submit research proposals to government funders like the NIH via Grants.gov. Users can clone and modify proposals for multiple funders. These systems compile and validate proposals, enhancing funding search efficiency and reducing errors.
Business intelligence at your fingertips
An electronic research administration system can swiftly and effortlessly provide essential business intelligence to decision makers within an institution. For example, if someone needs a comprehensive analysis of specific expenses or an overview of an institution’s research funding, the system can promptly and accurately deliver the necessary answers.
Around-the-clock-support
Universities often opt to manage their own research administration tools and support, which can be resource-intensive. However, to cut down on costs, many universities are now adopting cloud-based electronic research administration systems.
This move enables them to reduce overhead expenses, allocate resources more efficiently, and bolster the security of research data. Furthermore, this approach provides a transparent view of the institution’s yearly expenditure on research administration.
Using enterprise electronic research administration systems
An electronic research administration system such as streamlyne eliminates manual data input and reduces errors. It integrates with HR and Financial systems, preventing conflicting or outdated information. The integration works both ways, ensuring up-to-date data in systems-of-record.
Conclusion
Research administration systems play a vital role in enhancing research efficiency. By streamlining workflows and automating tasks, these systems enable researchers to concentrate on their work and increase productivity.
Additionally, these systems provide centralized databases and real-time reporting, fostering collaboration, efficient data management, and compliance with regulations. Therefore, the implementation of research administration systems is essential for optimizing research processes and facilitating scientific advancements.