As UAB and other research-intensive universities nationwide navigate a complex and evolving landscape, our institution has a notable advantage. The UAB Research Strategic Initiative, launched in 2023, has given us a blueprint for resilience and creating operational efficiencies that is being translated into tangible progress across our research enterprise. These plans, developed through the efforts of more than 100 faculty and staff members participating in the initiative’s working groups over the past two years, are allowing us to better preserve and maintain our research mission.

“While we acknowledge the fluid funding landscape and closely monitor, assess and address developments, it is encouraging to reflect on the continued resilience and impact of our research enterprise,” said Chris Brown, Ph.D., UAB vice president for Research. Year-to-date research expenditures for FY2025 are up $14 million (3 percent) compared to FY2024 — an outcome of the Research Strategic Initiative and collaborative work undertaken over the past couple of years, Brown says. Proposal submissions have also grown by more than 8 percent, rising from 2,253 to 2,440 overall. Clinical trials, particularly those supported by industry, remain a promising area, with expenditures up 3 percent year over year. While sustaining this level of growth may be challenging, these results reflect more than just numbers; they reflect the collective effort and foresight that continue to drive our mission forward.

The key elements of the Research Strategic Initiative have always been efficiency, transparency and accountability, which are more important now than ever. Details of the plan and process can be found online.

“From the very beginning of our Research Strategic Initiative, we heard a consistent message from faculty and staff: This is not about chasing a dollar figure — it’s about building a research infrastructure that supports our people and our mission,” said UAB President Ray Watts.

• As one example, UAB’s new electronic research administration platform, myUABResearch, will launch its first phase in mid-December of 2025 with modules for grants, agreements and conflicts of interest. This cloud-based system is replacing several previously fragmented platforms, including IRAP, Bioware and the Oracle Conflict of Interest form. This single solution will streamline workflows and better support UAB researchers.
• Streamlined workflowsin other areas of research administration have already paid off in significant improvements, including reducing the time needed for Institutional Review Board protocols to be approved and for time to activation of clinical trials contracts. The number of days for the initial review of local IRBs has dropped from 60 days in August 2024 to nine days currently. Meanwhile, the time to activation of clinical trials contracts has dropped from 140 days in FY22 to 75 daysas of the third quarter of FY25.
• Work through the Research Strategic Initiative has identified technological challenges with data access and the sharing of technological strategies across UAB. In response, a new initiative, called Igniting Data Insights, has been launched, along with the formation of the UAB Technology Alignment and Collaboration Committee, which represents a structured collaborative effort between UAB and the Health System. (Learn more about these efforts in this Reporter article.)
• Efforts by leaders from Human Resources, Research Administration, and schools and units across campus have led to updated research career laddersto support professional growth and retention. These include General Research, Clinical Research and Data Sciences tracks.

These snapshots illustrate the ongoing efforts to proactively position our research enterprise for current and future success as we respond to fluid developments. Follow the progress of the Research Strategic Initiative online here.