About HMS Sponsored Programs Administration

Mission

In support of the research mission of Harvard Medical School (HMS), SPA provides:

Specified research support services to HMS departments, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and NEPRC;
Compliance oversight of sponsored research activities related to these research support services;
Expert advice to the faculty and departments related to these research support services. Under certain circumstances, this mission statement may extend to the faculty of HMS affiliated institutions.

Vision

To be recognized 1) by the faculty, departments and other organizational components at HMS as a research support organization that actively facilitates the pursuit of sponsored research at HMS, and 2) by peer organizations throughout the country as a national leader in providing research administration services that are both customer and compliance focused.

Values

Proactive and timely service
Integrity
Innovative leadership
Teamwork
Commitment to excellence
Ability to solve problems
Comprehensive research administration knowledge Investment in people

Specific Research Support Services

Distributes funding opportunity information to the Principal Investigators to assist in the identification of funding opportunities.
Partners with faculty and staff in the preparation of proposals and applications.
Reviews and approve proposals and applications.
Submits approved proposals and applications to sponsors.
Negotiates terms and conditions of HMS awards and informs faculty, departments, OSP, FOA and other staff as appropriate.
Partners with Harvard University's Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) in the identification of data needed to support account set-up and other required attributes for internal and external reporting and cash management.
Partners with Office of Research Compliance (ORC), OSP, and other organizational components to provide training and education to faculty and staff.
Anticipates problems that may arise and proactively works with the faculty and departments to solve these problems.

For a more detailed listing of SPA functions, please consult the HMS research administration roles and responsibilities matrix located on the SPA web site.