Research Communication from VPDoR for Chairs and Directors - November 28, 2023

Dear Chairs and Directors,

This month, I’m sharing updates on the following topics: 

  • Inaugural c-ShARP Voucher Program Awardees
  • Recruiting for new IRB medical panel members
  • Proofig, a new AI-based tool to support researchers

As always, you are encouraged to share relevant parts of this letter with your faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students who may find the information and links helpful. 

20 PI Proposals Funded under the Inaugural c-ShARP Voucher Program
Congratulations to the inaugural awardees of the c–ShARP (Community of Shared Advanced Research Platforms) Voucher Program. A total of 20 PIs will receive support under this program to pursue their project and ideas in the coming year. These PIs come from 4 schools (SoM, H&S, SoE, SDSS) and will pursue their research in 16 different shared facilities. Each successful proposal received funding of up to $10,000 for one year. The Voucher Program aims to encourage awardees to utilize the University’s shared resources and to foster collaboration across disciplines.

Based on participant feedback at the 2022 Shared Facilities Summit and the consensus of the Deans, this program prioritizes new faculty: 85% of the new awardees are faculty who have been at Stanford for less than three years. 

The next c-ShARP Voucher Program proposal cycle will occur in Fall 2024. To learn more about the program, contact Claudius Mundoma. 
 
Below are a few comments from our new awardees: 
 
“Just applying for this c-ShARP award was already transformational to initiate relationships with Stanford Cores. We have been looking at where to do our analyses, which encouraged us to reach out to the Stanford Cores before considering other options. Now that we have been awarded, we can become fully familiar with the relevant cores and collect the preliminary data necessary for larger awards. Thank you!”
 
“As a young faculty member, I deeply appreciate the generous support we have received for our research project. This endeavor represents a bold venture, teetering on the edge of great risk and potential monumental reward. The funding we've been granted will enable us to rigorously test our hypothesis and generate critical proof-of-concept data. This initial investment is not merely a contribution; it's a catalyst that propels us towards validating feasibility and lays the foundation for garnering additional, substantial funding. Our collaboration with the Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center at Stanford is not just a partnership; it is a synergistic alliance that will advance the boundaries of our collective understanding.”
 
“A very good holiday gift for our study, thanks to the C-ShARP program…”
 
Contribute your expertise to an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Panel
We are actively seeking faculty with expertise in Cardiovascular Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gene Transfer, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Oncology, Pediatrics, and Surgery to join one of our five medical IRB panels.

IRB panels are an important part of Stanford’s commitment to safeguarding the safety and well-being of research participants. IRB members participate in the review of protocols, including new studies, continuing (annual) reviews, and modifications. The Research Compliance Office supports each IRB Panel. 

Membership in an IRB panel is an excellent way to get exposure to a broad range of Stanford research activities. Committee deliberations address complex and interesting ethical issues. Below is some key information about IRB service: 

  • There are five convened medical panels, members of which are typically associate or full professors.
  • The panels consist of a mix of standing and alternate members. 
  • Monthly meetings are held for each panel on a Tuesday or Wednesday, following a year-round schedule. 
  • The time commitment per month varies, depending on whether the panel member serves as a primary or alternate member and the number of protocols assigned. 
  • All meetings are conducted via Zoom and are typically scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Faculty who are interested in this opportunity – particularly those from the fields listed above,  should visit the Panel Members webpage and contact Manjit Gill, HRPP Associate Director.
  
Proofig: A Free AI-Powered Tool to Support Researchers
The School of Medicine has initiated a campus-wide enterprise subscription to Proofig, an AI-powered online service that helps to flag image duplication errors in research articles. This versatile tool can analyze microscopy, Western blot, in-vivo, and in-vitro images, and many others. Access is available by signing up under the Stanford banner at https://app.proofig.com/login using your SUNet ID. A user guide and technical support information can be found here.
 
 
Regards,
 
David Studdert 
Vice Provost and Dean of Research