Frequently Asked Questions - Research - Texas Southern University

What types of research grants is the Office of Research responsible for? Close

All federal and state grants. Foundation grants are handled through the Development Office.

How soon should I notify the Office of Research that I am interested in submitting a proposal? Open

As soon as you know you are interested. Hopefully, 3-4 weeks before the due date and greater if the proposal is limited to 1 or 2 submissions per year for each institution.

To whom should the informal notification be emailed? Open

To Adana Brown (brown_af@tsu.edu) and copy Dr. David Owerbach (owerbachd@tsu.edu>

Is a formal notice of intent to apply required? Open

It is highly suggested that the official form is provided to the Office of Research.

What will the Office of Research do once you provide an informal notification? Open

We will check the RFA to determine: if TSU is eligible for the granting mechanism, the due date of the proposal, whether a letter of intent is required to the agency, how many proposals can be submitted per institution, whether matching funds are required, what is the indirect cost rate allowed and what other faculty have already submitted an informal notification of intent. We will also assist you with any questions you have and help you organize, edit and submit your proposal.

What is the procedure if multiple faculties want to submit a proposal limited to one per institution? Open

If the Office of Research gets multiple requests, priority is given to faculty that has submitted the proposal previously and were not funded but had a positive review by the agency. If necessary and sufficient time allows, a pre-review process will be implemented. Submit your informal notice to apply early as once the Office of Research gives the faculty approval to proceed with their proposal, the decision is final.

What is the procedure for the Office of Research to submit my proposal? Open

You must have a transmittal formed signed by yourself, Chair and Dean along with your budget and draft of your proposal sent to and approved by the Office of Research Financial Services (Diane Lewis). You should allow 5 working days for this approval to go through. If you need an Institutional Letter submitted with the application signed by the Provost, it is drafted by Adana Brown and signed by the Provost, only after approval by Diane Lewis. Allow extra time if you need the Institutional Letter. If the Office of Research is going to upload the documents in your application for you, all required documents must be sent to Adana Brown at least 24 hours before the due date. If you upload your own application and submit it, it will automatically go to Adana Brown to send through to the agency. Adana Brown and Dr. David Owerbach will review your application to make sure it is complete and without errors before it is sent through. It is best that this process takes place at least 24 hours before the due date.

What is the protocol review process? Open

The protocol is initially reviewed for completeness, attachment of documents, and required e-signatures. The protocol will then be assigned to either the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for review. Comments made by the committee will be addressed to the principal investigator (PI) by returning the protocol via the TOPAZ system. The PI must address the comments, then, via TOPAZ return the protocol. Once the committee is satisfied with the protocol contents, the protocol is placed on the agenda for the next committee meeting, at which time the committee votes on the disposition of the protocol. The PI will be sent notification of this disposition via TOPAZ e-mail, followed by a letter.

How long does it take for a protocol to be reviewed? Open

The committee requests that six (6) weeks be allowed for the review. It may not take the full six weeks to review the protocol, however, we remind investigators that committee members are the same faculty that teaches classes; attend college/school meetings, and perform other necessary administrative functions.

Are all protocols assigned to a committee? Open

All animal protocols are initially assigned to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); human subject protocols are reviewed to determine if they meet the standards for being classified as exempt or expedited according to 45 CFR 46 Public Welfare Department of Health and Human Services Protection of Human Subjects. Protocols that are not exempt or considered expedited are assigned the full committee review.

How often do the committees meet? Open

The committees attempt to meet once per month, however, the dates are subject to change depending on administrative commitments of the members (a quorum is required for a meeting).

When do the committees meet? Open

Because the committee members are faculty of the university whose teaching schedules vary by the semester, the committee schedule is made at the start of the Fall and Spring semesters. See the

Is the TOPAZ system only for TSU students and faculty? What if I want to do research, but am not a TSU student nor faculty? Open

You may visit our "Protocol Process" page, and click on the "External Protocols" tab for information and to download the documents to help you get started with this request.