Research Insights: Our Research Matters
By Rachel Hess, MD, MS
The changes in federal funding priorities have generated significant concern among researchers, for understandable reasons. Restructuring in the Department of Health and Human Services is significantly affecting operations, and these and other federal changes have impacted research funding at universities nationwide. Hitting close to home, more than a dozen grants have been terminated here at the University of Utah.
During this time of uncertainly, U leadership is actively advocating for research and planning strategically for the future. They are engaging frequently with state and federal government officials to convey the significance of our work and how policy changes could affect progress. On campus, leaders are regularly convening and meeting with researchers across the university to understand the impact of federal changes on their work and gather ideas. They are ensuring that robust plans are in place, including reviewing and updating our bridge funding policies.
Through these sessions, three things have become clear:
- The U’s research mission will continue to move forward. This is a critical time to advance knowledge, research, and innovation.
- Our greatest asset is our people. The U will continue to support students, faculty, and staff while maintaining a world-class environment for learning and research.
- Leadership teams are committed to developing strategies that allow the research community to adapt and engage in new opportunities.
Throughout these endeavors, we adhere to our core values—prioritizing the people at the U and those we serve through our research, conducting the highest quality science, and educating the next generation of scientists. These values guide us as we create new opportunities in today's challenging environment.
The Importance of Communicating Clearly
A bright spot during this time is that one grant that had been terminated has been restored. We believe lessons learned from this success can be applied to other cases. Central to these efforts is collaborating with the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) and the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to communicate the value of the terminated research to the funding agency. To support researchers—including those that have received a notice of grant termination, were notified they need to revise a grant, or are concerned their grant is at risk—we have created guidelines about "What to do if..." and an accompanying worksheet you can access with your uNID.
We know why our research matters, but those critical benefits aren’t necessarily apparent to everyone. When it comes to communicating the value of our work, it’s not just about what we say—it’s about making sure our audience understands what we mean.
As experts in our fields, we often speak in our own language, using shorthand and scientific buzzwords. But these can obscure the true meaning. For example, explaining that a major focus of the Utah Clinical and Translational Science institute is to improve health for all people in the Mountain West, including the region’s rural and frontier communities, helped illustrate what would be lost if CTSI’s center grant funding were terminated. Clearly laying out the facts contributed to restoration of CTSI funding. We think this is a replicable process because the work we do at the U helps advance discoveries that impact human health.
We’ve found that it’s important to convey consequences of termination in real terms. How many staff and trainees would be impacted? Could termination of a project prevent a student from earning their degree? How far along is the research project? What scientific advancements would be lost if it stops before completion? The Why My Grant Matters worksheet guides researchers in formulating those answers.
One thing we’ve learned through our experience is that we’re in this together, from the staff at OSP to the senior-most leadership at the U. Groups across campus are joining forces to address the current situation and finding new ways to forge ahead. I am grateful to be part of this community, especially during these times of change. Thank you for joining all of our colleagues on this journey!