One of the VPRI team’s most important roles is serving as the liaison with sponsoring organizations and monitoring and undertaking advocacy on the changing landscape of funding programs, especially those operated by the Federal Tri-Agencies. It is crucial that we leverage all available resources and creativity to support the competitiveness and success of researchers in a wide array of governmental, private-sector, not-for-profit, foundation-based and other research funding programs and opportunities.

In 2016, the Government of Canada launched the Fundamental Science Review, the first of its kind in 40 years. An independent review panel was tasked with assessing the programs currently in place to support science and scientists in Canada. The VPRI team co-ordinated the development of the U of T submission to the panel based on our experiences with the Granting Councils and other funding organizations, and through consultations with our researchers and administrators.

In order to convey the complex landscape of funding and research impact, we also developed for the first time the 2016 U of T Research & Innovation Ecosystem Map to graphically highlight the strengths of our national and international connections and contributions. The map captures U of T’s research, innovation, community engagement, and related teaching activities and shows the strength of support U of T provides to the Toronto region, as well as its key international activities. The VPRI team provides and supports services and resources that enable the U of T research community navigate this funding landscape.

The VPRI also plays a significant role in supporting cross-divisional and inter-institutional research funding initiatives. In 2016, this included coordinating the development of an institutional proposal on Data-Driven Solutions for the second Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) competition, and coordinating resources and information to enhance funding and other opportunities in the area of Energy and the Environment.

Lab Innovation for Toronto Project (LIFT)

From left: U of T's Scott Mabury, Vice-President, University Operations; Hon. Han Dong, MPP (Trinity-Spadina); U of T President, Meric Gertler; Hon. Reza Moridi, MPP (Richmond Hill) and Ontario Minister of Research, Innovation and Science; Hon. Navdeep Bains, MP (Mississauga-Malton) and Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

In what U of T President Meric Gertler called “an historic investment in Canadian science and innovation,” the Federal and provincial governments joined with the University to provide almost $190 million to upgrade 47 per cent of U of T’s research labs over the next two years. The renovations are being spearheaded by the Vice President, University Operations, and will increase usable space and enhance the quality of the research and learning environment. These upgrades will help us to conduct cutting-edge research that creates the conditions for innovation and long-term growth to keep the Canadian economy globally competitive. The labs to be renovated are, on average, 50 years old and comprise more than 50,000 square metres of space. Work has already begun and will be completed by the spring of 2018.

Innovations, Partnerships & Entrepreneurship

Successful partnerships between industry and members of the U of T research and innovation community are crucial to our success. The Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) continues to develop and refine practices to make it easier to build successful partnerships that turn ideas and innovation into products, services, companies, and jobs. Our efforts have produced impressive results: in the past five years, the number of industry partners has grown to more than 300, while the amount of industry-sponsored research has increased by 50 per cent. The VPRI team now manages over 2,000 funded and non-funded agreements and contracts with industry annually. We have expanded connections to venture capitalists and angel investors and improved the tracking of our intellectual property (IP)-based companies. Through the UTEST startup accelerator, and with the support of the Ontario Centres of Excellence’s Campus-Linked Accelerator program, in 2016, U of T Entrepreneurship supported 16 companies by providing intensive education, incubation space, mentorship, and investment.

Accountability & Reporting

Ensuring accountability and accurate and timely reporting are crucial elements of academic research and innovation. U of T is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct in research and looks to the VPRI team to support and monitor the research process. The Research and Oversight Compliance Office (ROCO) oversees human ethics, animal ethics, financial reporting, and audit and legal services; IPO supports innovation-related audits. With the assistance of dedicated faculty and community volunteers, we manage the complex sponsor and regulatory requirements that accompany academic research.

In 2016, the VPRI conducted an in-depth review of the University’s mechanisms for adherence to U.S. Financial Conflict of Interest guidelines and developed interpretation documents and specific processes to assist our faculty.

The VPRI also participated in the Indigenous Research Ethics and Community Relationships Working Group as part of U of T's response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Environmental Health and Safety

In 2016, oversight of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) became part of ROCO’s mission. EHS’s job is to ensure that U of T work, research, and study conditions and surroundings are environmentally responsible, safe, and healthy. It does this by being proactive in identifying risks and emerging issues and by developing and implementing innovative, practical, and sustainable processes to manage them; these include training and awareness, teaching, the provision of expert advice, and emergency response and assurance. Through close collaboration with all members of the University community, EHS establishes and maintains the health and safety systems that enhance U of T’s world-class research.

Cross-Portfolio Operational Improvements

The VPRI team continuously seeks to improve its service by developing and enhancing innovative, state-of-the-art administrative systems and tools and providing research information analysis to support strategic research planning. In 2016, we continued to advance the Research Administration Improvement and Systems Enhancement (RAISE) initiative, focusing on the recently launched Calendar tool. This efficient tool enables VPRI staff to track funded research deadlines and deliverables, send reminders to Principal Investigators and administrative support staff, and generally improve planning for and compliance to sponsor requirements. Other projects currently underway include My Research – Human Protocols (MRHP), scheduled for roll-out in 2017; My Research – Intellectual Property (MRIP), which will streamline the invention disclosure and royalty distribution processes; and My Research – Documents (MRDocs), which will make key documents associated with each funded project visible to all participants.

We have also continued to develop online training seminars that are available to faculty and students across the University. This year we developed the Human Ethics online seminar.

RAISE continues to benefit the work of the VPRI and our academic units and researchers. Through a two-pronged approach—increasing the visibility of indirect cost budget requests through the controls of the My Research Applications system and the automation of monthly postings of indirect cost recoveries—RAISE has contributed to a marked increase in revenue for indirect costs, augmenting the impact of U of T’s Research Administration Policy.

Awards & Honours

Our ability to generate ground-breaking research and innovations also helps enhance national and international recognition of our faculty and, more broadly, the University. The VPRI team works closely with our academic divisions to support nominations for prestigious prizes and develop nomination strategies. We also collect and manage institutional award and honours data, inform the University community of opportunities for nominations, and celebrate the many successes achieved by U of T faculty.