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CWHR Services

“This was my first NIH grant submission and I was totally unrealistic with my personal timeline. [The Center for Women’s Health Research] always does a great job helping get everything together and keeping all the versions of forms in order.”

The Center for Women’s Health Research is here to provide services to women’s health investigators through all phases of project development, regardless of home department. Services CWHR can coordinate include:

Pre-Award

  • Facilitate new areas of research
  • Help investigators build research teams
  • Assist with pilot design and methodology
  • Create timelines and give project management guidance
  • Data management planning
  • Assist with pre-award budgets
  • Procure the services of editors/writers to assist with:
    • Macro-editing
    • Micro-editing
    • Proofreading
    • Formatting
    • Creation of tables, diagrams or figures
    • Letters of support
  • Submission cover letter

Post-Award

  • Guide research team start-up
  • Implement timelines/project management
  • Devise tools and databases
  • Monitor budget and provide monthly reports
  • Provide purchasing, invoice and travel support
  • Human Resources support
  • Marketing and communications support
  • Support progress reporting and submission
  • Provide coaching on data analysis and conclusions
  • Assist with posters and presentations
  • Provide support for manuscript writing teams

Through trial and evaluation, CWHR has created solid processes to guide principal investigators through the pre-award and post-award phases. These methods allow us to provide reliable services with just enough room for customization depending on the project. We have also developed a PI Portal for investigators and their support personnel dedicated to answering common questions such as cash advance, ordering, travel, etc. processes and form, as well as available university resources. And if you find a better method or have suggestions we’re happy to learn from you!

Grant size determines the complexity of services available through CWHR. Click on each category below to learn more.

Funding Sources PI Time Salary Expectations Indirects
  • University
  • Foundations
  • Professional organizations
  • State and local governments
  • Federal
  • Dependent on salary support
  • Minimal salary support
  • Depends on funding source; typically foundation rates are lower than federal rates
  • Foundations
  • Federal
  • Dependent on salary support
  • 10-20% salary support expected (some Foundations or Federal sources)
  • Depends on funding source; typically foundation rates are lower than federal rates
Assistance CWHR can offer
Center assistance for some projects at this level may require funding support from your Division or Department. Please discuss with your Division Director or equivalent before contacting the Center.

  • Database, data management, and analysis
  • Guidance on specimen collection, storage, analysis
  • Mentorship
  • Access to work study students, fellows, medical students, interns, etc.
  • Application preparation and submission
  • Grant administration
  • Progress reports
  • Project management support for recruitment and implementation
  • May be able to broker PRN, RA or research nurse time
Funding Sources PI Time Salary Expectations Indirects
  • Foundations (few)
  • Federal
  • Usually greater than salary support
  • Minimum 15% salary support expected by funding agency; sometimes more is necessary
  • Depends on funding source; typically foundation rates are lower than federal rate
Assistance CWHR can offer
The Department of ObGyn supports Center assistance for projects at this level through a yearly contribution to the Center. If you are outside the Department of ObGyn, please contact the Center to determine how we will work together.

  • Database, data management, and analysis
  • Guidance on specimen collection, storage, analysis
  • Mentorship
  • Access to work study students, fellows, medical students, interns, etc.
  • Application preparation and submission
  • Grant administration and progress reports
  • Project management for recruitment and implementation
  • Dedicated study staff – RA, research nurse, study coordinator; CWHR can assist with job descriptions, posting, screening, interviewing, all aspects of hiring process
  • Manuscript, abstract, poster preparation
Funding Sources PI Time Salary Expectations Indirects
  • Commercial – pharmaceutical companies and CRO’s
  • Dependent on complexity of the study and support staff
  • Salary support highly variable; physician time may be minimally covered but much is in-kind
  • Minimum of 28% (non-negotiable)
Assistance CWHR can offer
Assistance for clinical trials is available through the CWHR. Industry sponsored and initiated clinical trials have a unique process to follow. Please see the Industry Sponsored Trials page for details. Please discuss with your Division Director or equivalent, then complete the Clinical Trial Support Request Form to kick off the process.

  • Navigating the Office of Clinical Trials approval process
  • Evaluating protocols and recruitment potential
  • Establishing cost of protocol
  • Budget negotiations
  • Sponsor and study vetting
  • Recruitment and enrollment tracking
  • Monitoring financial health of trials.

For grants that signify a PI’s first receipt of a particular award type or large shift in funding amount, the Center will help coordinate with NC TraCS’ Research Coordination & Management Unit (RCMU) to assist with study team initiation and project startup.

RCMU is able to provide the following services:

  • Creation of a functional grant timeline that includes hiring, ordering of supplies, timely off-boarding of research staff;
  • orientation of the CWHR financial processes for ordering;
  • interim research assistants to assure a timely start of the project until the study team is in place;
  • and assistance with hiring and training of research staff.

 How CWHR and RCMU will work together: 

  • During the pre-award process, PIs interested in these services will meet with a RCMU project manager to assess the PI’s needs and obtain an estimate for the scope of work to include in the grant budget. In some cases, CWHR may be able to provide supplemental funding to cover a portion of these costs.
  • Once the funding is awarded, the PI and a member of the CWHR post-award/finance team will meet with RCMU to establish a formal MOU and ensure there is no duplication with services already provided by the Center.
  • All other CWHR post-award processes will remain the same and the Center will continue to assist with the RCMU engagement as needed.
  • Click here for a breakdown of services and responsibilities.