As part of UAB’s Research Strategic Initiative, myUABResearch Phase 1 will be live on Dec. 15.  Effective Dec. 15, how you submit grants, agreements, financial disclosures and pre-approval/external activity requests will change. 

Major strategic investments recently launched through UAB’s Research Strategic Initiative have been made possible through supplemental state appropriations, including bridge funding to preserve high-impact research, investments in artificial intelligence and a new patient-friendly clinical trials unit.

The Research Strategic Initiative Retreat on Sept. 22 brought together university leaders, faculty and research administrators to advance UAB’s research enterprise in alignment with evolving federal priorities.

Plans developed through the efforts of more than 100 faculty and staff members have given UAB a blueprint for resilience and creating operational efficiencies that is being translated into tangible progress across the institution’s research enterprise.

UAB has launched the Igniting Data Insights initiative and the cross-functional Technology Alignment and Collaboration Committee to strengthen our infrastructure, foster collaboration and ensure that our decisions are informed, efficient and future-ready.

More than 100 faculty and staff are driving progress through their membership in the six working groups of the UAB Research Strategic Initiative. Learn more about their progress in recent months.

The Academic Research Organization for Clinical Trials, or ARO-CT, has been established to support the expanding infrastructure needs of UAB’s clinical trials enterprise as part of the university’s Research Strategic Initiative.

Analysis by UAB Sustainability found that 33 research labs participating in UAB’s Green Labs Program saved an estimated $150,000 in energy costs in 2024.

Learn more about the initiative’s progress in this article and make plans to attend the town hall meeting at 10 a.m. March 19 for updates and questions with President Watts, Vice President Brown and working group leaders.

Attend a town hall at the Alumni House at 10 a.m. March 19, 2025, for an important update on UAB’s Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose.

The $1 million project to install the university’s first bulk dry heat sterilizer was made possible through a grant from the NIH and internal investments as part of the Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose. Dry heat sterilization is more efficient and saves power and water.

After an extensive national search, UAB has appointed David Kimberlin, M.D., as associate vice president for Clinical Trial Operations, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

After an extensive national search, UAB has named Kevyn E. Merten, Ph.D., as the senior associate vice president for Research Operations, effective Jan. 14. Merten will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Office of Research. He joins UAB from the University of Louisville.

Six working groups have been meeting to address infrastructure opportunities that will help UAB expand its research impact and expenditures through the Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose. Read more about how the groups were selected, their progress and next steps.

Take a closer look at the new fund, which was launched this summer by the Office of the President to help expand UAB’s portfolio of funded principal investigators as part of the Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose.

Funds for recruitment and retention, enhanced research capabilities, new leadership roles and new infrastructure for interdisciplinary collaboration are all fueling the initiative's bold vision of growing the UAB research enterprise to increase our positive impact on people’s lives.

Finding a new electronic research administration solution to replace IRAP, the current tool, was one of the five key priorities for immediate action as part of UAB's Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose. After approval by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees early this month, UAB has selected an integrated, cloud-based platform that will be named myUABResearch.

The final report from UAB’s engagement with Huron Consulting and Urban Impact Advisors recommended forming six working groups to enable the goals of the Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose. In collaboration with the UAB deans and the chair of the Faculty Senate, the Executive Steering Committee has identified two co-chairs to lead each working group.

Missed the meeting? Find out about high-growth research areas, governance plans and more in this recap.

President Watts will share an important update on planning during a town hall on March 20. Several areas for improvement identified by stakeholders during the data collection phase last summer were immediately actionable and have already led to significant gains.