PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

High costs of research at universities made worse by funding gap

'Real' costs of research not met by funding available to universities

2014-01-10
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Judy Lowry
jhlowry@usf.edu
813-974-3181
University of South Florida (USF Innovation)
High costs of research at universities made worse by funding gap 'Real' costs of research not met by funding available to universities TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2014) – Although more opportunity exists for university-based researchers to be innovative, and there is more financial support for innovation than ever before, the cost of university research is rising to new levels and presents a serious funding problem. The "real costs" of research—costs that include indirect costs—often extend far beyond support from a university's central research office and are almost never covered by funding. As a result, the aggressive research agendas set by universities have costs that often outweigh the ultimate revenue universities hope to gain from research.

The paper appears in the current special issue of Technology and Innovation- Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors®.

"There is a significant gap between the real costs of university research and the funding that is available to support university research," said Karen Holbrook, former president of The Ohio State University. "Greater administrative financial support is needed for investigators and new, external funding sources need to be explored to pay for indirect costs, such as staff, equipment, educational resources, and travel."

University-based research is vitally important to the communities served by universities, said the authors, and needs to continue at high levels.

According to co-author Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, distinguished university professor and senior vice president for research and innovation at the University of South Florida (USF), externally-funded research dollars are of great value to the community when the "imported money" translates into more highly skilled, high-wage jobs, the sales of goods and services and expertise that can be accessed by the community.

"University-based medical research is a case in point," said Sanberg. "This research saves and extends lives, and the universities conducting this kind of research are often key to companies relocating to the area."

However, aggressive research agendas need adequate financial support, and Holbrook and Sanberg want to see university central research offices do better when it comes to a number of fundraising-related functions, such as resource acquisition and management, marketing the university, building external relationships, institutional investment, and institutional accountability, performance, and productivity.

The authors also list external revenue sources that can be tapped to support university-based research, including state, federal, and private sources; special state support (such as tobacco settlement or oil spill-related dollars); equity ownership in startup; and small companies housed at university business incubators.

Holbrook and Sanberg also call for a university's central research office to be more aware of current issues in higher education; account better for time, money, and activities related to research; place greater emphasis on entrepreneurism; and be more proactive at developing strategic partnerships within the academy as well as locally and globally.

"A university's challenge is to reduce costs where there are unnecessary duplicate activities, to generate more revenue to support research, and to expand services to support faculty research," concluded the authors.

###

The National Academy of Inventors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit member organization comprised of U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions, with over 3,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 200 institutions, and growing rapidly. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI edits the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation – Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors, published by Cognizant Communication Corporation (NY). The editorial offices of Technology and Innovation are located at the University of South Florida Research Park, 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 165, Tampa, Florida, 33612 USA. Tel: +1-813-974-1347. Email TIJournal@research.usf.edu

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

With instruments in space and on earth, NJIT solar experts monitor the massive solar storm

2014-01-10
With instruments in space and on earth, NJIT solar experts monitor the massive solar storm The first powerful "X-class" solar flare of 2014, in association with another solar phenomenon, a giant cloud of solar particles known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), erupted from ...

LSUHSC research reveals structure of master regulator and new drug target for autism, cervical cancer

2014-01-10
LSUHSC research reveals structure of master regulator and new drug target for autism, cervical cancer New Orleans, LA – A team of scientists at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has discovered the structure of the active form of E6-associated ...

Report answers questions about the human microbiome and its role in health, obesity

2014-01-10
Report answers questions about the human microbiome and its role in health, obesity The human microbiome, the collection of trillions of microbes living in and on the human body, is not random, and scientists believe that it plays a role in many basic life ...

Paper predicts a future without carnivores would be truly scary

2014-01-10
Paper predicts a future without carnivores would be truly scary Scientists report on the state of world's largest carnivores and the critical benefits they provide NEW YORK (January 9, 2014) — A fascinating paper released today from a team of leading scientists, including ...

New study shows promise for preventing therapy resistance in tumor cells

2014-01-10
New study shows promise for preventing therapy resistance in tumor cells LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 9, 2013) – A new study led by University of Kentucky researchers suggests that activating the tumor suppressor p53 in normal cells causes them to secrete Par-4, another ...

Innovative motion evaluation tool saves patients with back pain X-ray radiation exposure

2014-01-10
Innovative motion evaluation tool saves patients with back pain X-ray radiation exposure Undergraduate students create, patent, market breakthrough technology TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2013) – Those have undergone extensive back surgery and need repeated ...

'Transformational leadership' curbs bad attitudes towards change

2014-01-10
'Transformational leadership' curbs bad attitudes towards change Rare study of correctional officers Toronto – It's no surprise that a cynical attitude towards the prospect of change makes change harder to implement. But it's important ...

War elephant myths debunked by DNA

2014-01-10
War elephant myths debunked by DNA DNA analysis allows researchers at University of Illinois to clarify details of historic battle between Asian and African elephants, the Battle of Raphia Through DNA analysis, Illinois researchers ...

Battery development may extend range of electric cars

2014-01-10
Battery development may extend range of electric cars New anode quadruples life of lithium-sulfur battery, could also help store renewable energy more cheaply RICHLAND, Wash. – It's known that electric vehicles could travel longer distances ...

Antipsychotic drug exhibits cancer-fighting properties

2014-01-10
Antipsychotic drug exhibits cancer-fighting properties In zebrafish model, perphenazine activates therapeutic pathway for intractable leukemia, may hold promise for other tumors BOSTON, Jan. 9, 2014 - In a prime example of finding new uses for older ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] High costs of research at universities made worse by funding gap
'Real' costs of research not met by funding available to universities