UTMB Faculty Senate

June 10, 2013

4:30 – 6:00 pm

MINUTES

 

Present:  Drs. C. Wiggs, Chair, S. Al-Arabi, P. Boor, W. Braun, L. Cain, P. Crane, S. Croisant, S. Elsaid, S. Fisher, J. Graham, A. Jones, B. Leonard, B. Luxon, N. Mendias, R. Rupp, T. Wen and D. Wild

Absent:  Drs. B. Ameredes, J. Badalamenti, S. Clark, J. Davis, R. Ellis, L. Lawrence, J. McBride, A. Oberhauser, S. Sarna, H. West and D. Young

 

I.              The meeting was called to order at 4:34 pm by Dr. Carol Wiggs, Faculty Senate Chair.

 

II.         The Approval of the May 13 minutes.  The minutes of May 13, 2013 were voted and approved by email on May 31, 2013.

 

III.         Provost, VP and Dean’s Report

 

            Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean, School of Medicine – report provided by Dr. Jacobs.

            VP and Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – report provided by Dr. Cooper.

            VP and Dean, School of Health Professions – report provided by Dr. Protas.

            VP for Education and Dean, School of Nursing – reports provided by Dr. Watson.

                

IV.          Research Futures Task Force Committee Report – Dr. Pettitt

Dr. Pettitt presented a PowerPoint presentation.  Here are some of the highlights from his presentation:  The committee was charged to identify the best research opportunities for UTMB and tailor our investments accordingly.  This report included input from faculty members, chairs, deans and executive leadership.      

Benefits of Research:

            Clinics and Hospitals

·         Partnership to success as we moved toward serving patients who have a choice in medical providers

·         Clinical trials connect basic research and the clinic in translational research

                  Academic Medical Center

·         Brand – provides national and international recognition

·         Institutional ranking – Blue Ridge; US News and World Report

                     Patients

·         Paves the ways for new tests and new treatments

·         Provides patient access to potential tests and treatments that are otherwise not available

                                      Faculty

·         Retains well-known faculty who aid in the recruitment of additional quality faculty

·         Research collaboration better utilizes expertise and expands our effectiveness

     Students

·         Research reputation impacts the recruitment of students

·         Fills the need to work in a top research hospital climate (to create highly skilled professionals)

 

Cost of Research

·         Subsidized from sources other than grants and indirect costs

·         Weighted average fraction contributed by institutions is 23.8%

 

FY2011 UTMB Costs

      Total Costs =          $1,557,024,398

      Research Costs =      $213,465,347

      UTMB investment in research $50.9M or 23.8%

 

This is based on a methodology defined in OMB A-21 with adjustments to capture total costs and is intended to demonstrate relative scale as reasonably as possible.

 

Current areas of strength are:  Infectious diseases, Cancer, Neurosciences, and Environmental sciences

 

Planning Scenarios for UTMB Research Futures                          

 

                                   Driving Force with Greatest Uncertainty

Driving Force with Greatest Impact

        High

 

        Low
                                 High                                                  Low

UTMB financial resources

UTMB faculty expertise

Competition for grants

Access to trained scientific workforce

NIH/federal funding

Supportive infrastructure

(animal models, bioinformatics, equipment, laboratories)

 

 

 

Alignment of faculty expertise with NIH/federal funding priorities

 

 

UTMB faculty time carved out for research vs. other

For each identified opportunity a cost and RO1 was made where possible.

 

Driving Forces of High Impact and High Uncertainty:  UTMB financial resources; UTMB faculty expertise; Competition for grants; and Access to trained scientific workforce

 

                  Impact:  Reduction of federal awards; Reductions in funds to support students and postdoctoral mentees; and Reduction in personnel for clinical trials

 

Opportunities – FY13 forward

      Retain the top 20% of well-known, well-funded faculty scientists; Develop and retain junior faculty – our long-term future; Pursue philanthropic resources to support research;             Identify areas to align and share resources – at UTMB and with sister institutions; to mention a few.

 

Preserve at all Costs:  Retain the top 20% faculty researcher to aid in the recruitment of additional quality faculty and maintain our research expertise; Junior faculty – our long-term research future; Core facilities which are critical to research success; to mention a few.

 

                  Summary 

                        Cost of research to UTMB is $50,903,977 or 23.8% of the total research costs which represents 3.2% of the total; Benefits of research are the creation of knowledge to fight disease and the attraction of patients with flexible health funding who consider the reputation of the institution                          when choosing health care; and The future of research is the         conjunction of what we are and the federal initiatives.

 

V.            Reports by Faculty Senate Chair

            Dr. Wiggs followed up from her email sent to the senators on June 7, regarding the UTS 175 and UTS 180 where she has asked for input.  A couple of senators gave some examples:  book chapter(s); grant review; honorariums; coediting a journal; expert witness.  One senator mentioned this is part of their “academic freedom.”  Dr. Wiggs asked if they think of anymore concerns or to give input, send her an email soon.

 

         The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 pm.