The Department of Medicine has implemented two new updates that, while distinct in function, share a common goal: strengthening the infrastructure that supports research planning, submission, and collaboration across the Department.
The first update is the launch of the new DoMRA Submission Intake Form (formerly MOPARS) on a new platform. This intake process is a critical early step in the grant submission lifecycle, allowing Research Administration to anticipate upcoming proposals and align appropriate resources in advance of sponsor deadlines. Transitioning the form to Microsoft Forms has allowed research administration to improve the quality and consistency of information received, enabling more expeditious communication with PIs and reducing administrative burden for both faculty and DoMRA staff. Collectively, these improvements enhance timeliness, accuracy, and efficiency, ensuring investigators receive the right level of support at the right time, while allowing staff effort to be redirected toward higher-value research support activities.
Complementing this process-focused update is the rollout of redesigned faculty and postdoctoral trainee profiles, which enhance how research expertise is presented, discovered, and connected. The new profiles feature a modern layout aligned with Pitt branding and include searchable keywords on the profile homepage, making it easier for colleagues not only within the Department, but also across the University and externally, to identify potential collaborators. Additionally, rather than separating clinical, research, and training interests into discrete sections, the new format integrates these narratives to better reflect how these areas intersect in practice. As before, profiles support the display of publications, honors, and grant activity, with new functionality that allows individuals to link social media accounts.
Together, these updates address different but complementary points in the research continuum, from early awareness and coordination of grant submissions to increased visibility of expertise and collaborative potential. By improving how we collect, manage, and surface research information, the Department is investing in systems that better support investigators, foster collaboration, and enhance the overall efficiency and impact of our research enterprise.