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Committees of the OVPR

The Vice Provost for Research serves as a resource for the University’s strategic research planning and development and chairs several Penn committees to govern this work.

The Provost’s Council on Research

The Provost’s Council on Research (PCR) is an advisory committee to the Vice Provost for Research and plays an important role in formulating and implementing research policies across the University. The Council is constituted of faculty leaders from each of the twelve Schools. Members of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the leadership of each of the reporting offices attends the Council and discusses issues of import with respect to strategic oversight and management of Penn’s research enterprise. PCR meets on a monthly basis during the academic year.

Provost’s Council on Research Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Dawn BonnellOffice of the Vice Provost for ResearchSenior Vice Provost for Research, Chair
Xinyin ChenGraduate School of EducationAssociate Professor
George DemirisSchool of NursingAssociate Dean for Research
Emily FalkAnnenberg School for CommunicationVice Dean for Research
João GomesWharton SchoolSenior Vice Dean of Research, Centers, and Academic Initiatives
Dana GravesSchool of Dental MedicineAssociate Dean for Translational Research
Erick GuerraWeitzman School of DesignAssociate Dean for Research
Emily HannumSchool of Arts and SciencesAssociate Dean for the Social Sciences
E. Michael OstapPerelman School of MedicineInterim Senior Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer
George PappasSchool of Engineering & Applied ScienceAssociate Dean for Research
Phillip ScottSchool of Veterinary MedicineAssociate Dean for Research
Phyllis SolomonSchool of Social Policy and PracticeProfessor of Social Policy and Practice
Mark TroddenSchool of Arts and SciencesAssociate Dean for the Natural Sciences
Christopher YooLaw SchoolJohn H. Chestnut Professor of Law
Inquiries regarding PCR should be directed to vpr@upenn.edu.

University Research Compliance Committee

The University Research Compliance Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice Provost for Research to ensure that the University’s and Schools’ senior management and academic leaders are informed regarding the status of the Research Compliance Program. The Committee may provide recommendations and feedback regarding the Compliance Program and the management of research related compliance concerns. The Committee provides a forum for discussing ideas and working collaboratively to promote the University’s research mission in conformity with regulatory requirements.

University Research Compliance Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Dawn Bonnell (Chair)Office of the Vice Provost for ResearchSenior Vice Provost for Research
Charlene CompherSchool of NursingAssociate Professor of Nutrition and Science, Co-Chair
Kurt BarnhartDirector of Women’s Health Clinical Research CenterWilliam Shippen, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kim CraigOffice of the Vice Provost for ResearchResearch Compliance Officer
Lee DobkinOffice of General CounselChief Counsel, Penn Medicine
Jonathan EpsteinPerelman School of MedicineExecutive Vice Dean
Emma MeagherPerelman School of MedicineVice Dean & Clinical Research Officer
Greg PellicanoOffice of Audit, Compliance and PrivacyVice President, Audit, Compliance & Privacy
Inquiries regarding the URCC should be directed to vpr@upenn.edu.

Human Research Advisory Committee

The Human Research Advisory Committee (HRAC) advises the Vice Provost for Research on the need for and implementation of policies and procedures governing human subject research. The Committee is comprised of faculty and administrative stakeholders. Upon the recommendation of the HRAC, the Vice Provost conducts periodic reviews of the human research protection program and budget support for the various components of the program, either through independent mechanisms or as part of a scheduled accreditation process.

Human Research Advisory Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Dawn BonnellOVPRSenior Vice Provost for Research, Co-Chair
Kurt BarnhartPSOMWilliam Shippen, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of Women’s Health Clinical Research Center, Co-Chair
Roger CohenPSOMProfessor of Medicine, Associate Director of Abramson Cancer Center
Kim CraigOVPRResearch Compliance Officer
George DemirisSchool of NursingMary Alice Bennett University Professor, PIK University Professor
Patrick EganRIOAssociate Vice Provost for Research, Associate Counsel
Glen GaultonPSOMProfessor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Joel GelfandPSOMProfessor of Dermatology
David HeagertyIRBAssociate Director, Human Research Protections
Sara JaffeeSASProfessor of Psychology
Steven JoffePSOMChair, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Ilene Penn Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Professor of Pediatrics
Andrew MaksymowychEHRSAssociate Director Biosafety Programs
Emma MeagherPSOMVice Dean & Clinical Research Officer
John SwartleyPCIAssociate Vice Provost, Executive Director of PCI
Robert VonderheidePSOMHanna Wise Professor in Cancer Research, Director, Abramson Cancer Center
Denene WambachOffice of General CounselAssociate General Counsel
Inquiries regarding HRAC should be directed to vpr@upenn.edu.

The Conflict of Interest Standing Committee

The Conflict of Interest Standing Committee (CISC) carries out the University’s formal, peer review process to identify, review and manage research-related financial conflicts of interest for Penn investigators. The CISC meets semi-monthly and serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice Provost for Research in accordance with the University’s research-related conflict of interest policy. Membership consists of standing faculty appointed by the Vice Provost for Research who have voting rights, as well as ex-officio non-voting representatives of various University and School-based research support offices.

The Conflict of Interest Standing Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Kurt BarnhartPerelman School of MedicineProfessor OB- Gyn, Committee Chair
Patricia CorbyPenn Dental MedicineAssociate Professor, Oral Medicine
Dean of Translational Research
Paul DucheyneSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesProfessor, Bioengineering
Patricia D’AntonioSchool of NursingProfessor and Chair, Family and Community Health
Victor FerrariPerelman School of MedicineProfessor Medicine, Assoc. Director Noninvasive Imaging Lab
Loretta Flanagan-CatoSchool of Arts and SciencesAssociate Professor, Psychology
Gary FreedmanPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Radiation Oncology
Nalaka GooneratnePerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Medicine
Christopher HunterSchool of Veterinary MedicineProfessor, Pathobiology in Microbiology
A.T. Charlie JohnsonSchool of Arts and SciencesProfessor, Physics & Astronomy
Max KelzPerelman School of MedicineAssistant Professor, Anesthesia and Critical Care
Gerald KuncioExternal Community RepresentativeAdvisor, Ethics and Compliance
Scott ManakerPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Medicine, Vice Chair, Regulatory Affairs & Clinical Documentation
Vladimir MuzykantovPerelman School of MedicineProfessor, Pharmacology and Medicine
Saman NazarianPerelman School of MedicineProfessor, Cardiac Electrophysiology
Pamela SankarPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Bioethics
Donald SiegelPerelman School of MedicineProfessor, Pathology & Lab Medicine
S. William StavropoulosPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Radiology
R. Polk WagnerPenn LawProfessor, Law
Inquiries regarding CISC, should be directed to the Research Integrity Office at coi@pobox.upenn.edu.

Animal Program Advisory Committee

The Animal Program Advisory Committee (APAC) is committed to ensuring the appropriate, humane, and ethical care and use of animals involved in research and research training activities conducted on our campus. APAC is the institutional committee charged with the continued review and improvement of all aspects of animal research at Penn. The Committee is advisory to the Vice Provost for Research and plays an active role in identifying short and long-range programmatic needs and assists in planning programs, policies, and future facilities which directly and indirectly impact the animal research community. Membership of this committee strives to include representation from each animal facility (within the Schools) that utilizes ULAR, supplemented with ex officio representation of all relevant administrative entities such as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS). The Committee meets monthly during the academic year.

Animal Program Advisory Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Dawn BonnellOffice of the Vice Provost for ResearchSenior Vice Provost for Research, Chair
Michael AbtPerelman School of MedicineAssistant Professor of Microbiology
Marisa BartolomeiPerelman School of MedicineProfessor of Cell and Development Biology
Mariella De BiasiPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Margret CasalSchool of Veterinary MedicineAssociate Professor, Medical Genetics
Lewis ChodoshPerelman School of MedicineProfessor, Cancer Biology
Cynthia ClendeninPerelman School of MedicineScientific Director, Mouse Hospital
Yale CohenPerelman School of Medicine, Office of Animal WelfareProfessor, Otorhinolaryngology & Vice Chair, OAW
Derrick A. DowUniversity Laboratory Animal ResourcesDirector for Vivarial Facilities and Facilities Planning
F. C. HankensonUniversity Laboratory Animal ResourcesDirector & Professor Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine
Stuart IsaacsPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Dean for Animal Research
Odell JonesUniversity Laboratory Animal ResourcesDirector for Husbandry Operations
Michael LampsonSchool of Arts and SciencesProfessor of Biology
Chris LengnerSchool of Veterinary MedicineAssociate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences
David MeaneySchool of Engineering & Applied SciencesSolomon R. Pollack Professor and Chair Bioengineering
Claire MitchellSchool of Dental MedicineProfessor, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Ali NajiPerelman School of MedicineJ. William White Professor of Surgical Research
W. Timothy O’BrienPerelman School of MedicineDirector, Neurobehavior Testing Core
Maureen O’LearyEnvironmental Health & Radiation SafetyExecutive Director
Missy PelosoOffice of Research ServicesAssoc Vice President, Assoc Vice Provost
Gregory ReinhardInstitutional Animal Care & Use CommitteeDirector of Animal Welfare
Heath SchmidtSchool of NursingAssistant Professor, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences
Marc SchmidtSchool of Arts and SciencesAssociate Professor of Biology
Phillip ScottSchool of Veterinary MedicineAssociate Dean for Research
Lou SoslowskyPerelman School of MedicineProfessor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Mark TroddenSchool of Arts and SciencesAssociate Dean for the Natural Sciences
John WolfeSchools of Medicine and Veterinary MedicineProfessor of Pathology and Medical Genetics
Inquiries regarding APAC should be directed to vpr@upenn.edu.

Human Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee

The purpose of this committee, charged by the Vice Provost for Research, is to assist the Penn community with the scientific, legal, ethical and compliance considerations that arise from the use of human stem cells in research — including, but not limited to human embryonic stem cells. hSCRAC will work to ensure that stem cell research activity is in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and with Penn policies and that it is conducted in accordance with the highest scientific and ethical standards set by NIH and the National Academy of Sciences. It is the role of hSCRAC to provide procedural guidelines to the community on the derivation, procurement, banking, and use for research of human stem cells. The hSCRAC reviews all covered activities and helps maintain a registry of human embryonic stem cell lines used for research at Penn.

Human Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
Ralph L. BrinsterSchool of Veterinary MedicineProfessor
Christos CoutifarisPerelman School of MedicineChair, Professor
Kim CraigOffice of the Vice Provost for ResearchResearch Compliance Officer
Andrew B. MaksymowychEnvironmental Health & Radiation SafetyAssociate Director
Jon F. MerzPerelman School of MedicineAssociate Professor
Courtney SchreiberPerelman School of MedicineProfessor
Denene WambachOffice of General CounselAssociate General Counsel
Kenneth S. ZaretPerelman School of MedicineProfessor

Burden Reduction Initiative Steering Committee

The University strives to decrease the administrative burden on faculty in order to allow more time for the core missions of scholarship and research. The University is implementing this initiative to identify opportunities to reduce the administrative burden on Penn’s research community imposed by the University’s research policies, practices, processes, and systems.

Burden Reduction Initiative Steering Committee Members
MemberAffiliationTitle
David BrainardSchool of Arts & SciencesAssociate Dean for the Natural Sciences
Jeanne CurtisInformation Systems & ComputingIT Executive Director of Application & Information Services
Glen GaultonPerelman School of MedicineProfessor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Edward GeorgeWharton SchoolProfessor of Statistics
Missy PelosoOffice of Research ServicesAssociate Vice President, Associate Vice Provost
Phil ScottSchool of Veterinary MedicineAssociate Dean for Research
Doris StoffersPerelman School of MedicineSylvan H. Eisman Professor Of Medicine
John VohsSchool of Engineering & Applied ScienceCarl V.S. Patterson Professor