Enhancing research administration capacity within the DS-I Africa Consortium: An initiative with The Aga Khan University and the University of Michigan

Aga Khan University (Kenya), Nairobi

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Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The parent project, UZIMA-DS (UtiliZing Health Information for Meaningful Impact in East Africa through Data Science), aims to create a scalable and sustainable platform to apply novel approaches to data assimilation and advanced artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML)-based methods to improve health outcomes in two health domains: maternal, newborn and child health; and mental health. Over the past few years, the Aga Khan University (AKU) in East Africa has been leading the administration of several NIH grants in collaboration with the University of Michigan (U-M), including the UZIMA-DS Research Hub. While AKU has successfully established a global research administration office with critical components - a core dedicated team, a cloud- based grants management system, and best practice processes - critical advances in optimization related to training and operation are needed. Building on the institutional partnership with U-M, the overall objective of this administrative supplement is to develop a more comprehensive and efficient research administration function at AKU to support the development, submission, and successful administration of research grants. We aim to foster international collaborations and bi-directional learning opportunities with our U-M partners and explore ways to disseminate our work to other DS-I Africa partners and the broader community of researchers through the following specific aims: Aim 1. To enhance the research administration function through training and operational efficiency. We will create a tailored toolkit based on a needs assessment and site visits that includes a hybrid curriculum (virtual and in-person trainings) to upskill current and future research administration staff; standardized roles and responsibilities, flowcharts, and processes for a grant life cycle; and established metrics to estimate current and future staffing needs. Aim 2. To develop a mentorship and continuous learning network for research administrators. We will develop a community of practice between AKU and U-M to serve as the cornerstone of broader engagement of the research administration community. This established community can also leverage the DS-I network to facilitate organic engagement between interested partners beyond the duration of this project. We will work with the DS-I Coordinating Center and Research Administrators Working Group to disseminate developed materials and training modules to the broader DS-I Africa community. The proposed work can serve as a framework for standard research administration services that can be scaled/adapted to the needs of our DS-I Africa members. In addition, the lessons learned over the next year through this project and the DS-I Africa Research Administrators Working Group will help the DS-I Coordinating Center address critical joint administrative needs of the consortium and enhance research administration functions. By leveraging the DS-I network, these synergistic activities can build a more robust research administration network as projects plan for the next phase of DS-I Africa funding and empower other African and global partners who face similar challenges regarding research administration.