Johns Hopkins University has established a group to recommend a coordinated, strategic universitywide approach to oversight and support of research core facilities across its divisions.
The Research Core Facilities Assessment and Planning Committee was convened to bring a cohesive focus to more than 120 research cores distributed across the university's schools, institutes, and departments, enabling wise investments and capitalizing on the scale of the university's research ecosystem. Its charge is to assess current capacity, operations, and needs; identify opportunities for optimization and alignment across divisions; guide investment and procurement; and bolster the university's posture as a global leader. In the coming months, the committee will invite feedback from core users, core directors, and staff through listening sessions and other engagement opportunities to inform its recommendations.
The effort supports two of the goals articulated in JHU's Ten for One strategic vision, including lowering barriers to collaboration and recruiting, retaining, and inspiring the very best faculty in the world by ensuring the university provides scholars with the technology and space commensurate with their highest ambitions.
"Through this collaborative endeavor, we intend to strengthen Johns Hopkins' ability to provide world-class facilities that sustain our researchers at the forefront of discovery and innovation," said JHU Provost Ray Jayawardhana, who convened the committee following consultations with the deans. "By enhancing our research core infrastructure and expanding access to cutting-edge technologies, the committee's work will help fuel intellectual renewal across the university."
JHU's research cores are primarily focused on the life sciences and operate under a range of management and financial models. Although some schools have developed resources accessible to the broader university community, there has been little high-level strategy, coordination, or oversight across the divisions. This new effort acknowledges that more can be done to effectively leverage collective purchasing power to reduce costs, modernize equipment, and establish centers of excellence.
Even modest improvements could significantly strengthen the research ecosystem, said Denis Wirtz, vice provost for research, and Antony Rosen, vice dean for research at the School of Medicine, who will co-chair the 14-member committee.
"Today, the most innovative and impactful science requires interdisciplinary approaches and highly advanced technologies," Wirtz said. "It's imperative that we give our researchers efficient access to these enabling technologies or we risk the evaporation of our leadership in science and engineering, even in the presence of top-tier faculty, new buildings, and other investments."
Added Rosen: "While individually operated labs can provide many of the necessary tools and day-to-day equipment needs, the most sophisticated technologies are often too costly and/or labor-intensive to operate at small scales. Research cores have long been recognized as necessary to provide researchers with advanced tools at scale."
The group is expected to share its findings and recommendations this spring.
Committee leadership
- Denis Wirtz, Co-chair, T.H. Smoot Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (WSE); Vice Provost for Research
- Antony Rosen, Co-chair, Dr. Mary Betty Stevens Professor of Rheumatology (SOM); Vice Dean for Research (SOM)
- Nick Wigginton, Staff lead, Associate Vice Provost for Research
- Sarada Viswanathan, Senior Advisor, Scientific Director, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute
Committee members
- Jane Carlton, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and Director of the Malaria Research Institute, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (BSPH); Department of Biomedical Engineering (WSE)
- Andrew Ewald, Virginia deAcetis Professor and Director, Department of Cell Biology (SOM)
- Chris Foret, Assistant Director, Cost Accounting
- Shawn Franckowiak, Assistant Dean for Research Resources (SOM)
- Kristine Glunde, Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science and Director of the Applied Imaging Mass Spectrometry Core (SOM)
- Greg Kirk, Professor of Epidemiology and Vice Dean for Research (BSPH)
- Rejji Kuruvilla, Professor of Biology and Vice Dean for Natural Sciences (KSAS)
- Larry Nagahara, Vice Dean for Research and Translation (WSE)
- Paul Nkansah, Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships (JHTV)
- Mike Roberts, Associate Vice President, Strategy & Analysis
- Brian Smith, Chief Procurement Officer
- Mitra Taheri, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and Director of the Materials Characterization and Processing facility (WSE)
- Cathy Wood, Vice Dean for Finance and Administration (SOM)
