Continuous improvement in both volume of services processed, relevance of services provided and response times for research services across all AAC research service facilities.

Increase usage by researchers across campus (students, staff, faculty). 

To increase the volume of collection and improve the access to research data through a centralized research management data information system.

Increase in total number of data sets and associated code books captured in the RDM system each fiscal year.

Continue to implement the full PAR program focusing on direct support to researchers and their team by involving PAR in the review of all AUP annual renewals, developing refinement in animal user, and offering PAR services with species and procedure expertise that will also add to PAR's goal of encouraging and modelling best practices in animal-based research.  

The Advanced Analysis Centre (AAC) set a target user fee income of $673 000 for 2020-21 which represents a 5% increase from the previous year. 

The COVID-19 global pandemic (March 2020 onwards) altered usual operations due to imposed shutdowns and operational restrictions. This resulted in unattainable user fee income targets for some AAC facilities.

The total number of faculty members using the AAC remained relatively consistent, but overall usage of the facilities decreased. It is expected that this will be reversed once normal operations resume.

User fee income from external clients decreased by over 50% in this current fiscal year. The large decrease was anticipated as operational restrictions, sample shipping/acceptance issues and reduced staffing impacted both external clients and the core facilities. The resumption of normal operations should cause external income to rebound back to target levels.

This year, extra support was provided by the Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF).

Once University operations are fully re-established following the pandemic, AAC expects to realize a 5% annual increase in total user fee income.

Increase volume of data and usage statistics by 15%.

Increase deposit statistics in FY2019-20 by 20%.

Increase number of researchers using the DMP Assistant in FY2019-20 by 15%.

Increase number of library consultations done on research data management / DMP tool.  

Data deposits: 27 new data sets added in 2019-20.  Data deposit volume was 8.9GB.  Dataset number decreased by 3.57%.  This did not meet the target. 

Usage statistics: Number of downloads during FY2019-20 was 49,780.  Download number increased by 1,108.38%, which exceeded the target.  Note that this large download increase coincides with the research of Google Dataset Search.   

DMP: There were 206 users in FY2019-20 and 172 consultations.  

Increase volume of data deposit and download by 15%.

Increase deposit statistics in FY2020 - 21 by 20%.

Increase number of researchers using the DMP Assistant in FY2020 - 21 by 15%.

Increase number of Library consultations done on research data management/DMP tool by 15%.

Roll-out (go-live) of back office business processing tool for grants and contracts for utilization by staff, stabilization of the tool (bug fixes), evaluation of the implementation, measurement of workflow improvements, refresher training for staff, and planning for future improvements and changes.

The back-office processing tool for grants and contracts was rolled out to office staff in February 2021, and Office of Research Services staff are successfully using it to administer grants and contracts and record data important for institutional reporting. The Change Advisory Board (CAB) meets biweekly to review improvements and changes. Improvements have been released every two weeks since the tool was launched.

Identify system requirements and complete Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the fully integrated administration system for animal ethics, human ethics, biosafety and grants and contracts.

The Post-Approval Review (PAR) program was implemented in support of PIs and their research teams when conducting research involving animals. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the PAR program was created and approved by the Animal Care Committee. PAR Coordinator has met with PIs and/or conducted on-site events as per TOR.

Continue to implement the full Post-Approval Review (PAR) program focusing on direct support to researchers and their team by involving PAR in the review of all AUP annual renewals, developing refinement in animal user, and offering PAR services with species and procedure expertise that will also add to PAR’s goal of encouraging and modelling best practices in animal-based research.