Office of Research Services

Oversees the Animal User Training program; the veterinary program for agricultural animals, and the Post-Approval Review program; provides clinical and support services to researchers and facility managers working with cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, horses and wildlife; assists with Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) development.

Provides a broad range of information technology support including: assisting with implementing, monitoring, updating and maintaining IT systems, software and solutions, including the website; diagnosing and solving end-user and IT problems related; and responding to requests for assistance, taking appropriate steps to resolve and alleviate problems to ensure continued services.

Responsible for administrative review of research proposals, as well as drafting and negotiation of research-related grant agreements and research contracts and management of Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) and other funding sponsor programs such as Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Global Affairs Canada, Grand Challenges Canada, US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and OMAFRA opportunities available directly from OMAFRA (excluding Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance funding). Tri-Agency programs within Carolyn’s portfolio include NSERC programs: CREATE, Frontiers, Gender-NET Plus, SSHRC programs: Partnership Development Grants and Partnership Grants; and New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration Grants.

Coordinates Animal Care Committee (ACC) facility site visits, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) inspections and Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) assessments and responses; Approves animal orders; tracks and reports animal use numbers to OMAFRA and the CCAC and manages the process for the approval of standard operating procedures in animal facilities.

Provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services (i.e., review of agreements and account set up) to researchers for Beef Cattle Research Council, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI), Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario Ministry of Seniors Affairs; SSHRC programs: Connection, Partnership Engage; US National Science Foundation, and others. Kristin administers OMAFRA opportunities available directly from OMAFRA (excluding Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance funding).

Provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services (i.e., review of agreements and account set up) to researchers for Mitacs; NSERC programs: Research Tools and Instruments (RTI), Discovery, Connect, PromoScience; Ontario Brain Institute, Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education; Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; Ontario Ministry of Transportation; Ontario Pork; Ontario Turfgrass; Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR); Canadian Poultry Research Council, Egg Farmers of Canada, Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation; Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario.

Oversees the Animal Ethics and Compliance administration, the veterinary program, and provides clinical and support services to researchers working with laboratory rodents, small companion animals, fish, reptiles and amphibians; assists with Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) development.

Coordinates the Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP), Amendment and Renewal review and approval processes including the assignment of reviewers and organization of reviewer queries and Principal Investigator responses; Organizes, sets agendas and takes minutes for Animal Care Committee (ACC) meetings.

First point of contact for submission of and initial processing of research grant and award applications, including OR5 Forms, and research contractual agreements.  Patti will inform researchers to whom their submission is assigned within the Office of Research Services for further review and processing. 

Oversees planning and coordination of educational offerings such as the Faculty Information Exchange Series, Graduate Research and Program Management course, CITI Program and sponsor workshops as well as completes special projects for the Office of Research Services. Affiliated with the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre.

Leads and coordinates the Post-Approval Review (PAR) program for Animal Utilization Protocols (AUPs); conducts review visits to labs and facilities to provide support and guidance for research teams; assists and trains at the research team and facility level for compliance and consistency in research outcomes.

Provides clinical and support services to researchers, facility veterinarians and facility managers working with livestock animals and horses; assists researchers with Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) development; instructs in the Animal User Training program including mentor-facilitated training.

Provides administrative and logistical support for strategic research and infrastructure programs including Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), Canada Research Chairs (CRC), Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) and major prestigious research honours and awards, such as Royal Society of Canada (RSC), Trudeau Foundation, Killam, and others.  Also provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services to researchers for various Sponsors.

Responsible for administrative review of research proposals, as well as drafting and negotiation of research-related grant agreements and research contracts, including participant agreements, subcontracts, service agreements, access agreements for agencies and sponsors such as the Canadian Space Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Southern Ontario Smart Computing Innovation Platform (SOSCIP), European Union, US Dept. of Agriculture, US Dept. of Defense, and other US Sponsors.

Provides administrative support to the Associate Vice-President (Research Services), provides budgeting and human resource administration for the Office, and coordinates the activities of the Research Services Sub-Committee.