The University of Virginia announced last week that it intends to make significant investments in its research infrastructure and is developing a framework to prioritize those investments to support the University of Virginia’s strategic plan.
“One of the key goals in the 2030 Strategic Plan is to enable discoveries that enrich and improve lives,” UVA President Jim Ryan said. “This investment will ensure we fulfill that goal by having the right foundations in place to conduct and disseminate research across fields and disciplines. I’m excited to see what this investment will yield in terms of new discoveries that make a difference in the world.”
The Strategic Research Infrastructure Initiative is focusing on three areas: the people and infrastructure necessary to attract more external funding for research; the infrastructure needed to conduct and support research; and the infrastructure to ensure that research has impact.
“One of my highest priorities as provost is to strengthen research,” Ian Baucom, executive vice president and provost, said. “At the same time that we are investing in specific research topics through Grand Challenges, we also need to advance the excellence and future of all research at UVA.”
A steering committee chaired by Catherine Bradshaw, senior associate dean for research and faculty development in the School of Education and Human Development, will oversee the initiative. Over the next nine months, the committee and its working groups will assess UVA’s current research infrastructure and compare its operations and resources against those of other institutions. It will also identify and prioritize the opportunities and challenges facing UVA.