Financing Research in VERA

1
Financing Research in VERA

• 2009 ORD Local Accountability for Research
  Meeting
• January 14, 2009
• Baltimore, MD

2
Overview

• Special Work Group created to
• Perform a comprehensive review of financial
  issues
• Review current practices in the field
• Clarify areas of ambiguity in current guidance
• Catalog issues questions needing resolution
• Identify areas for improvement simplification
• Key concern is need for field input suggestions
• Break-out sessions provide a forum for more
  feedback
• We need understand the practical operational
  issues

2
3
Sources of Funding

• VHA appropriations
• Other Federal / State / Local governments
• Non-Profit Corporations / charitable
  organizations / corporations
• Gifts donations
• Reimbursements

4
Sources of VHA Funding

• Direct Research 101 funds
• Medical Prosthetic Research appropriation
• VERA Research Support funds
• 3 Medical Care appropriations
• Specific Purpose / QUERI funds
• 3 Medical Care appropriations
• IT Systems appropriation funds
• All information technology telecommunications
  equipment software

5
Challenges - 1

• What funds must / may be used for certain items
• The clear-cut decisions (little, to no
  flexibility)
• The grey area decisions (a lot of flexibility)
• The historical approach versus the need to
  simplify, rationalize, streamline
• Problem of one-size fits all
• Large Research programs / Medium ones / Small
  ones
• Law of Unintended Consequences
• Try to make the situation better, not worse

6
Challenges - 2

• 101 Research funds versus VERA Research Support
• 101 based on 3-year average of VA funded projects
  (intra-mural)
• VERA based on most recent year projects (intra
  extra-mural)
• 100 VA administered, 75 peer reviewed not VA
  administered, 25 non-peer reviewed not VA
  administered
• Disproportionate impact of fixed overhead costs
  
• 101 funds for Large programs / Medium ones /
  Small ones
• Impact of Research Program dynamics
• Growing programs, level programs, declining
  programs

7
Challenges - 3

• VERA Research Support amounts
• Are a guide, not a mandate
• Accurate DSS reporting of Research Support
  funding
• Dependent on accurate station level input
• Direct versus Indirect Costs
• What funds are responsible / appropriate
• Full-time Research Staff reporting to ACOS for
  Research
• Full-time / Part-time oversight staff reporting
  to VAMC Director

8
Conclusion

• Need input to create a better future
• Need to minimize unintended consequences
• Need to ensure future viability of Research