June 30, 2011

Office of the Vice Provost for Research Transitions as VPR David Korn Steps Down

Dr. David Korn announced his decision to step down as Vice Provost for Research, effective July 1st.  Dr. Korn retains his Harvard Medical School faculty appointment and will continue to work on a variety of public and scientific policy issues.

Taking on the challenging topic of conflicts of interest upon his arrival at Harvard, Dr. Korn leaves behind an office committed to the development of key research policies and procedures to help scholars across the University collaborate more closely and effectively. Many of the university-wide committees that Dr. Korn chaired or co-chaired, in areas ranging from research misconduct and human subjects research to sponsored research administration, will continue to meet. Mark Barnes, who has assumed the title of Senior Associate Provost and University Chief Research Compliance Officer, will continue his role as co-chair of the Export Controls Council and the Sponsored Administration Leadership Committee, and will assume the role of co-chair of the University Conflict of Interest Committee and of chair of the Human Research Protections Program Coordinating Committee. 

November 29, 2010

Office of the Vice Provost for Research Announces the Launch of Four New Committees

As part of its continuing efforts to facilitate multi-disciplinary, cross-Schools research, encourage consistency in the implementation of research policies, and promote research development, The Office of the Vice Provost for Research ('OVPR") announces the launch of four new University-wide committees: 

The University-wide Standing Committee on Individual Financial Conflicts of Interest (“fCOI”):  Chaired by Vice Provost for Research David Korn, the Standing Committee is charged in the recently adopted University-wide fCOI policy (the "Policy") with working with the OVPR to ensure that the new Policy is implemented effectively across the University, as well as to identify systemic problems in implementation that may signal specific Policy provisions that merit re-examination and perhaps amendment.

The Committee on Confidentiality in Research Misconduct   Proceedings:  Chaired by Vice Provost for Research David Korn, with Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Cherry Murray and Harvard Medical School Executive Dean for Research William Chin as Co-Chairs, this Committee is charged with examining and making recommendations on policies concerning communications practices in the context of research misconduct proceedings.  Specifically, the Committee will address: (1) best practices for managing corrections of scientific literature, (2) the best means, without compromising the Office of Research Integrity (ORI)-requested confidentiality, of identifying and notifying those individuals who need to be made aware of misconduct, and (3) when and how to communicate publicly about misconduct (pre-and post- conclusion of the ORI’s review and final determination). 

The Committee on Human Research Protection Program Unification: (“HRPP”):  Chaired by Vice Provost for Research David Korn, with Mark Barnes, the Designated Institutional Official for Harvard School of Public Health and the University Area, and Gretchen Brodnicki, the Designated Institutional Official for Harvard Medical School, serving as co- Vice-Chairs, the HRPP committee is charged to work with the three HRPP offices, IRB committee chairs and members, principal investigators who carry out human subjects research, and administrators in offices with functions that oversee or affect human research protection, to provide Provost Hyman with an implementation process for establishing a single Human Research Protection Program at Harvard University.

The Research Development Coordinating Committee (“RDCC”):  The RDCC Committee is charged with: (1) promoting university-wide sound research development practices, including enhancements and improvements in research development resources and infrastructure, (2) serving as a resource for strengthening limited submission competitions and school-based research development programs, and (3) serving as a University-wide aggregator, conduit and “honest broker” to ensure that funding opportunities are disseminated in a timely, appropriate, and equitable fashion.

In addition to addressing its charge, each committee will offer members a forum for the timely and efficient dissemination of information on matters of importance to the University research community. 

September 13, 2010

Office of the Vice Provost for Research Announces Two New Hires

On September 13, 2010, Vice Provost for Research David Korn announced the hiring of two new members of staff: Elizabeth Langdon-Gray joins the office as Director of Research Policy and Education, and Melissa J.Lopes, J.D. comes on board as Associate Director of Research Policy and Compliance. For information on their backgrounds, please see their Staff Profiles.

June 2010

Vice Provost Article on "The Challenge of Public Expectations"

The "Big Pharma, Bad Medicine" special edition of the Boston Review publishes Vice Provost for Research David Korn's piece on the impact of the pharmaceutical industry on medical training and science.  Read more here.

December 14, 2009

Office of the Vice Provost for Research Announces Hiring of Assistant Provost for Research Policy

David Korn announced that Ken Carson, formerly the Research Integrity Officer for FAS, was named Assistant Provost for Research Policy. For more information on Ken's background, please see his Staff Profile.

September 18, 2008

David Korn named University's Vice Provost for Research

David Korn, a former Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine long known as a leader in research policy and science administration, will become the University’s vice provost for research, Provost Steven E. Hyman announced today.