Available UT Health Science Center Research Computing Resources

This UT Health Science Center Institutional Research Information Hub is designed to be your comprehensive resource for all things related to institutional research. Here, you will find a curated collection of links providing access to a wealth of information on various research topics, funding opportunities, and the latest advancements in academic research.

Our goal is to support researchers, faculty, and students by offering easy access to reliable information and funding sources. Whether you seek grant opportunities, collaboration possibilities, or the latest publications in your field, this hub is here to assist you. 

UT Health Science Center Research Resources

Informational resources and service descriptions supported locally by the UT Health Science Center Research and ITS departments.

URL - Link Description
Information Technology Services -IT Resources and Facilities for Researchers Researchers have access to a wide variety or research-centric resources at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).
Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Unit The Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) unit of the Department of Preventive Medicine provides easily-accessible consultation and data analysis to help investigators produce scientifically rigorous, reproducible, and publishable research. The unit combines experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, biomedical informatics, community engagement and molecular informatics.

See an example BERD Clinic project workflow and review common questions for first time meetings.
BERD Virtual Clinic All BERD Clinics are currently virtual clinics via Zoom. These are open to UTHSC faculty, residents and fellows. If you have any questions about the BERD Clinic, Zoom, or your eligibility, email berdclinic@uthsc.edu.

Select a time · Virtual BERD Clinic Appointments (youcanbook.me)
Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) REDCap is a secure web platform for building and managing online databases and surveys. REDCap’s streamlined process for rapidly creating and designing projects offers a vast array of tools that can be tailored to virtually any data collection strategy.

REDCap provides automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to Excel and common statistical packages (SPSS, SAS, Stata, R ), as well as a built-in project calendar, a scheduling module, ad hoc reporting tools, and advanced features, such as branching logic, file uploading, and calculated fields.

Other Tools and Software

Here, you will find links to acquire and subscribe to various data management, data analysis, and statistical tools, such as SPSS/SAS, R, REDCap, MatLab, Tableau, Stata, Qualtricsand, and many others, used by researchers and data analysts.
UTHSC ISPOR Chapter

The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) overarching mission is to promote excellence in health economics and outcomes research in order to improve global health decision-making.

iMedRis BEGINNER IRB AND iMedRIS TRAINING - Designed for principal investigators, co/sub-investigators, and coordinators who are unfamiliar with IRB policies or have never submitted electronic studies to the IRB using iMedRIS.

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University of Tennessee Systems & UT Knoxville Resources

Informational resources and service descriptions supported locally by the UT Systems and UT Knoxville campus Research and ITS departments.

URL - Link Description
Research Computing Support 

Get help analyzing data, including statistical consulting, qualitative analysis, geographic information systems, and machine learning; designing studies or experiments, including determining sample size; acquiring data, including designing web surveys; managing data (cleaning, transforming, recoding, converting, stacking, or joining data sets); find out how to download, install, and use research software such as ArcGIS, MATLAB, NVivo, R, SAS, SPSS, and many others.

Office of Information Technology (OIT) - Research Computing - *(requires NetID/Pwd in certain circumstances) Get help planning your research, acquiring data, analyzing data, and reporting results.
UTK OIT All Research Services The Office of Innovative Technologies (OIT) at the University of Tennessee provides a variety of services to help with computing as it applies to research, including Research Computing Support (RSC)High Performance and Scientific Computing (HPSC)Sensitive Information Guides and Training.
Research Development Academy The Research Development Academy (RDA) is designed to support tenure-track faculty (TTF) from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Open to all TTF, the RDA places an emphasis on researchers from minorities and underrepresented racial, ethnic, and gender groups, as well as faculty that identify as LGBTQ+, who have the potential to contribute to the University of Tennessee’s discovery mission and advance UT’s values of inclusion and access.
Research, Innovation and Economic Development (RIED) The Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development is here to support you, our community of researchers, scholars, and creatives, from ideation to impact. Our dedicated team is here to help you develop competitive proposals and sources of support for your work, seed investments in promising new areas, nurture new and established multidisciplinary communities of scholars, and support and sustain a strong culture of research integrity.
Department of Research Administration The Division of Research Administration (DRA) is responsible for pre- and post-award administration of UT sponsored programs when awards are received as grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.
High Performance and Scientific Computing (HPSC) The High Performance & Scientific Computing group provides research computing resources and services to the University community. The resources provided include the Infrastructure for Scientific Applications and Advanced Computing resources or ISAAC for short.
Infrastructure for Scientific Applications and Advanced Computing (ISAAC) -Legacy The High Performance & Scientific Computing group provides the ISAAC cluster resources and services for research involving non-sensitive information.
Infrastructure for Scientific Applications and Advanced Computing (ISAAC)- Secure Enclave The High Performance & Scientific Computing group provides the ISAAC Secure Enclave resources and services for research involving sensitive information.
ISAAC - User Portal/Account Request Welcome! This page allows you to request an account for using ISAAC resources. (UT System NetID/password required)
UT Storage resource for Research (UT-StorR)  The UTK OIT  in partnership ORIED have worked together to provide the University of Tennessee Storage resource for Research (UT-StorR). This system is an archival storage system for the long term storage of research data and data collections.
Lustre Architecture  The Lustre file system is made up of an underlying set of I/O servers called Object Storage Servers (OSSs) and disks called Object Storage Targets (OSTs). The file metadata is controlled by a Metadata Server (MDS) and stored on a Metadata Target (MDT). A single Lustre file system will contain one MDS and one MDT along with multiple OSSs and OSTs.
GLOBUS Globus provides a data transfer tool for moving, synchronizing, and sharing data to/from ISAAC Secure Enclave and Windows Virtual Machines. It allows researchers to securely transfer files between endpoints. Visit the OIT HPSC Data Transfer: ISAAC Secure Enclave webpage, and scroll down to Data Transfer Using Globus.
   

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UT Health Science Center Library

The Health Science Center library is a valuable service host and information repository for research, research databases, data collections, guides, models, and many other things research-related and interesting to researchers. Be they new or experienced, you can get a start here. Research assistance, subject guides, and useful resources compiled by your friendly librarians.

URL - Link Description
Databases A-Z Find the best UTHSC library databases, ebook jump starts, and related websites for your research.
Research Guides UTHSC library curated Research assistance, subject guides, and useful resources compiled by your friendly librarians. Know what we know - find it in UTHSC Research Guides.
Search for Literature and Information Links to all services and sources: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus , etc.
UTHSC Digital Commons The UT Health Science Center Digital Commons is our institutional Open Access repository. This publicly-accessible archive preserves and disseminates research and scholarship of the UTHSC community to a global audience.
Research Data services

The Library Research Data Services team assists UT Health Science Center researchers with the organization, management, and curation of data. From finding the right kinds of data for your research, reviewing your data management plan, or helping you share your data in an appropriate repository, we're here to assist you every step of the way!

Help with Grants Grant Support -- Funding and Grant Support

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UT Health Science Center Office of Research

The Office of Research works to accelerate the growth of research in all UTHSC colleges and at all major locations. It promotes innovative research opportunities and provides state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the needs of our researchers, positioning them to compete successfully for extramural funding.

Our Mission is to cultivate and support discovery, innovation, commercialization, and economic growth within the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the State of Tennessee, with a dedication to improving the health of Tennesseans, the nation, and the global community.

Our Vision: To become a world-class, interdisciplinary, and research-intensive health science center.

URL - Link Description
Office of Sponsored Programs The Office of Sponsored Programs supports UT Health Science Center faculty and staff (including components at the UT Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville and the Chattanooga unit of the College of Medicine) in obtaining external funding for research and other sponsored projects while ensuring compliance with UT policy, sponsor policy, and applicable law.
Office of Regulatory Support

The Office of Regulatory Support provides centralized administration and is the primary point of contact for research compliance-related issues. Our office interfaces faculty, staff, students, and campus regulatory committees. We foster and safeguard the institution's culture of regulatory adherence through various consulting services, monitoring assistance, and regulatory advisory services, including the Research Compliance Checklist to guide you in completing research regulatory and safety training requirements for different activities.

Institutional Research Cores

There are nine institutionally supported and subsidized core facilities located on the UTHSC campus:

Laboratory Animal Care Unit (LACU) Molecular Bioinformatics Core(mBIO) Research Histology Core (RHC)
Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core(FCCS) Medicinal Chemistry Core (MedChem)
Molecular Resource Center Core (MRC) Proteomics and Metabolomics Core (PMC) Advanced Imaging Core (AIC).
Office of Scientific Writing

The mission of the Office of Scientific Writing (OSW) is to support UTHSC research by increasing the success of extramural funding applications and facilitating the publication of manuscripts, which assists with disseminating the scientific discoveries made at UTHSC. The OSW works with investigators to sharpen the language of each document so that the science is presented logically, relevant literature is cited properly, hypotheses and data are presented clearly and concisely using appropriate terminology, and the discussion of the results is compelling.

Office of Research Safety Affairs

The Office of Research's mission is to cultivate and support discovery, innovation, commercialization, and economic growth. The Office of Research Safety Affairs supports this mission by promoting regulatory compliance in a manner that attempts to ease the burden placed on researchers while providing health and safety at UTHSC and in the community at large.

Human subjects and Clinical research

The UT Health Science Center Institutional Review Board (IRB), Clinical Trials Unit and the Clinical Research Center support the conduct of human subjects clinical research and clinical trials by UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, and students in the course of their UTHSC position, responsibilities or academic program, or that uses UT Health Science resources or facilities.

*The UT Health Science Center IRB is responsible for the regulatory review, approval, support, and oversight of all UTHSC research involving human subjects.

**The Clinical Trials Unit and Clinical Research Center provide support, resources, equipment, and shared space for researchers conducting clinical research.

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Office of Sponsored Programs

The mission of the UTHSC OSP office is to provide helpful, timely, and accurate information and service to the UTHSC research and scholarly community in support of their pursuit, acquisition, and management of extramural funding. The office is comprised of three teams: the Pre-Award Service Team, the Contract Negotiation Team, and the Post-Award Service Team.

URL - Link Description
Pre-Award Unit The UTHSC Office of Sponsored Programs Pre-Award team facilitates grant submissions for faculty at UTHSC, including the UTHSC components in Knoxville, Nashville, and Chattanooga. UTHSC's user-friendly electronic routing system Cayuse SP and 424 can be used to quickly route grant proposals prior to their submission to the sponsor/funding agency.

The Office of Sponsored Programs' Pre-Award Team works with faculty and administrators to submit high-quality proposals successfully.
Post-Award Management

The Post-Award Management Team maintains accounting control over all university-restricted accounts, including the post-award administration of sponsored activities and monitoring of funded accounts. The Post-Award Management Team serves as an information source for the campus community and external agencies.

Research Agreements Whether you are routing a clinical trial agreement, confidentiality agreement, research agreement, sub-award agreement (receivable or payable), material transfer agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other types of sponsored project agreement, the Office of Sponsored Programs is here to assist you.
Dashboard Metrics (PowerBI) These data are for informational purposes only and should not be used in presentation, publication, or grant submissions.

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Office of Regulatory Support (Compliance)

The Office of Regulatory Support provides centralized administration and serves as the primary point of contact for research compliance-related issues. Our office provides an interface between faculty, staff, students, and campus regulatory committees. We foster and safeguard the institution's culture of regulatory adherence through Consultation, Pre-reviewing protocols, forms, and other compliance-related documents; identifying modifications that need to be made; Preparing documents necessary to maintain accreditation and assurances; Facilitating conflict resolution; Offering and coordinating research regulatory related education and training; and Conducting post-approval monitoring to ensure approved procedures, agreements and arrangements are followed appropriately.

URL - Link Description
Research Compliance Checklist

Whether you are new to research at UTHSC or have been engaged in it for some time, the Research Compliance Checklist guides investigators in completing research compliance and safety training requirements for different activities.

Institutional Animal Control and Use Committee (IACUC) The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at UTHSC is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the proper care, use, and humane treatment of animals used in research, teaching, and training at UTHSC. The IACUC is committed to ensuring that quality animal research at UTHSC is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.
Institutional Bio Safety Committee (IBC) The UTHSC Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for reviewing research activities utilizing recombinant DNA (rDNA) and other biohazardous materials to ensure that UTHSC principal investigators and lab personnel utilize appropriate best practices when performing this type of work. All research by UTHSC investigators that utilizes rDNA, as defined in the NIH Guidelines, must be registered with the UTHSC IBC according to policies established by the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA).
Export Control The UTHSC Export Control policy also covers "Deemed Exports," the primary export control issue facing universities. Deemed Exports involve the release of covered technology to a foreign national in the United States. Examples of deemed exports include laboratory tours, face-to-face interactions, telephone conversations, e-mails, and sharing computer files with foreign nationals when the technology involved falls under export control regulations
Research Conflict of Interest All investigators involved in research-related activities (funded or unfunded) must disclose potential conflicts of interest. Such disclosures occur at the time of proposal submission for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, etc., and submission of research compliance protocols (e.g., IRB and IACUC).
Office of Research Integrity Research is fundamental to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's mission. As such, priority is placed protecting the integrity of the research conducted at UTHSC. The Office of Research Integrity is responsible for responding to allegations of research misconduct brought against all faculty and staff members of UTHSC who are involved in the design, conduct or reporting of research.

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Research Institutional Cores

Institutionally subsidized core labs are shared across departments and overseen by the Office of Research.

URL - Link Description
Institutional Cores Handbook The UTHSC Office of Research strives to provide outstanding shared resources that will enhance discovery, productivity, and the reputation of our research enterprise. This handbook introduces each of UTHSC’s Institutional Research Cores, including services and major instrumentation/technology platforms, core leadership, contact information, and examples of scientific research supported by each.
Core Reports

The Institutional Research Core Facilities Activities and Analysis Reports are an annual compilation of the financial stability, key accomplishments, and tangible and intangible return on investment of these shared resources by the state of Tennessee and the institution.

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Office of Scientific Writing

The mission of the Office of Scientific Writing (OSW) is to support UTHSC research by increasing the success of extramural funding applications and to assist with dissemination of the scientific discoveries made at UTHSC through facilitating the publication of manuscripts. The Office of Scientific Writing (OSW) was established in 2017. Currently, under the supervision of the third director, the OSW assists researchers with scientific writing and copy editing for grants, scientific manuscripts, and other form of research productivity.

URL - Link Description
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Commonly asked questions and their answers to help guide researchers in publications.
Resources Here is a list of Downloadable Resources, Grant Writing Tips, UTHSC Library Research Guides, and Other Online Resources for preparing publications.

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Research Safety Affairs

The mission of the Office of Research is to cultivate and support discovery, innovation, commercialization, and economic growth. The Office of Research Safety Affairs supports this mission by promoting regulatory compliance in a manner that attempts to ease the burden placed on researchers while providing health and safety at UTHSC and in the community at large. Researchers are required to comply with a diversity of regulations and guidelines from organizations that include the Center for Disease Control, Tennessee OSHA, TDEC and US EPA, National Institutes of Health, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and others. Individual researchers and UTHSC may both be liable for non-compliance.

URL - Link Description
Campus Safety Manual Links to manuals, guides, papers and regulations researchers would be interested in.
Safety Information Links to the materials commonly used or required for researchers incl. - Biosafety Manual; Chemical Hygiene Plan; Contingency Plan; Critical Freezer Management and Guidelines; Emergency Response Plan; Exposure Control Plan
Occupational Safety The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is committed to providing a safe and productive work environment. The Campus Safety and Emergency Management and Research Safety Affairs departments are available to assist managers and employees in promoting continuous improvement in workplace safety. All staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to report safety concerns or near misses. Concerns can be reported to supervisors and department heads or by directly emailing Campus Safety.
Fire Safety Building Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) provide employees with evacuation information and quick guide instructions for other emergencies. Supervisor responsibilities during building evacuations and emergencies are identified in the campus Emergency Action Plan procedure. Access the emergency action plan for your building.
Accidents/Incidents Anyone with health and safety concerns is encouraged to report their concerns to Campus Safety by emailing labsafety@uthsc.edu or calling 901.448.6114. No one shall be retaliated against in any way for filing a safety and health complaint or grievance. Unsafe conditions on campus can also be reported using the University of Tennessee Office of Risk Management Incident Report Form.

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Human Subjects and Clinical Research

The UT Health Science Center Institutional Review Board (IRB), Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) and the Clinical Research Center (CRC) support the conduct of human subjects clinical research and clinical trials by UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, and students in the course of their UTHSC position, responsibilities or academic program, or that uses UT Health Science resources or facilities.

The UT Health Science Center IRB is responsible for the regulatory review, approval, support, and oversight of all UTHSC research involving human subjects.

URL - Link Description
Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)

The Clinical Trials Unit provides various research related services to providers participating or interested in clinical research. We have specialized staff to support various and unique research roles, allowing providers to streamline research trials independent of their clinic staff. We are committed to the highest standards in all aspects of clinical research.

Clinical Research Center (CRC) The Clinical Research Center (CRC) provides support services and staff that improve the quality and efficiency of the conduct of clinical research studies. It does this by standardizing operational procedures and educational requirements and by centrally scheduling research staff independent of clinic site location.
CITI Training

UTHSC uses the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program for clinical researcher training. CITI is a widely utilized web-based training platform that provides a variety of training courses for different aspects of clinical and non-clinical research. Human subject protections and good clinical practice courses are mandatory for clinical researchers; however, there may be additional courses required based on other research activity, e.g., responsible conduct of research, animal welfare, conflicts of interest, bio-safety, etc. These courses may be assigned through an institutional office, department or program.

Tools and Resources

Links and information on: Research Resources;Platforms & Technologies; Quicklinks;Classrooms & Online Training (Certifications and Training Guides) ;Forms & Tools ;Seminars & Workshops;Recruitment

ClinicalTrials.gov

ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.

Protocol registration is required make study information publicly available to facilitate enrollment in clinical trials, allow tracking of study progress, disseminate study findings, and ensure access to peer-reviewed journals for publication of research outcomes. Protocol registration is required by: Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act 2007 (FDAAA) ;National Institutes of Health (NIH); International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE); Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)

ResearchMatch

ResearchMatch.org is a free, online recruitment and education platform that securely matches people interested in participating in research with researchers throughout the United States. ResearchMatch aims to help bring together volunteers and researchers. It is not just one institution, one partner, or one study. ResearchMatch is a nation of many working together to make a change today and in the future.

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Organizations, Research Institutions, and Sources of Grants and Funding

External organizations, regulatory bodies, and information collections that researchers may be interested in that provide grant monies, funding models and research opportunities, bo th locally to the Mid-South and Nationally.

URL - Link Description

LOCAL Sources:

 
University of Tennessee Research Foundation The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) is a non-profit 501(c)(34) that promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property, encourages an entrepreneurial culture, contributes to state and regional economic development, and promotes research and education to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond.
Hyde Family Foundations Focusing on Public health, healthcare innovation, and community health initiatives.The foundation supports healthcare research that addresses systemic health issues in Memphis, focusing on improving access to care, health equity, and community wellness.

Assisi Foundation of Memphis

Focusing on Health and human services, with a strong emphasis on improving healthcare delivery and outcomes in the region.The foundation funds research projects that aim to enhance healthcare services, reduce health disparities, and develop innovative healthcare models in Memphis and the Mid-South.
The Urban Child Institute Focusing on Early childhood health, with a particular focus on cognitive and emotional health during the first three years of life.The institute funds research that explores the impact of early health interventions on long-term outcomes, including healthcare policy research that supports early childhood development and well-being.
Blue Cross,Blue Shield of Tennessee Health Foundation Focusing on Public health, healthcare access, and preventive care.The foundation provides grants for research that seeks to improve health outcomes across Tennessee, with a focus on innovative healthcare solutions, health policy research, and community health improvement projects.
NATIONAL Sources:  
Research America  Federal funding is a critical input to our nation’s R&D pipeline. Funding from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and others is essential in addressing longstanding and emerging health threats.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC is the nation's leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public's health. CDC puts science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and to protect the public's health.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal institute responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
National Institutes of Health (NIH) The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of healthcare for all Americans. AHRQ develops the knowledge, tools, and data needed to improve the healthcare system and help consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed health decisions.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to:

  • Promote the progress of science.
  • Advance the national health, prosperity and welfare.
  • Secure the national defense.

We fulfill our mission chiefly by making grants. Our investments account for about 25% of federal support to America's colleges and universities for basic research: research driven by curiosity and discovery. We also support solutions-oriented research with the potential to produce advancements for the American people.

Adv. Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H) The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a research funding agency that supports transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs – ranging from the molecular to the societal – to provide health solutions for all.
Health and Human Services: Agency for Strategic Preparedness and Response (HHS-ASPR) The HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads the nation's medical and public health preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters and other public health emergencies.

ASPR collaborates with hospitals, healthcare coalitions, biotech firms, community members, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and other partners across the country to improve readiness and response capabilities.

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