# SPAD at Kennesaw State University

> **NIH NIH UC2** · KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $270,898

## Abstract

In response to RFA-RM-19-004: Sponsored Programs Administration Development (SPAD), we
propose to establish the SPAD at Kennesaw State University (KSU) program. KSU is a rapidly
growing and the 3rd largest university in the University System of Georgia (USG), primarily
serving undergraduates (~35,000) from diverse (>35% URM), and lower socioeconomic status
(~36% of students are Pell-eligible) backgrounds. In its nascent stage of development, KSU’s
research enterprise is small (~$1.68M in total NIH RPG funding over the past three fiscal years);
yet through the NIH Bridges to the Doctorate program and other recent programming, KSU
shows amazing promise in its ability to impact research with primarily undergraduate students.
Based on an in-depth self-assessment of the research challenges faced by KSU, the goals of
the SPAD at KSU program are timely, relevant, and strategic. We propose to: a) develop
capacity for both under-represented minority (URM) faculty and students to conduct biomedical
research; b) develop our sponsored programs and diversity infrastructures to support the
growing research emphasis of the university; and c) develop linkages and collaborations across
the state and region to increase our competitiveness in biomedical research. To achieve these
goals, we have identified 28 activities that the SPAD at KSU program proposes to launch, with
strategic and intentional guidance from a Steering Committee, key Mentors representing KSU
aspirational institutions, and expert consultants. These activities range from development of
best practice procedures and policies for grants management, to explicit mentoring and
research development activities for URM faculty and students, to the strengthening of key
regional and national partnerships in biomedical research. The success of the SPAD at KSU
program will be transformative in changing the research culture at KSU. We expect to positively
impact the growth of research development and to develop a solid and sustainable grants
administration foundation. Faculty and students, particularly URM, will be empowered to
conduct research with relevance, and the institution will have built a strong internal
infrastructure as well as linkages and collaborations across the state and region to increase our
competitiveness in biomedical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10203017
- **Project number:** 1UC2GM137435-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Phaedra S Corso
- **Activity code:** UC2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $270,898
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-18 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10203017

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10203017, SPAD at Kennesaw State University (1UC2GM137435-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10203017. Licensed CC0.

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