# Research Infrastructure Core (RIC)

> **NIH NIH U54** · HOWARD UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $1,081,473

## Abstract

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CORE ABSTRACT
The Research Infrastructure Core (RIC) is a distributed core facility that is capable of providing a diverse cadre
of services and resources to basic biomedical, clinical and behavioral research projects at Howard University
for the support of minority health and health disparities research. To do so, the RIC will connect researchers
throughout the institution with facility resources and research support necessary to conduct cutting-edge
research in minority health. The specific aims of the RIC are: 1) provide core research services and resources
in the areas of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics (CCBB), Health Informatics (Outcomes Research
Center, ORC), Imaging, and Proteomics; 2) systematically distribute this research support to HU RCMI
research project investigators, IDC pilot project awardees, and other basic biomedical, clinical, and behavioral
science investigators across the Howard University campus; and 3) evaluate utilization and efficacy of the
available research infrastructure support. In addition to impacting research across the entire Howard campus,
the RIC will specifically enhance the quality and productivity of the pilot projects to be funded through the
Investigator Development Core and the RCMI-supported research projects. Additionally, the requested
infrastructure support builds upon previously funded HU RCMI resources by consolidating them under a more
user-friendly, streamlined modular structure and integrating the health informatics resources of the Howard
University Outcomes Research Center. In order to insure that the RIC functions at a level of maximal
efficiency, it will be important to obtain feedback from users regarding its operational effectiveness. This will be
achieved via annual evaluative assessments of RIC’s contribution to Howard University’s research effort via
tracking of pre-established metrics: projects supported, publications and presentations, funded grants, and
grants submitted. Each RIC module will be tracked and evaluated individually, and the modular data will then
be combined in a comprehensive RIC report. The approach of modular evaluations will allow for strategic
interim adjustments to individual modules, as needed.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939710
- **Project number:** 5U54MD007597-32
- **Recipient organization:** HOWARD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William M. Southerland
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,081,473
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939710

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939710, Research Infrastructure Core (RIC) (5U54MD007597-32). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939710. Licensed CC0.

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