ORS Fall 2026 Newsletter

FALL 2026

OFFICE

OF

RESEARCH

SERVICES

THE RESEARCH CATALYST Dear DePaul University Community, Welcome back to the new academic year!

As we look ahead, we do so in a rapidly changing research environment. Advances in artificial intelligence, shifting federal funding priorities, evolving regulatory expectations, and growing demands for interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship are transforming research across all disciplines. While these changes present challenges, they also create opportunities for innovation, discovery, and meaningful societal impact. At ORS, we are committed to helping DePaul researchers navigate this dynamic environment and thrive. Whether you are engaging with us for research development, funding, or compliance, our goal is to provide highquality services that help you achieve your research goals.

In this newsletter...

Assistant Director of Research Compliance DePaul TTO Chicago Innovation Membership Spirit of Inquiry Awards RFU Awardees Featured Researchers

This year, ORS will continue to improve and streamline our processes to make it easier for faculty, staff, and students to navigate the research lifecycle while ensuring strong stewardship of sponsored programs and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Cayuse

We will also continue to expand our outreach across the university to strengthen existing collaborations and foster new partnerships. We encourage you to use our External Funding Exploration Form. Share your ideas with us, and we will work with you to identify funding opportunities, connect you with relevant resources, and discuss the next steps to help move your project forward.

Agency Updates

Limited Submissions SUNI Research Fellowship

Events Annual Report Contact Us

Also, take advantage of our workshops, information sessions, and networking opportunities throughout the year. Be sure to check the ORS Calendar of Events. regularly for upcoming training programs, funding-related presentations, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across disciplines. These activities are designed not only to strengthen knowledge of research administration and compliance but also to spark new ideas, partnerships, and collaborations.

Finally, do not hesitate to reach out at ORS@depaul.edu - we look forward to hearing from you, guiding you, and supporting you every step of the way.

We wish you a successful and inspiring academic year and look forward to working alongside you as partners in research, scholarship, creative activities, and educational innovation. Together, we will continue to advance knowledge and celebrate the many accomplishments of the DePaul research community.

Best, Anna Bernadska Director of Research Compliance

FALL 2026

Meet our New Assistant Director of Research Compliance, Stuti Vaidya Stuti Vaidya recently joined the Office of Research Services as Assistant Director of Research Compliance. Her background includes clinical research, public health, and research administration, with experience supporting human subjects research and regulatory compliance.

Stuti's interest in research compliance grew from her early work in community health and oral cancer prevention. Through those experiences, she saw how research can make a meaningful difference in people's lives and strengthen communities. That perspective continues to shape her approach to compliance. She views her role as an opportunity to support researchers, build trust, and help create an environment where meaningful research can thrive.

One of the things Stuti enjoys most about her role is learning about the wide variety of projects taking place across the university and connecting with the people behind them. She believes compliance works best when it is collaborative, approachable, and focused on education. Her goal is to be a resource and partner for faculty, staff, and students as they navigate the research process.

Stuti looks forward to getting to know the DePaul community and supporting researchers in conducting ethical and impactful research.

If you have questions about research compliance, IRB processes, or research protocols, feel free to reach out to Stuti at svaidya8@depaul.edu.

FALL 2026

Office of Technology Transfer, Commercialization & Social Impact DePaul University's Office of Technology Transfer, Commercialization & Social Impact (TTO) serves as the university's central resource for helping faculty and other innovators protect intellectual property and translate research, software, creative works, and emerging technologies into real-world impact. Through commercialization guidance, industry engagement, startup support, and strategic partnerships, the TTO works to expand the societal and economic impact of DePaul innovation while strengthening the university's culture of entrepreneurship and research translation.

During FY 2026, the TTO completed its first full year of operation and established the foundation for DePaul's innovation ecosystem. The office developed key commercialization infrastructure, including invention disclosure processes and innovation review mechanisms, while providing intellectual property and commercialization guidance to faculty across multiple colleges. The TTO received four invention disclosures, supported two provisional patent applications, helped negotiate and implement two licensing agreements associated with faculty-developed software innovations supported by the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program, and collaborated on the submission of a nearly $3 million National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation (ART) proposal to further strengthen DePaul's technology transfer and commercialization capabilities.

Visit our Technology Transfer Page for more information about DePaul’s TTO and Frequently Asked Questions.

FALL 2026

DePaul Expands Innovation Opportunities Through Chicago Innovation The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center is excited to partner with Chicago Innovation, a nonprofit organization that supports innovation across the Chicago region through networking, educational programming, and events that celebrate new ideas and emerging ventures. This partnership gives DePaul faculty, staff, and students access to one of the area's leading innovation networks, providing opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, business leaders, researchers, investors, and other members of Chicago's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For faculty, the partnership offers opportunities to build new professional connections, engage with the broader innovation community, and stay informed on emerging trends and initiatives across the region. It also helps strengthen DePaul's presence within Chicago's innovation ecosystem and creates additional opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

We encourage faculty, staff, and students to explore upcoming Chicago Innovation events and programs and take advantage of the opportunities available through DePaul's membership.

Learn more: Chicago Innovation

FALL 2026

2026 Spirit of Inquiry Award Winners The University Research Council (URC) makes annual DePaul University Spirit of Inquiry Awards. The Awards honor specific research, scholarly or creative achievements that exhibit commitment to that spirit of creative inquiry, which we endeavor to inspire in our students.

Paul Booth

Joseph Mikels

Thiru Ramaraj

College of Communication, Professor and Associate Dean

College of Science and Health, Professor

Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, Associate Professor

Anu Rana

Brad Riddell

Tawei (David) Wang

Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, Professor

Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, Professor

Driehaus College of Business, Professor and Director of MS Audit and Advisory Services Program

Nominate yourself or another faculty for the University's Spirit of Inquiry Nominate yourself or another faculty for the Spirit of Award, which honors research, scholarly, and creative achievements that Inquiry Award!toCheck your College’s application process exhibit commitment the spirit of creative inquiry.

Check your College’s for due dates.

The URC accepts applications until May 1. 1. application process for due dates! The URC accepts applications until May

FALL 2026

DePaul and Rosalind Franklin University 2026-2027 Research Grant Awardees For the fourth consecutive year, DePaul University and Rosalind Franklin University awarded research grants to support faculty collaborations across computing, health sciences and medicine. The primary goal of this program is to facilitate development of new inter-institutional collaborative research projects between DePaul and RFUMS investigators that recognize applications, opportunities, and transformational potential of AI in healthcare. This year, faculty will receive $200,728 in funding to advance projects spanning wearable biosensors, immunological profiling and AI‑driven drug discovery. This years awardees are listed below.

Title: Integrating Quantum Computing and Medicinal Chemistry to Accelerate hCNT Inhibitor Discovery PIs: DePaul: Jindi Wu (CDM) RFUMS: John K. Buolamwini Award: $67,000 Title: Development of a Non-Invasive Wearable Biosensor for Rodent Research PIs: Depaul: David Hanley (CDM) RFUMS: Holly Hunsberger Award: $66,728 Title: Comprehensive Immunological Responses to Epstein–Barr Virus in Heart Transplant Recipients Who Do and Do Not Develop Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease PIs: DePaul: Leonard Jason (CSH) Thiru Ramaraj (CDM) RFUMS: David Everly Award: $67,000

For more details about the 2026-2027 projects click here.

Recently, prior awardees Thiru Ramaraj (CDM-DePaul) and Kaiwen Kams (RFUMS) were awarded an NIH R-21 award for $399,700 to continue their work, titled: Machine learning discovery of novel brainstem nuclei controlling orofacial behaviors. This team, along with the others over the years have contributed to 21 papers and presentations, and 10 external proposal submissions. This speaks to the impact of universities working together to advance science.

FALL 2026

Featured Researcher: Thiru Ramaraj Dr. Ramaraj’s research is guided by a central question: how can artificial intelligence, computational methods, and data-driven approaches advance understanding of complex biological systems and their implications for human, animal, plant, and environmental health? Over the past 15 years, he has developed an interdisciplinary research program spanning computational genomics, microbiology, and AI. He directs the Computational Biology and Applied Bioinformatics (CoBaAB) Laboratory at the School of Computing, JCDM, where his work integrates genome science, pangenomics, microbial systems, environmental health, and biomedical AI. His research has generated more than 3,000 citations and $3.75 million in external research funding as a Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator.

A major focus of Dr. Ramaraj’s current research is applying AI to complex genomic and spatial datasets to uncover biological structure and function. In collaboration with researchers at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, he is applying machine learning to single-cell spatial transcriptomic atlases of the brainstem to identify functionally distinct nuclei and investigate their relationship to orofacial motor function. This work combines novel computational strategies with software tools and workflows for cluster analysis, image processing, registration, and biological data organization. In parallel, through his collaboration with the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of East London, he is integrating metagenomics and AI to study microbial communities associated with microplastics and nanoplastics, the “Plastisphere” and their implications for ecosystem and human health.

At DePaul, Ramaraj is equally committed to mentoring students and fostering a culture of inquiry. Students in the CoBaAB Laboratory engage in computational analyses, research projects, manuscript preparation, publications, and conference presentations, gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of biology, computing, and AI. He also works across disciplines and institutions, bringing together expertise in computing, biology, environmental science, and medicine to address complex scientific challenges. Looking ahead, his research will continue to advance AI-driven approaches for understanding complex biological systems while expanding opportunities for students to participate in research and discovery.

FALL 2026

Featured Researcher: Rachel Shteir Rachel Shteir is a full Professor at The Theatre School. She is an award-winning author, critic, and researcher as well as the head of the Dramaturgy and Criticism program, which she founded in 2000. Her research ranges from theatre to popular culture, politics to Jewish life and history.

Shteir was a 2025-26 Guggenheim fellow. She is also the recipient of many other awards, including Yaddo and Macdowell residencies and a Rockefeller Archive Center Research Stipend. Before teaching at DePaul, she taught at Yale, Carnegie Mellon University, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, the Columbia University School of the Arts, and the National Theatre Institute. She holds a BA from the University of Chicago in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and an MFA and DFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from the Yale School of Drama.

Alongside writing for publications like The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Shteir has written four books: Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show (Oxford University Press, 2004), Gypsy: the Art of the Tease (Yale University Press, 2009), The Steal: A Cultural History of Shoplifting (The Penguin Press, 2011) and Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disrupter (Yale University Press, 2023). Striptease won The George Freedley Memorial Award. Gypsy was a San Francisco Chronicle Pick. Betty Friedan was a New Yorker Magazine Best Book and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography.

As a professor, Shteir works to help students think critically and in more nuanced ways. She introduces them to new research methods to help them dig deeper into their creative and scholarly work. In one recent class, she structured the entire quarter around the Theatre School’s Centennial. Students dug into primary source archival research from Richardson Library Special Collections and studied cutting edge historiography to examine the complex story of the Goodman School of Drama and how it became The Theatre School. Their work created a unique century-long timeline.

Shteir's current project is Why Theatre Matters in the Why X Matters series at Yale University Press. Her research, writing, and criticism support The Theatre School’s commitment to preserving an ancient art form for the future.

FALL 2026

Cayuse Awards Module The phased roll-out of the Cayuse Awards module is proceeding apace. PIs have already been using the Cayuse system for proposal submissions over the course of the last academic year, providing a single web portal for proposal preparation, routing, and submission. Many of these features are now also being implemented on the award management side with Conflict of Interests and award certifications being routed through the Cayuse system for centralized processing and recordkeeping. During award setup, key files and award record information are automatically linked to the proposal for easy access to data from every part of the project’s lifecycle.

An increasing number of award management features will be rolling out during FY27 and soon PIs will have the ability to track budgets and spending from within Cayuse itself. When fully implemented, all key award documents, routing data, and financial information will be available through a single unified system. As features become available, ORS will be scheduling trainings during the year to help PIs maximize the effective use of this new system for managing their current and future awards.

To learn more about Cayuse, check out our Cayuse Fund Manager Trainning on November 12!

FALL 2026

Limited Submissions Funding Opportunities Many federal agencies, foundations, and private sponsors limit the number of proposals that each institution may submit for certain funding opportunities. To help ensure DePaul puts forward the strongest and most competitive applications, the Office of Research Services (ORS) coordinates the university's limited submission process.

When a limited submission opportunity is identified, ORS notifies the deans and research deans across DePaul's colleges with information about the opportunity, eligibility requirements, internal deadlines, and guidance for faculty interested in applying. If interest exceeds the sponsor's institutional limit, ORS coordinates an internal review process to identify the proposal(s) that best align with sponsor priorities and demonstrate the greatest potential for success.

Faculty interested in pursuing a limited submission opportunity are encouraged to review the Limited Submissions webpage and contact ORS as early as possible. Our team is available to answer questions, guide applicants through the internal competition process, and support proposal development. For more information, visit the ORS Limited Submissions webpage or contact ORS@depaul.edu.

Sinai Urban Health Institute Equity Research Fellows The Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) Equity Research Fellows Program fosters collaborative research with faculty committed to advancing health equity in Chicago and beyond. Fellows work alongside SUHI investigators on impactful research within a community-focused research center embedded in an urban safety-net health system.

To learn more about current Fellows and apply, click here. Applications are due by October 2.

FALL 2026

Fall 2026 Federal Agency Updates for Grant Applicants Federal proposal requirements continue to evolve. Please contact the Office of Research Services (ORS@depaul.edu) early in the proposal development process to ensure your application reflects the latest agency guidance and institutional requirements.

Government-wide Proposed Changes to Federal Grant Regulations The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance (2 CFR Part 200). The proposal would affect grant administration across federal agencies, including additional pre-award reviews, expanded grant termination authority, and other administrative requirements. The proposal was open for public comment through July 2026 and has not been finalized. Institutions should monitor developments but continue following current agency guidance until final regulations are issued.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Data Management and Sharing Plans Research.gov now supports preparation of NSF Data Management and Sharing Plans (DMSPs).

Applicants submitting through Research.gov should use the new tool rather than uploading a PDF when applicable.

Proposal & Award Policies NSF continues implementation of updates to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Investigators should verify current proposal preparation requirements before submission, particularly for data management, mentoring plans, and senior personnel documentation.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Reminder: Foreign Component Requirements NIH issued a reminder clarifying the definition of a foreign component in NIH-funded research.

Investigators should carefully review international collaborations, data collection, subawards, and other activities occurring outside the United States to ensure proper disclosure in applications and prior approvals when required.

Common Forms Enforcement NIH has ended its implementation "leniency period" for the new Common Forms. Applicants should ensure that biosketches, Current and Pending (Other Support), and associated senior/key personnel documents comply with the updated requirements.

Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) NIH implemented updated policies for Basic Experimental Studies with Humans and clarified that BESH studies are no longer considered clinical trials under NIH policy. Investigators should carefully review funding opportunity announcements to determine the appropriate application pathway.

FALL 2026

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Sept. 18, 2026 2:00 – 3:00 Zoom Link

Oct. 2, 2026 11:30 – 1:30 Loop Campus

Oct. 16, 2026 10:00 – 11:00 Zoom Link

Oct. 16, 2026 12:00 – 1:30 Invite Only

Oct. 22, 2026 3:30 – 4:30 RSVP Here

Oct. 29, 2026 1:00 – 2:00 RSVP Here

Internal Grants Workshop

From Research to Real-World Impact: Translating Outcomes into Action

Paid Leave Program Workshop

Large Grant Research Luncheon

From Research to Real World Impact: IP & Commercialization Strategies

IRB Requirements for Research with Secondary Data

FALL 2026

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Oct. 30, 2026 10:00 – 2:00 RSVP Here

Nov. 12, 2026 2:30 – 3:30 Zoom Link

Lunch & Learn: DePaul and RFUMS Collaboration Grant for Biomedical Futures: AI & Interdisciplinary Research Initiative

Cayuse Fund Manager Training

Visit the ORS Events Page

FALL 2026

209 Proposal Submissions for $78.5M

398 IRB Protocol Submissions

$120 Awards Received for $10.3M

83 Council Grants awarded for $463K

2025-2026

ORS Highlights

For more information, read our full annual report here.

119 Undergraduate Research Assistantships through URAP

Get in Touch WITH ORS

Office of Research Services DePaul University Loop Campus Suite 1030, 14 East Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 Email: ORS@depaul.edu ORS Website | ORS Staff Directory

Click here to watch our About ORS Video

Click here to watch our video on Faculty Research