From finding funding sources to organizing grant applications, the Wyss’ Sponsored Research Team helps our researchers secure financial support for their work
By Jessica Leff
Cutting-edge translational research requires a lot of things: brilliant scientists and engineers with bold ideas, state-of-the-art lab equipment and facilities, and a wide variety of materials. To amass all these innovation ingredients and more, you need to start with one thing: money. As Principal Scientist Girija Goyal, Ph.D., explains, “Without funds, there can be no research and there is no outlet for creativity and innovation.”
While money to support the Institute’s operations comes from various sources including philanthropy, a good percentage of the research at the Wyss is funded by grants and industry sponsored research agreements (IRSAs). Each of these external funding sources has its own rules and guidelines for how to obtain and use the money. So, the Wyss has a Sponsored Research Team that helps our researchers work through this process, from finding funding opportunities, to applying, to organizing all the necessary forms, and everything in between.
“Without their support, we would not be able to secure the grants we have, ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars,” Goyal adds.
Without them, there can be no research
The Sponsored Research Team’s involvement starts at the very beginning of the funding process, so the sooner a researcher reaches out to them, the better. Researchers can come to them with keywords, and they’ll find potential funding options. Director of Research Administration Keleigh Quinn explains, “We’ll dig through the solicitations and see what’s required from the budget limits to the due dates and everything in between. We make these things called task summaries for proposals, which gives a rundown of the documents needed and their specifications. Depending on the sponsor, they can be very nitpicky about the different ways you have to present information.”
Senior Scientist and Program Manager Christina Lewis shares, “Their work enables the research staff to focus on science and prevents researchers from becoming overwhelmed by the administrative obligations needed to win and execute competitive research awards.”
James Gorman, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Director of Translational R&D and leader of the Wyss’ Brain Targeting Program (BTP), is a perfect example. The Sponsored Research Team helped to train, orient, and support his team throughout government and foundation grants as well as seven IRSAs. He explains, “Together, these sponsored programs have provided more than $10 million in funding to the BTP. They have allowed us to hire scientists, conduct shuttle antibody discovery campaigns, pursue discovery of new targets, and establish relationships internally and externally that have helped propel our program to international prominence, and to develop key inventions and intellectual property.”
Meet the team
There are nine members of the Sponsored Research Team, most of which oversee a portfolio of funded projects or awards. That means they help the teams find funding opportunities, apply for funding, and manage awards once they’re granted. The leadership includes Keleigh Quinn, the Director of Research Administration, Van Ferrell, the Associate Director of Sponsored Finance, and Chiara Mancinelli, the Assistant Director of Translational Research Administration. Quinn manages the Senior Sponsored Research Officers, Evan Stowell, Angelina Grimm, and Melissa Ayers. Ferrell manages the junior team members Luz Sosa, Gustavo Luna, and Rob Lorino.
Their work enables the research staff to focus on science and prevents researchers from becoming overwhelmed by the administrative obligations needed to win and execute competitive research awards.
Quinn’s been at the Wyss for eight years and represents the team with central Harvard operations. Before taking on this role, she managed the portfolio of sponsored projects for the lab of Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. Quinn is a certified scuba diver who enjoys diving in warmer, tropical waters.
Ferrell has been at the Wyss for about fourteen years. She has her own portfolio and works on finance-related projects. She’s halfway through her goal of hiking all the tallest mountains in New England.
Mancinelli supports the funded awards for initiatives including the Brain Targeting Program, handles the IRSAs, and serves as a liaison to the Business Development Team, the Strategic Engagement team, and the Harvard Office of Technology Development. She’s been at the Wyss for six years. Before becoming a mother of two, she was a circus artist who did aerial hoop, trapeze, and silks.
Stowell (George Church, Ph.D., Dave Mooney, Ph.D., Samir Mitragotri, Ph.D.), Grimm (Ingber), and Ayers (Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D.) each support the funded projects for their respective labs. Stowell has been at the Wyss the longest – twelve years – and enjoys learning languages. He has full knowledge of English, French, Greek, Portuguese, Japanese, and Welsh and knows some Irish, Turkish, and Spanish. Grimm joined the Wyss for a second time two years ago – she first worked here as a Senior Sponsored Research Officer back in 2015. She loves reading and recently took up crocheting. Ayers is the newest team member, joining in spring 2024. In her free time, she is the president of a non-profit club that organizes elementary and middle school Lego robotics teams.
As the Senior Sponsored Projects Administrator, Sosa has her own portfolio of awards while also providing training and support. She loves to do Sudoku and dance.
Luna, the Sponsored Projects Administrator, has been at the Wyss for ten years. He manages fellowships and a small portfolio of awards while supporting his team members. He’s a big Boston sports fan and loves attending live jazz shows.
Finally, Lorino has been at the Wyss for about half a year as the Sponsored Projects Coordinator. He takes care of approvals for ordering, journals, and any other tasks that can support his team. He has a Bachelor of Arts in photography and does creative self-portraits – one of which appeared on a book cover.
Modern-day switchboard operators
The Sponsored Research Team acts as a microcosm of the entire Institute. Mancinelli explains, “A lot of our principal investigators collaborate, so in turn we work together on proposals and exchange information.” The team meets weekly and jumps on Teams regularly to problem-solve. Everyone is eager to lend a hand and share their experiences. Lorino remarks, “It feels welcoming, as a newcomer, to have a team that’s always willing to answer questions.”
In addition to their constant communication with each other, the team often acts as an information hub for the whole community. Stowell adds, “While technically we’re mainly working with sponsored research, for a lot of folks in the labs we support, we act as a switchboard operator, putting them in touch with the appropriate support team.”
The teams they work with most frequently are Finance and Procurement. Mancinelli also works closely with the Business Development Team, since both deal with industry partners. And of course, they interact with researchers on a weekly, or even daily basis, helping them find new funding sources and managing their current projects.
Megan Sperry, Ph.D., a Scientist, explains, “My time at the Wyss has involved learning about how these funding vehicles work and helping prepare large applications for the first time. The members of the Sponsored Research Team have been indispensable advisors in that respect. They are incredibly patient and helpful as we collectively map out the science and the budget, sometimes on rather tight timelines. Without the funds they help us to secure, the research simply would not happen.”
The Sponsored Research Team members are incredibly patient and helpful as we collectively map out the science and the budget, sometimes on rather tight timelines. Without the funds they help us to secure, the research simply would not happen.
The team is also working on new ways to teach the community about Sponsored Research. This summer, Mancinelli served as a panelist during a Business Blueprint event session, providing insight to Wyss project teams that hope to commercialize their research. In the future, she hopes to set up a few sessions for researchers to learn more about sponsored research, like the basics of budgeting and what is and is not allowed on awards.
Woven into the fabric of the Wyss
Many members of the Sponsored Research team have had a long tenure at the Wyss, and they’re an important part of the community in ways even beyond their official titles. Sosa remembers, “Back in 2015, I was a Harvard Hero nominee and won. It was incredibly humbling to be recognized among my peers and researchers.”
Stowell looks back fondly on times spent with the community outside work, whether at the Retreats, holiday brunches, or even a lab outing to Thompson Island. He also had the unique experience of participating in a study for the lab of Associate Faculty member Conor Walsh, Ph.D., running on a treadmill with various weighted backpacks on to help in designing the wearable exosuit. Ferrell enjoyed volunteering at a farm on Earth Day, where some of what they picked went to those in need. In May, all nine team members hosted a carnival-themed event for the community.
And, like our researchers, the team is personally dedicated to work that will have near-term impact. Gorman says, “When I have thanked Chiara and remarked how her team goes above and beyond to help with difficult challenges, she shared that she is passionate about seeing our work succeed. Like so many of us, she has had close family members affected by some of the diseases for which we are pursuing better treatments. She and her teammates deeply desire to contribute to the development of better therapies, and it shows.”
Less like tape, more like glue
When asked what others should know about the team, Luna says, “We’re a strong, supportive team that is always willing to help in any way we can.” Ferrell adds, “We try to be flexible and find a way to make it work, but obviously there are also regulations that we have to look out for.”
Funding frequently comes with many rules attached. One is that federally funded programs are subject to an audit every year. The government can audit charges at random and ask for details about any individual charge. The Wyss’ Sponsored Research Team has an excellent track record of no audit findings, and they want to continue to protect the Institute’s good standing to secure more funding in the future.
“Support from the Sponsored Research team is absolutely essential,” says Mike Super, Ph.D., Director of Immuno-Materials. “They share perspective, advice, and key knowledge of the government systems we have to apply through for large grants. Without them, we would not have as much success in raising funds.”
So instead of thinking of them as red tape, think of them as the glue holding research teams and funding sources together, making a positive impact on the health of humans and our planet.