HPU BUILDS BRIDGES FOR RESEARCH AT NORDP ANNUAL MEETING IN ATLANTA

The National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) Consultants Program was created in 2010 to strengthen the nation's research ecosystem from the ground up. It provides research development services, at no cost, to Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) across the country. NORDP serves as a hub for the kind of collaboration that helps universities expand their capacity to pursue meaningful research and win competitive funding.

This year, that mission brought a group of HPU representatives to the Emory Conference Center in Atlanta for the program's annual meeting, held under the theme Partnerships: Building Bridges for Greater Research Capacity and Impact. The gathering drew universities, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners from across the U.S. to share best practices in research development and to forge the relationships that move research forward.

HPU's connection to the program took root in 2024, when HPU’s Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) received a two-year subaward through the NORDP Consultants Program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and administered through Emory University. Selected as a Cohort III institution, HPU received a package of 600 consultant hours dedicated to building research capacity and supporting faculty development.

Those hours have made a tangible difference across our campuses. Through the program, HPU has hosted two annual Principal Investigator (PI) Academy programs, 10-week training sessions serving roughly 15 participants each, while faculty and staff have received individualized consultation on proposal development, the identification of funding opportunities, and proposal review services.

The spectacular momentum shows in the numbers. Comparing fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2025 (through May), the number of grant proposals submitted at HPU grew by 280%, and the total amount of funding requested increased by 80%! Over the same period, both the number of awards received and total award funding rose by approximately 30%.

HPU's presence at the program's annual cohort meetings has become a valued tradition. Last year, the University was represented by HPU Dean of the Graduate College of Health Sciences Tricia Catalino, PT, DSc, HPU Professor David Horgen, Ph.D., and HPU Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Projects Josephine Wong, MBA, CRA. This year's delegation included HPU Dean of the School of Nursing Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Ed.D., APRN, CMDCP, HPU Assistant Controller Marina Ong, HPU General Grants Specialist Devyn Kamiya, and Wong.

For Magpantay-Monroe, the meeting was a chance to gather resources she could carry home to her nursing and public health faculty and staff. She came away inspired by the idea of "use-inspired" research, the understanding that the search for practical solutions and the pursuit of new knowledge can advance hand-in-hand and was especially drawn to sessions on grant-seeking as a form of business development and on undergraduate research programs.

"I value attending this meeting because it allows me to bring resources back to the University and to my School of Nursing faculty and staff," Magpantay-Monroe said. "One important lesson for me was the need to create a sphere of partnerships that offers an authentic match for our nursing and public health departments. I learned that use-inspired research can be deeply rewarding, where seeking practical solutions and new knowledge go hand in hand. I hope that, in baby steps, I can inspire my faculty to be excited about sharing their research interests with their students."

If a single message echoed across the conference, it was that strong research begins with strong relationships, a fitting reflection of the meeting's theme. Through these collaborative experiences, HPU continues to learn from peer institutions and to sharpen its strategies for expanding research and sponsored program activity across the university.

For Kamiya, that lesson resonated deeply.

"Attending the NORDP Research Development Conference reinforced how much successful research depends on strong partnerships," he said. "The theme, Partnerships: Building Bridges for Greater Research Capacity and Impact, emphasized how collaboration between faculty, research development professionals, sponsored programs staff, and external partners helps strengthen research as a whole. It reminded me that research administration is an important part of that process and that building relationships across different groups can lead to more meaningful and lasting impact."

Ong mentioned that this year’s topic was especially valuable because it addressed the challenges universities of a similar size face in securing federal research funding. “The speakers, workshops, and breakout sessions provided helpful insight into how other universities have identified alternative funding through private and public partnerships,” said Ong. “We also came away with practical ideas and approaches that may be adaptable and beneficial to HPU.”