University of Cincinnati

09/12/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/12/2025 11:46

University of Cincinnati, Kent State University awarded $3M by NSF to share research resources

University of Cincinnati, Kent State University awarded $3M by NSF to share research resources

Initiative could transform research institutions in Ohio and beyond

By Emily Glass Email EmilyEmail Emily
4 minute read September 12, 2025 Share on facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print StoryLike

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded leaders at the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University a $3 million grant to create a program that will make research resources more accessible for some smaller institutions and advance projects more efficiently across universities with cost savings.

The Supporting and HArmonizing Research Endeavors (SHARE) initiative is being led by Ohio co-principal investigators Jane Strasser at UC, Kent State University's Douglas Delahanty and James Reecy at Iowa State University. SHARE aims to increase regional research opportunities by streamlining administration, facilities and regulatory compliance. It is a collective effort across multiple institutions to create easily-replicable regional research consortiums to share expertise and infrastructure.

Jane Strasser is a senior associate VP for UC's Office of Research. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand

"The SHARE program will lower facilities and administrative costs - or the 'indirect' costs - of research for participating institutions," Strasser, UC's senior associate vice president of research, said. "It will provide support and infrastructure across the state, and potentially across the country."

Both UC and Kent State University are recognized as R1 top-tier research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, making them effective leaders for their respective regions in Ohio.

Delahanty is the vice president for research and economic development at Kent State University. "The SHARE program will increase the research capacity and thereby the economic impact of all institutions involved," Delahanty said. "In addition, it will develop publicly available tools and resources, expand the pool of qualified research administrators, promote research, provide trainee opportunities and increase job readiness," he added.

Innovating for the next generation

Over the four-year grant period, the team will shape replicable Regional Community of Practice (RCOP) models for leadership and compliance to focus on mentorship of research faculty and support staff and balance regulatory burdens - rules, requirements and costs - across institutions large and small.

Doug Delahanty is Kent State's VP of research and economic development. Photo/Kent State University

Co-principal investigator Reecy of Iowa State University will assist as the program expands outside Ohio in the coming years. The next phase will provide RCOPs in not just Ohio, but also Iowa, Georgia and Minnesota.

"It's important that we're helping Ohio first," Strasser said. "We can serve as a model as the program expands to new regions."

"In the future, the Leadership Development and Compliance RCOPs can be joined to form Regional Research Networks, and the model can be replicated and expanded across the U.S. to strengthen our nation's research administration capacity and, in turn, national research capacity," Delahanty said.

Expanding access and opportunity

Strasser and Delahanty started collaborating as leaders of the Research Leadership Fellows for the Council of Research (CoR) in the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) before launching SHARE.

"Ohio has the expertise of many CoR Fellows here in-house to start our new program without huge travel expenses, which can be another barrier to smaller institutions," Strasser said. She explained that the SHARE program will expand beyond just the APLU by including non-member institutions.

"We started a regional research consortium which is comprised of both public and private higher education institutions," Strasser said. "It makes it easier for smaller institutions like community colleges to engage in projects that would otherwise be out of their budgets or resource pools."

This NSF grant will allow Strasser and her team to refine their models to foster growth and innovation among Ohio institutions and in higher education as a whole.

Ohio is home

The University of Cincinnati drives Ohio's economy with a $22.7 billion statewide impact, supporting over 125,000 jobs. Through innovation, research and workforce development, UC fuels economic growth and enhances quality of life across the state.

Learn more about UC's economic impact.

Featured image at top of two UC students working in a lab. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand/Colleen Kelley

Tags

  • Faculty Staff
  • Innovation Agenda
  • Ohio Impact
  • Office of Research
  • Next Lives Here
  • Research

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