about navref


10th Annual Report
April 2001- March 2002

NAVREF Mission: Promote the interests of the VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education foundations through programs of education, support and advocacy.

Board of Directors
Antonio Laracuente, Chairman
Eileen Lennon, Ph.D., Vice Chairman
Bradley Olson, Secretary/Treasurer
Edward R. Block, M.D.

Robert Guancial
William D. Montague
Jacqueline G. Parthemore, M.D.
Thomas Stripling

VA Central Office Liaisons

John R. Feussner, M.D., M.B.A.

Stephanie Pincus, M.D.

In Appreciation

NAVREF’s success is highly dependent on generous contributions of time and expertise by its members. All NAVREF activities and accomplishments are made possible by the hard work of its board of directors and many others who are committed to the VA nonprofit research and education foundations as well as the VA research and education programs. Individuals who contributed to the activities described below are too numerous to list. However, NAVREF wishes to express its gratitude to all.

Top Five Major Accomplishments April 2001 - March 2002

1. Worked with the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to write legislation that if passed will:

  • Allow VAMCs to contract with NPCs for research and education services using existing contracting statutes, including 38 U.S.C. 8153, Health Care Sharing, and other forms of agreements; and
  • Provide Federal Tort Claims Act coverage for NPC employees who have VA without compensation appointments and work on VA approved research or education under the supervision of VA employees.

2. Obtained Office of General Counsel (OGC) agreement that NPCs may own and develop intellectual property, and may participate in technology transfer under the Federal Technology Transfer Act, Bayh-Dole, etc., subject to VA regulations regarding disclosure, assignment of rights by WOCs, etc.

3. Obtained Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) approval of a template Federalwide Assurance application tailored for NPC use; provided instructions and sample VA/NPC MOUs on NAVREF web site.

4. Led a successful advocacy effort that:

  • Resulted in a $20 million increase in FY 2002 funding for the VA research program.
  • Shifted $5 million in costs for the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance (ORCA) from the R&D appropriation to the medical care appropriation effective in FY 2003.
  • Made Congress aware of the need for a funding stream for research facility improvements.
  • Drew congressional attention to the need for ongoing research infrastructure support via the 15% VA add on.

5. Provided concise guidance on a variety of operational matters, including particularly well-received information about accepting donations of honoraria as well as paying speaker fees that has greatly reduced questions on these issues.

Other Accomplishments and Ongoing Initiatives

Policy Development
  • Worked with the Office of General Counsel to identify issues in need of statutory resolution and to develop solutions; led to proposed legislation that eliminates prohibition against VA facilities contracting with NPCs for services and strengthens Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage for NPC employees.
  • Prior to final publication in December 2001, influenced revision of some clauses of Handbook 1200.17 by commenting on numerous drafts; have already discussed with OGC the need for additional revisions and clarifications.
  • Clarified instructions for the annual reports to VA due on June 1; sent memo and guidance to all members.
  • Developed sample policies for managing funds transfers, particularly involving residual funds, and conflicts of interest.
  • Collaborated with OGC Group IV to develop new model clause regarding intellectual property ownership for use in clinical research agreements with pharmaceutical companies.

Member Communications and Services
  • Responded to numerous email and phone questions, usually with a one-day turnaround time; used questions to prompt newsletter articles on timely topics and additional postings on the web site.
  • Established electronic bulletin board to promote direct exchanges of information among members.
  • Wrote and disseminated by email 13 newsletters; posted on web site for future reference.
  • Regularly added new information to the NAVREF web site as well as continuously updating and improving existing materials.
  • Assisted in the establishment of four new corporations.
  • Conducted three Best Practices Consultations as well as a thorough review and updating of the program to meet changing needs.
  • Monitored existing programs for group insurance (added event cancellation policy), preferred vendors (replaced two vendors), and OGC Corporations Panel assistance.

Advocacy
  • Reinvigorated Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition to involve more members in Capitol Hill visits, preparing statements and testimony for hearings, and generating signatures for Dear Colleague letters.
  • Met more often than in previous years with staff of members of House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies.
  • Established new web site specifically for members of Congress and staff to facilitate timely delivery of information about VA research in spite of post-anthrax impediments to congressional mail delivery (www.navref.org/publicpolicy).
  • Issued regular electronic alerts at key times in the FY 2002 appropriations process to FOVA and NAVREF members to enlist grassroots support for advocacy efforts.

Conferences
  • Conducted a well-regarded and well-attended fall conference on how to negotiate a federal indirect cost rate; program was designed to provide the fundamentals so NPCs would have the tools to begin administering NIH grants in the absence of approval of the 15% VA add on.
  • Managed a highly successful 2002 Annual Conference, NAVREF’s 10th , that provided two days of educational sessions specifically targeted to the needs of the NPCs as well as numerous networking opportunities.
  • Careful review of evaluations prompted consideration of alternative formats and scheduling as planning for a 2002 fall conference and the 2003 Annual Conference get underway.

Governance
  • Board of directors held four full day meetings, each hosted by a NAVREF member foundation to allow interaction between the host and NAVREF boards.
  • Developed positions on numerous timely issues confronting NAVREF members including implications of the final version of Handbook 1200.17; lack of resolution of FTCA coverage for NPC employees; prohibition against VAMCs contracting with NPCs; inadequate research infrastructure support caused in part by continuing delay in approval of 15% VA add on, etc.; board directed implementation of initiatives to resolve each.
  • Prompted by increasing operational expenses as dues revenues level off, analyzed past and projected NAVREF dues revenues and expenses; concluded that no changes in the dues structure are needed at this time, but may be necessary in one to two years.
  • Hired a consultant to perform a comparative analysis of the executive director’s compensation as required by IRS intermediate sanction regulations; deliverables included a job description, compensation philosophy and results of a survey of 40 compensation databases; based on the analysis, the board adjusted Ms. West’s compensation and benefits to fall at the 50% percentile of compensation for executives in comparable positions.
  • Acknowledged significant contributions made by David Johnson, Ph.D. during six years on the NAVREF board; welcomed Stephanie Pincus, MD, chief Office of Academic Affiliations, as a new VACO liaison to the NAVREF board and Thomas Stripling, director of Research, Education and Practice Guidelines, Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as newly elected board member Bradley Olson, executive director, Dorn Research Institute.

Administration
  • Participated in a diagnostic study conducted by the NAVREF accountant to ensure that NAVREF is meeting federal, state and local compliance requirements as well as providing an overall check up on both fiscal and administrative management; implemented recommendations resulting from the study.
  • Initiated registration of NAVREF’s name and logo to protect against trademark infringement and inappropriate use.
  • Conducted a thorough analysis of NAVREF’s lobbying activities to ensure compliance within IRS regulations; implemented a time keeping system to ensure accurate allocation of time and expenses among advocacy, member communications and services, policy development, conferences, governance and administration.

 

 

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