Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Thomas W. Cole, Jr., Research Center for Science and Technology, Room 1001
Telephone: (404) 880-6990

At Clark Atlanta University (CAU), we believe that research and education cannot be decoupled; research and scholarly activity at CAU is essential in providing a world-class educational experience for our students.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) serves as the University's central administrative unit responsible for supporting faculty, staff, and administrators in securing external resources through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements providing financial and contractual stewardship of awards. RSP provides dynamic and proactive services to cultivate and maximize external resources for relevant research, scholarly and creative pursuits. Services include guidance and support to the University community, while ensuring strict compliance with the University's contractual and regulatory obligations and financial accountability to external stakeholders both federal and non-federal, public and private.

The mission of RSP is to provide leadership and support in the establishment of partnerships between the faculty, the institution and its constituents, the facilitation of research centers, core facilities, technology transfer and commercialization, governmental affairs and the development and implementation of the operational processes and policies of the research enterprise at CAU including the delivery of pre- and post-award services.

The vision of RSP is to leverage and support the diverse skills and expertise of our students, faculty, researchers, and staff to foster the growth of the research enterprise, provide exceptional research and educational experiences for our students, and make significant discoveries and contributions to the knowledge of humankind.

RSP realizes its purpose by delivering value-added “one-stop” support and management of the research and sponsored programs administration for the CAU research enterprise, including researchers, research centers, core facilities, technology transfer, commercialization and governmental affairs efforts.

Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD)
Thomas W. Cole, Jr., Research Center for Science and Technology, Room 4045
Telephone: (404) 880-6763

The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD), Clark Atlanta University’s Center of Excellence, was established in 1999 out of the strengths of the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry. In 2004, the CCRTD faculty decided to focus on developing a nationally recognized research program in prostate cancer and its impact on the African American community. This decision was based on the significantly higher rates of incidence and mortality among African American men and because of the unique expertise of the CCRTD faculty that could readily be applied to this area of research. 

The mission of the CCRTD is to conduct high-caliber basic and translational research, train future generations of scientists in cancer research, and provide an educational environment for community outreach, prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate cancer. Over the last 18 years, CCRTD has become one of the largest research centers in the nation and is the only cancer center solely focusing on prostate cancer and health disparity among African American men.

CCRTD is currently supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)-sponsored Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program; National Cancer Institute (NCI); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); Department of Defense (DOD); Department of Education; National Science Foundation (NSF); and Georgia Research Alliance (GRA).

Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity (CURC)
Thomas W. Cole, Jr., Research Center for Science and Technology, Room 3035
Telephone: 404-880-6863
Email: curc@cau.edu

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity (CURC) promotes and facilitates research experiences for undergraduate students and has as its mission to increase, improve, and enhance undergraduate students’ participation and experiences in research, scholarship, and creative activity. Operating, under the auspices of the Office of the Provost, as the university’s hub for coordinating and communicating opportunities for undergraduate research and creative and scholarly activities to the university community. CURC strives to achieve its mission by providing leadership, coordination, and support for research activities across campus. The CURC also assists the undergraduate research, creative and/or scholarly activity efforts through the distribution of university funds to support travel for undergraduate students to disseminate original results at regional and national conferences.  Clark Atlanta University has placed faculty-student mentor relationships and undergraduate research among its top strategic priorities.  Clark Atlanta University realizes that Undergraduate research provides an opportunity for faculty to expand their own research programs and enhance mentoring skills through training new members of their disciplines.

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED)
Thomas W. Cole, Jr., Research Center for Science and Technology, Room 1004
Telephone: 404.880.1945
bberger@cau.edu

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED) was established to develop a campus-wide entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem and INNOVATION LAB/MAKER SPACE. The center offers:

1. Innovation and Design Thinking Courses and Workshops;
2. Ideation, Lean Start-Up, and Small Business Mentoring;
3. 3D Printing & Prototyping;
4. Tech Transfer and Commercialization Support;
5. Hackathons; and
6. Business Pitch Competitions.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Since 1980, students and faculty of Clark Atlanta University have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the number of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science-and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs available at www.orise.orau.gov/internships-fellowships/undergraduates.html.

ORAU's Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU's members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research, and support programs as well as services to chief research officers. For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact the Department of Physics, or visit the ORAU Home Page (www.orau.org).

Intellectual Property Policy

As a leading research institution, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) through the Office of Research, and Sponsored Programs, encourages the faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral associates, staff, students, and other stakeholders to engage in research activities and creative work that lead to inventions, innovation, discoveries, and copyrightable works that are patentable, copyrightable or qualify for a trademark, technology transfer, and that fosters the general development of intellectual property.

Consistent with the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-517), it is also the policy and responsibility of the University and other affiliated organizations; to encourage the use of such discoveries, inventions, and copyrightable works for the public good.  Further, consistent with the Bayh-Dole Act, provide equitable distribution between the University and the investigator/inventor/author(s) of net licensing revenue resulting from the commercialization of novel discoveries, inventions, and copyrightable works that the University owns in whole or in part.

This policy applies to all faculty, staff. administrators, research and creative works (discoveries, developments, inventions, or copyrightable material) made by persons employed (either as full-time, part-time or temporary employees) by CAU or affiliated organizations, research scientists, visiting scientists, postdoctoral associates, students, volunteers, and other persons using University facilities and resources. The University remains committed to academic freedom.

The Vice President (VP) of Research and Sponsored Programs, with the assistance of the staff in technology transfer and licensing, General Counsel, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, and an ad hoc advisory committee approved by the President is responsible for implementing this policy.

In the event, the determination is made that no University sponsorship, external funding or significant use of University resources was involved, and the work did not result from activities performed within the scope of employment or association with CAU, the Vice President of RSP shall recommend the University to waive all claims. If not, the Vice President of RSP shall determine the terms of the modification of the sponsorship agreement, intellectual property agreement, or licensing agreement as it relates to patents and copyrights, and so advise the President.

In evaluating inventions, discoveries, intellectual property, filing patents and copyrights applications, licensing,and  administration of patents and copyrights, the University may obtain legal and technical assistance or external services from independent patent and copyright organizations is determined by the University General Council.

The Intellectual Property Policy comprises both a patent policy and a copyright policy and is published in detail in the current CAU Faculty Handbook as well as posted on www.cau.edu/research-sponsored-programs/forms-policies.

For further information about patents visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office website (www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm) and for copyrights, the United States Copyright Office website (www.copyright.gov).