Center for Research Excellence

Building Capacity in Biomedical Research

In April 2026, Xavier was awarded a $2.8 million, five-year cooperative agreement through the inaugural funding round of the NIH BRE-SPAD program. Xavier’s project builds on existing University strengths and new commitments, including launching the first Jesuit Catholic College of Osteopathic Medicine in the United States, in 2027, and several undergraduate and graduate biomedical programs, such as Genetics, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Speech, Language, and Communicative Behavior, Health Science and Wellness, and Social Work.

Xavier’s BRE-SPAD project is also aligned with the goals of the new Center for Research Excellence, which will oversee the program activities.

Program PIs:

Goals and Activities:

Xavier’s program goals and activities address all three BRE-SPAD priorities.

Priority 1: Build Capacity and Expertise in Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA)

  • Build capacity and biomedical expertise by increasing grants and accounting staff
  • Identify gaps in policy and procedures via an NCURA peer review and from mentorship by Creighton University, an aspirant institution with a medical school and a shared Jesuit Catholic mission

Priority 2: Foster a Productive Research Environment that Provides Faculty Development and Student Training

  • Increase training for student researchers
  • Engage faculty in communities to develop grant projects
  • Create a biomedical IRB expertise
  • Enhance policies and training for grant seeking and research mentoring
  • Showcase faculty and student research through a symposium and biomedical conference support

Priority 3: Fund Pilot Research Projects that Launch and Elevate Biomedical Research Agendas

  • Provide funding to launch the biomedical research agendas of new faculty and elevate the research of existing faculty in biomedical discipline
  • Address current gaps for research equipment
  • Increase undergraduate and graduate student participation in biomedical research