This update is meant to increase awareness about the status of the PERA project.
PERA overview
Purdue Excellence in Research Administration (PERA) is the Purdue branded name for the Huron Research Suite, a new research administration tool acquired by Purdue. This system will begin to roll out to end users later this fall and will ultimately replace several separate systems currently in use (Coeus, PIP, Reportable Outside Activity (ROA) and Cayuse). It will allow users to access and manage multiple research and regulatory-related activities under one login in one system.
PERA automates many processes required to apply for research grants, manage research funding, and apply to regulatory committees such as those responsible for the oversight of research with human subjects, vertebrate animals or biohazards and compliance practices.
Benefits of this integrated system – full suite
- Integration of modules
- Unified platform for monitoring most research activities
- Ability to track workflow for specific activities
- Personalized inbox to consolidate tasks
- Enhanced transparency for the Purdue research community
- System-wide reporting
- Email notifications with direct link to the system
- System (Purdue) to system (government) proposal submissions with automated validation checks
- Visibility into the status of research administration activities.
Key wins
| Current state | Future state |
| Communication between parties is limited to emails (PI, finance, pre-award, post-award, contracting, regulatory, and sponsors) | More activities and communication kept within PERA for tracking and maintaining long term with some submissions automated |
| Proposals, awards, and agreements have limited relationship management | Transparent relationship management to connect all applicable activities |
| Multiple input applications to track research activity (COEUS, PIP, ROA, Cayuse) | Single, unified system for all research related activity |
| Status updates are manual and not updated regularly | Real-time status is available within the system and includes notifications |
| Efforts duplicated by PIs, pre-award, post-award, contracting, regulatory and finance teams | More automation and reduced duplication of efforts in a single system |
| Account manager for PI not tracked centrally | Will have field available for business office/account manager in faculty profile |
| Manual and paper systems for Export Control and Biosafety | Integrated modules dedicated to these functions and processes |
Identified process changes
| Current state | Future state |
| Form 32s to track fiscal year cost-share commitments | Cost-share commitment will be pulled and managed by project and tracked at institutional and unit level |
| Budget allocations sent on Excel file via email to post-award | Direct entry of budget allocations into PERA |
| Voluntary support managed and maintained by Sponsored Program Services staff | Voluntary support managed and maintained by Purdue for Life Foundation along with other gift activity |
| Manual workflow and approvals occurring after the fact | Fewer required approvals and more reporting available |
| AY and FY salary input by effort percentage | AY and FY salary input by person-months |
| Department heads and deans included in workflow for proposals (pre-submission) and prior approvals (post award) | Department heads and deans reviews and approvals will be managed by reports and post submission reviews |
Research administration module updates
While ‘go-live’ dates are yet to be announced, the PERA project team and Huron are working towards rollout of the three initial modules, Grants, Agreements, and IACUC, during the fall, 2024. These modules will be closely followed by the Safety-IBC module. As additional modules go live and integration of functionalities expand, users will increasingly see how PERA meets the needs of researchers and staff.
High level details on the functionality provided by each module are detailed below:
- Grants (pre/post award): facilitates greater transparency, enabling users to track their activity from proposal to award and through closeout. Grants will offer electronic routing for internal review, notifications and validation checks while providing transparency to end users. The module allows system-to-system proposal submission and integrated management of administrative tasks throughout the life of the award.
- Agreements: enables online routing, approvals, and workflow that provides transparent insight into the overall process. This cohesive contract management solution allows for a single repository for sponsored agreements and visibility into tracking and logging third-party and internal communications.
- IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee): facilitates and supports productive scientific and scholarly endeavors involving vertebrate animals. IACUC accomplishes this by ensuring that all animal programs, procedures, and facilities at Purdue University adhere to the policies, recommendations, guidelines, and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and Purdue’s Animal Welfare Assurance.
- Safety-IBC will roll out after the initial modules noted above. Updates will be communicated as we have more information to share.
- Additional modules planned to go in the second half of 2025 include:
- Export Control
- Conflict of Interest and Commitment (COI/COC)
- Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Frequently asked questions and answers
The PERA website provides general and specific questions and answers. As questions are submitted, they will be uploaded to the website for the benefit of the Purdue research community.
Have a PERA question? Email peracomms@purdue.edu with questions or comments about the PERA implementation.