May 30, 2024

May PERA Update


This update is meant to increase awareness about the status of the PERA project.

INFORMATION SESSION NOW ONLINE

PERA information sessions demystify new system, explain benefits

More than 680 faculty and staff attended four recent information sessions on the Purdue Excellence in Research Administration, or PERA, software system. Hosted by the Office of Research, each session explained why PERA is being implemented and how it will benefit users when the initial modules roll out this fall.

PERA EFFICIENCY TOOLS

Supporting Purdue’s research with cloud efficiency

The PERA system is a web-based software administered as a SaaS, Software as a Service solution.

SaaS is known for cloud-based convenience, flexibility of scalable subscriptions, rapid deployment and cost-effective maintenance. On this platform, researchers will be able to access the PERA modules and features from anywhere there is internet access.

PERA will provide a unified platform for monitoring proposals, award and regulatory activities, tracking workflow, minimizing duplicative efforts on research and regulatory related tasks and enhancing transparency across an investigator’s research portfolio.

PERA adds new time-saving help text feature

PERA’s new help text feature guides users step-by-step, enhancing efficiency and saving time for users. The help text feature contributes to PERA’s overall mission to simplify and streamline administrative processes.

Reminder notices reduce the risk of missing an important reporting deadline

PERA offers automated reminder notices dispatched 90, 60, and 30 days prior to sponsor-required technical reporting deadlines on sponsored research projects. These reminders reduce the risk of missing crucial technical reporting deadlines.

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION MODULE UPDATES

Fall 2024: Launch of the initial PERA modules: Grants, Agreements, and IACUC

Late fall 2024: Safety-IBC module

2025: Export Control, Conflict of Interest and Commitment (COI/COC), Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Training materials covering Pre-Award, Post Award, Agreements, and IACUC processes are currently under design, development and iteration. 

All PERA modules are expected to be fully live by the end of 2025.

Overview of module progress: The following section outlines the team’s advancements on each module:

Grants (Pre-Award):

  • Testing of system features; process discussion for academic approvals
  • System help text finalized

Grants (Post Award):

Agreements:

  • Testing system functionality

IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee):

  • Defining system impacts to business processes and testing of system functionality
  • Integrating CITI modules and other training into the PERA system for ease of reference

Safety-IBC (Institutional Bio-Safety Committee):

  • Exploring system functionality
  • Prioritizing requirements for system incorporation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

When an individual submits a question, they will receive a personalized answer directly. Additionally, the question and its answer will be posted on the PERA website under the appropriate category.

WHO TO CONTACT

Have a PERA question?  Email peracomms@purdue.edu with questions or comments about the PERA implementation.