Supporting Investigators

The mission of the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) is to support Joslin Diabetes Center investigators by identifying external funding sources, assisting in proposal preparation, and administrating awards while complying with all applicable federal regulations, and sponsor and Joslin policies.

In addition, OSR ensures that the research being done at Joslin is conducted in accordance with the regulations governing the protection of human subjects and the care and use of animals in research. The office is dedicated to fulfilling this mission by providing customer-focused, accurate, timely, and professional services.

The Pre-Award Administration Team of OSR assists investigators in all aspects of the grant submission process. This is done by identifying funding opportunities, participating in all aspects of the grant/contract/fellowship proposal submission process and by reminding investigators of reports that are due. In addition, Pre-Award informs the Joslin research community of changes in funding policies at federal and non-federal sponsor institutions.

The Post-Award Administration Office of OSR works in conjunction with the Principal Investigators and the Fiscal Department of the Joslin Diabetes Center (JDC) to successfully manage all grants, contracts, and discretionary awards and disseminate timely, accurate, consistent, and easy-to-understand information to all its users in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Maintaining humane animal care in research is a dynamic endeavor and requires conscientious interpretation of animal welfare regulations.

The Joslin Diabetes Center has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is qualified through experience and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities, and procedures.

The Committee on Human Studies (CHS) is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects participating in research activities conducted at the Joslin Diabetes Center. The Committee functions independently but in accordance with institutional guidelines. All research involving human subjects being conducted at the Joslin must be reviewed and approved by the Joslin’s Committee on Human Studies (CHS) before it can be initiated.

Research is defined by the DHHS regulations as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” Human subjects are defined by the regulations as “living individual(s) about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.”​

To contact Joslin Diabetes Center's Office of Sponsored Research, call 617-309-2543.