The University of Guelph has begun a multi-year initiative to introduce modern technology and optimized business processes to support its research operations. Through a series of distinct, but integrated, modules - spanning pre-award competition and proposal management, ethics and regulatory compliance, resource management, research finance, and reporting – the RAIMS program will deliver many benefits, including: 

• Access to real-time information and data to support proactive planning and decision-making
• Reduced administrative burden for all faculty, students, and staff who conduct, review, and support research
• Improved collaboration across the researchers stakeholder groups and community 
• Confidence in our ongoing compliance with regulatory and funding organizations

Together, these outcomes strengthen our research enterprise and the impact of U of G’s research excellence and innovation. 

Broad impact is anticipated across U of G, including faculty researchers, student researchers, various ethics boards and committees, and Research Services staff.

For any RAIMS program inquiries please contact RAIMSSupport@uoguelph.ca [1].

RAIMS Research Ethics Module

The first RAIMS module – a Research Ethics Online System (EthOS) - supports the application, review, and approval of research protocols involving human participants. The eagerly anticipated EthOS module replaces outdated forms and e-mail submission processes with a dynamic user interface, automated workflows, real-time status information, and an integrated administration platform on July 25, 2024.

EthOS Hub [2]

RAIMS Animal Care Module

A second RAIMS module will replace the current (but approaching end-of-life) e-AUP system for the submission, review, and approval of Animal Use protocols and will be integrated with software used to manage Animal Facilities. That solution will encompass the ordering, welfare, inventory management and invoicing processes associated with animal use and care. Both components of this second RAIMS module are in the early RFP evaluation stages and deployment timelines are not yet confirmed. 

Future RAIMS Modules

As the RAIMS roadmap evolves, future modules will be implemented to address ongoing compliance and risk management needs for Biohazard safety, conflict of interest, pre-award, and post-award research services.

Milestones and Timeline

2023

• ✅ RAIMS Business case
• ✅ Research Ethics Board (REB) Working Group report 
• ✅ Release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for RAIMS Research Ethics software
• ✅ Selection of Infonetica’s Ethics Review Manager software for the RAIMS Research Ethics module
• ✅ Onboarding of RAIMS Program Manager
• ✅ Project kick-off for the RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS)

January – July 2024

• ✅ Complete the configuration and User Acceptance Testing of RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS)
• ✅ New role of Ethics Education & Compliance Advisor introduced in Research Ethics
• ✅ Onboarding of RAIMS Business Process and Change Management resources
• ✅ Release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the RAIMS - Animal Care module
• ✅ Launch date for RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS) announced [3]
• ✅ Series of virtual Roadshows [4] to preview the RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS)
• ✅ Deployment of RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS) [2]

August – December 2024

• Post-launch data migration of study protocols in the RAIMS Research Ethics module Sustainment/data migration for RAIMS Research Ethics module (EthOS)
• Evaluation RFP responses the RAIMS - Animal Care module

• Preparing of RFP for RAIMS: BioSafety Module
• Creation of the RAIMS Change Advisory Board

Project Team

The RAIMS Program is jointly sponsored by the Office of Research and Computing & Communications Services (CCS). The project team [5] draws from broad representation of leadership and subject-matter expertise within these areas to ensure achievement of program objectives.