5.6 Multiple Grants From time to time it occurs that a chief investigator has more than one grant to support research in a particular area. Invariably, grants have been provided to achieve certain research objectives as described in the grant application. Budgets will have been requested and provided in respect of specified personnel, equipment, materials, etc. The University does not run an activity based costing system but bases costings at a rate that is consistent with overall usage. This is done as a percentage levy on each contract with due account being taken of the nature of the research activity on the project.
Overhead charges apply to all research contracts except the following.
The overheads charge on very large contracts may be negotiable where the project may provide a return to the University to compensate for the costs of activity associated with the project. Subject to the above policy, full overheads will be charged unless the case for a reduction of or exemption from the overheads charge was be put to the Research Branch in writing before the application for funding was submitted. The University is also conscious of its responsibility to foster best practice in the care and use of animals, and to promote the use of alternatives to the use of animals in research and teaching. Any research or teaching project that proposes the use of animals must demonstrate that alternatives to the use of animals are unsuitable, that the value of the research to the community warrants the use of animals, that only the practical minimum number of animals will be used, and that minimal physical and psychological discomfort will be involved. Completion of the application for animal ethics approval is the responsibility of the chief investigator who must subsequently ensure that the project proceeds according to the approved protocol.