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AUC-GRANTED Activation Week Strengthens Research Collaboration Across the AUC
Building a More Connected Research Ecosystem
AUC-GRANTED Activation Week demonstrated how shared resources, expertise and collaboration can strengthen the research enterprise across the Atlanta University Center. Held Sept. 21–25, the week brought together researchers, administrators, innovators and institutional leaders from Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Morehouse School of Medicine to explore opportunities for building a more connected and collaborative research ecosystem.
Supported by $14 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation GRANTED Program, the week highlighted the AUC-GRANTED Shared Resource Model and its potential to expand research support, increase access to resources and create new opportunities for collaboration across the four institutions.
Tasha R. Dejan, Ph.D., vice provost for research and PI of AUC-GRANTED, noted the transformative nature of such an initiative and event. "The goal is to expand the research support and service capacity within the AUC through a shared resource support model designed to strengthen the research enterprise and serve as a model for the nation," Dejan said.
Joined by her fellow senior research leaders from the other institutions, they worked collaboratively with the AUC-GRANTED director, LeKeisha D. Jackson, Ph.D., to organize the week to showcase the shared infrastructure and research resources available for faculty, staff and students across all four campuses.
"The primary goal is to increase awareness, build engagement and accelerate/activate collaboration around research leadership, research administration, research development, innovation, technology transfer and commercialization," Jackson said.
Connecting Research, Resources and Opportunity
Mark Lee, Ph.D., special advisor to the president for Academic Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, emphasized the broader significance of creating a coordinated research infrastructure across the AUC.
"An initiative such as AUC-GRANTED marks an intentional shift in how the Atlanta University Center institutions manage, scale and sustain scholarship. By moving from isolated institutional silos to an integrated research infrastructure, the consortium transforms shared administrative capacity into a direct catalyst for competitive funding, faculty productivity and student opportunity," Lee said.
Throughout the week, participants took part in panel discussions, institutional showcases, resource demonstrations and networking sessions. Discussions focused on building pathways from initial discovery to commercial market impact and on navigating the AUC-GRANTED Shared Resource Model, which offers centralized support services throughout the research lifecycle.
Margaret Farrow, director of Research Development and Sponsored Programs, stated: “AUC-GRANTED will model for other emerging research institutions how sharing resources, developing professional connections, and creating spaces for impactful knowledge exchange can enhance research productivity, expand the reach of best practices, services, and tools, and strengthen the research enterprises of each collaborative partner.”
By establishing shared frameworks, the initiative aimed to reduce administrative friction and enhance interdisciplinary partnerships that might otherwise be limited within a single institution.
"AUC-GRANTED serves as a collaborative framework that leverages the strengths of each institution while creating shared opportunities and resources that benefit the entire consortium," Jackson said. "Most importantly, the initiative reinforces the idea that the collective strength of the Atlanta University Center is greater than the sum of its individual institutions."
With Activation Week concluded, AUC-GRANTED will now move forward with plans to expand its research concierge services, roll out additional professional development modules, and broaden access to resources and tools across the AUC institutions.