Promoting Partnerships To Improve Veterans’ Health

NPC CORE OPERATIONS TRACK

(Ritz-Carlton Ballroom)

Friction to Function: Managing HR Complexities Across NPC–VA Relationships

This session will revisit essential HR fundamentals to help ensure your hiring processes are resilient in the face of ongoing challenges. Topics will include conducting effective performance reviews, structuring positions and remuneration, and managing workplace conflict. Attendees will learn best practices for aligning VA requirements with NPC needs, while complying with state and federal policies. Leave equipped with practical strategies for strengthening your HR foundation.

Speakers:  Anette Coder, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of HR & Operations, Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research; Jessica Mulligan, MS, CSP, Director of Human Resources & Operations, Boston VA Research Institute, Inc.

LEADERSHIP/GOVERNANCE TRACK

(Ambassador Room)

Engaging with Executive Leadership Team: Where Insight Meets Impact

Moderators will focus on engaging executive leadership (panelists) how they are investing in their facility’s research enterprise, and what strategies they utilize to overcome the pernicious barriers (lack of resources, manpower, infrastructure).

Panelists will share their insights on “force multipliers” and “measurable momentum” in growing research and innovation at their facilities.

Speakers: Dr. Thomas Ferguson, MD, Chief of Staff, VA Memphis Healthcare System; MCD speaker; Lou Dell’Italia, MD, ACOS-R, Birmingham VA Health Care System; NPC Executive Director 

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS TRACK 

(Diplomat Room)

Beyond the Basics: Understanding and Leveraging Indirect Cost Rates

Major changes are coming to the way nonprofits recover their indirect costs on federal awards.  The Federal Government is pushing for a cap of 15%, how will your organization recover its costs?

Learn how you can be prepared for this change by joining a discussion of the different possible options for recovering your indirect costs, including the FAIR Model now being proposed to Congress.  If implemented, what are the next steps for your organization? 

This overview will give you the basic tools needed to start reviewing your current accounting structure, software, and indirect costs allocation model so that you can create a plan and are not caught unprepared for anticipated changes.

Speaker: Bob Forrester, Board Member, Boston VA Research Institute, Inc.

NPC CORE OPERATIONS TRACK

(Ritz-Carlton Ballroom)

Understanding VERA: The Strategic Connection Between NPCs and VERA

Every year NPC’s are required to submit their RDIS report to the VA. 

Learn how this report is used in determining the annual research allocation that your VA will receive. 

Discussion will include how VERA dollars are used to fund a variety of medical and research functions, benefiting both the VA and NPC’s.

Speakers Coming Soon

LEADERSHIP/GOVERNANCE TRACK

(Ambassador Room)

Having Difficult Conversations

Leadership often requires making difficult decisions for the good of the organization and the research program, but these decisions often create the need to deliver bad news or make difficult asks of subordinates and partners. This session shares strategies for how NPC leaders and others can manage difficult conversations and making them as productive as possible.

Speakers: Patrick Donley, Director, Doolittle Leadership Center

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS TRACK 

(Diplomat Room)

Engaging Industry

Presentation from NAVREF IPC Partner: AstraZeneca

NPC CORE OPERATIONS TRACK

(Ritz-Carlton Ballroom)

Stronger Together: Proven Strategies to Engage and Empower PIs

Explore proven strategies for strengthening relationships between NPCs and VA Principal Investigators (PIs). This session will highlight effective approaches to outreach, clear and transparent communication, and ways to position PIs as champions for research. Attendees will also learn how to partner with their ACOS to amplify visibility, expand engagement, and ensure research efforts are widely understood and supported.

Speakers:  Shrarafkhaneh Amir, MD, Principal Investigator, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center; Katrina Washburn, PhD, Executive Director, South Florida VA for Research and Education; Lou Dell’Italia, MD, ACOS-R, Birmingham VA Health Care System

LEADERSHIP/GOVERNANCE TRACK

(Ambassador Room)

Working With the Affiliate: New Models of Partnership

New models of partnership with academic affiliates. This session will showcase concrete examples of exciting partnerships between NPCs and their academic affiliates, following up on the sessions on academic affiliate partnerships at the 2025 conference.

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS TRACK 

(Diplomat Room)

Coming Soon: Precision Medicine Session

Research Coordinator Training

This interactive session brings NPC leaders together to collaboratively brainstorm ideas, strategies, and best practices for both initial and ongoing training of Research Coordinators across our sites. Participants will discuss what training approaches have been successful at their sites, identify current gaps and challenges, and share what they envision as an effective and sustainable coordinator training program.The purpose of this session is to encourage collaboration, idea-sharing, and innovation in coordinator development. Through group discussion and crowd-sourcing activities, NPC leaders will help identify practical tools, resources, and training strategies that can be standardized and adapted across sites to support the growth and success of Research Coordinators.The ultimate goal of this session is to develop effective training tools and resources that NPC sites can utilize to onboard, train, support, and retain high-performing Research Coordinators.

(Ritz-Carlton Ballroom)

Facilitators: Carol Meyer, MBA, Executive Director, Institute of Medical Research

Connect with Others, Build Your Marketing Tools, Tell Your NPC Story

(Ambassador Room)

Speakers: Liz Stout, MA, Public Affairs Liaison, NAVREF; Katrina Washburn, PhD, Executive Director, South Florida VA for Research and Education

Research Coordinator Training

The goal of this session is to leave with a checklist tool for assessing potential projects against your NPC’s ability to deliver results and your tolerance for risk. Bring your good practices to share with us during the session. (Diplomat Room)

Speakers: Caitlin Mahaney, MS, Executive Director, Bay Pines Foundation; Precious Leaks-Gutierrez, Director of Operations, Tampa VA Research and Education Foundation