The Research Office for Administration, Development and Support (ROADS) is committed to providing value-added service to McMaster’s research community through professional and timely provision of research administrative services.  ROADS will help researchers navigate the twists and turns of the increasingly complex world of funding opportunities.

ROADS provides the following services to the McMaster community: 

• encourage and assist faculty to apply for external non-industry grants to support their research activities;
• assist with proposal development by providing guidance documents, reviewing applications and offering proposal-specific advice;
• coordinate the selection of strategic and institutional applications and awards that support the University’s strategic research plan for faculty and research infrastructure renewal;
• draft institutional elements for major infrastructure project submissions;
• provide support and secretariat services for internal competitions, and for the non-medical Research Ethics Board and departmental Student Research Ethics Committees;
• develop, negotiate and endorse funding agreements on behalf of the University;
• operationalize awarded projects;
• assist with progress reporting for select institutional projects by providing guidance documents, reviewing reports and offering advice;
• ensure that proposals, funding agreements, and select institutional progress reports follow University policies, and conform to the criteria and guidelines of the program sponsor;
• act as primary institutional contact for external granting agencies; and
• manage research applications and awards data.

ROADS is made up of three units which together provide diverse yet complementary support to promote and operationalize the funding of research excellence.

Development Unit:

The Development Unit supports researchers through the identification of funding opportunities, provision of information sessions, and review and editing of grant submissions.

Administration and Support Unit:

The Administration and Support Unit provides help with selected budget development, assists in managing McMaster’s allocation for identified programs, and ensures that researchers and the University are protected through funding agreements and compliance with agency and institutional policy.

McMaster Research Ethics Board (MREB) Secretariat:

The MREB Secretariat provides support and secretariat services for the non-medical Research Ethics Board and departmental Student Research Ethics Committees.