Transfer of the Principal Investigator
When a principal investigator on a sponsored project transfers from The Ohio State University to another institution, the Research Foundation must be notified as soon as is practical. Sponsored projects may be transferred to the new institution, remain at The Ohio State University under a new principal investigator, or be terminated. The fate of each sponsored project is determined by decision of the principal investigator, the sponsor, and the departments/colleges involved. The Research Foundation will assist the principal investigator in determining how best to proceed, including ensuring that the sponsor is notified of the impending move. Regardless of the fate of the sponsored agreements, the principal investigator should leave contact information at the new institution with the Research Foundation sponsored program officer in case the Research Foundation needs to contact him/her after leaving the university.
Transfer of sponsored agreements to the new institution
If the principal investigator would like to transfer an active project to the new institution or organization, the Research Foundation requires agreement, in writing, from the department(s) and college(s) involved in the award to transfer the agreement to the new institution. The principal investigator must receive assurance from the new institution that it will accept the sponsored project(s), as well.
The Research Foundation may be required to formally relinquish the award back to the agency before it can be awarded to the new institution. There may also be other issues, such as the transfer of equipment purchased using sponsor funds, that need to be addressed within the department and college.
The requirements for transferring a sponsored agreement to a new institution are determined by the sponsor's rules. If the sponsor agrees to transfer the award to the new institution, the sponsor will normally plan to terminate the sponsored agreement at The Ohio State University and issue a new agreement to the principal investigator at the new institution. It may be necessary for the new institution to submit a new application to the sponsor for support of the project before it can be awarded to the new institution.
The Research Foundation’s role in this transfer process is to assist the principal investigator with any administrative paperwork required to close the award at The Ohio State University and transfer the award to the new institution.
If the principal investigator would like to subcontract some of the work back to The Ohio State University, the Research Foundation is responsible for establishing that contractual agreement.
Change of PI on sponsored agreements that will remain at OSU
In some cases, it may not be possible for the principal investigator to transfer the sponsored agreement to the new institution (large equipment or building grants and many clinical trials, for example) and the sponsor may wish to work with us to name a new principal investigator. In this case, it is the responsibility of the department and/or college to find a principal investigator who is willing to be responsible for the award. The Research Foundation will need written agreement from the replacement principal investigator and all the departments and colleges involved before the sponsor is notified of the suggested replacement principal investigator. After this approval is obtained, the Research Foundation will work with the sponsor to formalize the change.
It may be necessary to subcontract some of the work to the original principal investigator at the new institution. The Research Foundation is responsible for establishing that contractual agreement.
Termination of sponsored agreements
If the sponsored agreements should be terminated, the normal closeout processes apply. It is important, however, that principal investigator submits all the required reports and deliverables before leaving The Ohio State University.
