At VCU we do the same.  I'm not aware of any better method, given the
nature of clinical trial agreements.  Somehow the PI's projections usually
exceed the final revenue.  (Is this because rewards, formal or informal,
are so often based on award data?)

It is sometimes difficult to clarify to those not familiar with sponsored
programs processes that the "face value" of an award is almost always
either an upper limit on what will be expended (cost reimbursement
agreement), or an estimate (fixed unit price, with variable number of units).

If revenue projection is important, you can set up a system that
continually updates estimates based on experience.  Such a system might
cost more than the value it produces.  An inexpensive approach might be
quarterly updates of projections based on "expert estimates".

Another factor in predicting expenses/revenue is that most of us record
awards based on the start date of the project, but expenditures/revenues
occur throughout the life of a project, so their reporting date necessarily
lags the award reporting.  We have found that the ratio of total awards for
a FY and total expenditures for that FY is fairly constant, so we use that
to help in some broad budgeting processes.

Chuck

At 05:01 PM 10/8/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Our preaward office keeps a data base that records applications and awards
>from which we produce various reports.  When we record the awards for
>clinical trials, we record the amount the PI projects the project will
>generate.  Since the true amount for the trial is usually the actual number
>of subjects enrolled times the amount the sponsor pays, the amounts in our
>data base are projections rather than true amounts like the ones that appear
>on award notices--often optimistic projections at that.  How do other
>offices report on "awards" for clinical trials?
>
>Peter J. Dolce, Ph.D., Director
>Office of Research Support Services
>Meharry Medical College
>1005 DB Todd Boulevard
>Nashville, TN  37208
>V 615 327 6703
>F 615 327 6716
>
>
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Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO BOX 980568
Richmond, VA  23298-0568
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 Richmond, VA  23219
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