Our medical school research committee, too, has long struggled with an
identity crisis, primarily because most "fixed" activities, such as
grant reviews and management of internal monies are under the auspices
of administrative offices.  I, too, would be interested in learning
about research committees in other institutions.

I can report to you now, however, that our Research Committee, does have
at least two on-going roles in the School of Medicine:

(1) overseeing a school-wide, interdisciplinary, invited seminar series;
and (2) reviewing and/or establishing research policies, such as those
for conflicts of interest and allegations of scientific misconduct.