I find it interesting that you found SPAS unacceptable -- can you tell me a
bit more about this?

Our University Research Office purchased that system that all campsus
will be obligated to use and while I have not had a chance to use it as
yet, I'd be interested in what your institution felt was unacceptable about
it.

Thanks for your assistance.

Mary Ann Jurgus, Manager
Research Administrative Services
 at the Medical Center
Loyola University
2160 S. First Ave. - 105/3945
Maywood, Il. 60153
ph: 708-216-4288
fx: 708-216-5881
em: xxxxxx@luc.edu

>>> Research Administration Discussion Group
<xxxxxx@health.state.ny.us> 4/9/97  8:02 am >>>
I know that this question is asked about every month or so, but has
anyone
recently reviewed the commercial research administration software
available.
We are currently using a home-grown integrated database suite which
tracks
proposals/awards, investigators (all faculty), IRB protocols, IACUC
protocols,
protocols using hazardous substances and protocols utilizing rDNA, but
we are
now in need of either doing a major upgrade of this system or
purchasing a
new system. We looked at SPAS a while back and found it
unacceptable.  We
have tried very hard to get information about ERA, but the people are
very
uncooperative.  We cannot even get them to provide prices for their
software
and its modules.  Has anyone used/seen ERA?  What does it cost?  Is it
real
or is it vaporware?  GAMS is far out of our price range!

What would you do, if in our shoes - update or buy a "canned" package?

Doug Wilkerson, Ph.D.         Voice:    (419) 381-4252
Assoc. V.P. for Research      Fax:      (419) 381-4262
Professor of Pharmacology     E-Mail:   xxxxxx@gemini.mco.edu
Medical College of Ohio       Web:      http://www.mco.edu/research
3000 Arlington Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614