Key Personnel
- Devin Dressman, PhD, Associate Director for Research Operations and Shared Resource Management (dressmand@upmc.edu)
- Aaron Smith, PhD, Research Program Manager (smithag7@upmc.edu)
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Shared Resources Management (SRM) provides oversight of the Shared Resources (SRs) available to UPMC Hillman members and other users. This framework enables support of critical and cost-effective resources for basic, population, translational, and clinical aspects of cancer research at UPMC Hillman.
The established process illustrated below allows feedback from SR users, advisory committees, and senior leadership at UPMC Hillman to bolster the innovative nature of the SRs.
Overview of SR Management at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Fig 1. Shared Resources Management Process showing a six-step continuous review and decision-making cycle for cancer center shared resources. At the center is the Associate Director for SRM, Devin Dressman, PhD, who oversees the process. The process is indicated by icons connected by arrows in a clockwise sequence:(1) Shared Resources (SR) and UPMC Hillman Shared Resource users interact with the shared resources, (2) Feedback is gathered by annual and ad hoc user surveys, along with personal communication among interested parties, (3) Annual Shared Resources Advisory Committee (SRAC) Meeting reviews collated metrics of shared resource performance (The SR Director presents findings to the committee), (4) Shared Resource Oversight Committee (SROC) Meetings are held quarterly and annually to review feedback, (5) Senior Leadership Team (SLT) takes in management suggestions from SROC and requests approval, and (6) the Cancer Center Director, John Byrd, MD, reviews recommendations and makes decisions on shared resource functions. Approved decisions are communicated back to the shared resources, completing the cycle. The circular workflow illustrates the ongoing process of assessment, review, leadership oversight, and decision-making.
Fig 2. Diagram showing a circular workflow managed by a central gear labeled “SRM.” Six blue circles are arranged around the gear and connected by arrows in a clockwise sequence: (1) SR, (2) Surveys, (3) SRAC, (4) SROC, (5) SLT, and (6) Cancer Center Director. The process flows from SR to Surveys, then to SRAC, SROC, SLT, Cancer Center Director, and back to SR. Icons of groups of people and buildings appear on the left and right sides, with arrows indicating stakeholder input into the process near the SR and SROC stages. The diagram illustrates a recurring review and decision-making cycle involving surveys, committees, leadership teams, and the director.
Aims
SRM aims to:
- Drive UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's overarching research success by supporting or developing critical shared resources.
- Maintain centralized administration of Shared Resources’ operations, finances, and staffing to maximize efficiency, consistency, and quality.
- Cultivate an environment of collaboration and training.
Evaluation
Current and emerging SRs are evaluated on the following criteria to ensure continued benefit to the UPMC Hillman research community:
- The unique and critical nature the SRs offer to the UPMC Hillman research community.
- Appropriate user base, project pipeline, and utilization by UPMC Hillman research programs.
- Cost-effectiveness compared to alternative services.
- Suitable number of grants and publications annually.
- User satisfaction based on collected metrics from surveys.
- Exclusive benefits available to UPMC Hillman members.
Contact
Users are encouraged to contact Shared Resources directly and reserve instruments via iLab, where applicable. The iLab platform also provides centralized billing, service requests, and communication with Shared Resource personnel.
iLab Links
