Life Span Institute’s Five-Year Review Affirms Research Strengths, Impact

In early spring, the KU Office of Research convened a committee of faculty, staff and administration from the Life Span Institute and other KU units to evaluate the effectiveness of LSI in fulfilling its mission, review the center director’s leadership and identify challenges facing the center. 

The committee based its evaluation on a self-study submitted by the center’s director, Professor John Colombo; results of a survey of faculty, staff and students; written external evaluations from leaders of equivalent research centers at peer institutions; and an interview with Colombo. 

As one of KU’s designated research centers, the primary mission of the Life Span Institute is to bring together a diverse research community to develop robust, high-impact research. 

Shelley Hooks, Vice Chancellor for Research, summarized the committee’s findings in a letter to the Life Span Institute community. She noted that LSI excels at its mission by consistently producing nationally and internationally visible research and providing a supportive research home for its members. In addition, she noted that LSI provides excellent sponsored projects administration services to faculty, both within LSI and in the broader KU community. 

"While there are challenges and opportunities ahead, the committee feels LSI is a highly productive institute that is well-positioned for the future, and further concluded that Dr. Colombo provides excellent and effective leadership for the institute,” Hooks said. 

The committee found that: 

• LSI is a healthy and thriving research organization that supports unique interdisciplinary research that is not covered by other academic units. The unit conducts research that makes an important impact in people’s lives and has a track record of making direct, sustained improvements on human health and development over the past 15-20 years.
•  LSI has demonstrated a strong increase in total awards and research expenditures received since their last review, with the majority of growth representing increased administration of grants for faculty outside of LSI.
• Faculty and staff reported high satisfaction with most research administration services.
• There is an opportunity to improve communication between and among research centers and establish clear guidelines for center expectations.
   

Hooks also said that director John Colombo has “provided exceptional leadership and advocacy for LSI faculty and staff, and created a culture of excellence and ambition that directly supports the national and international stature of LSI research activity.”

The committee made several recommendations, including expanding fundraising, diversifying funding sources, strategizing to adapt to the changing federal funding environment, and to clarify some roles, job titles and responsibilities in the organization.

“I am grateful for the time and care that went into the unit’s self-study and for the review committee’s evaluation and report,” Hooks said. “I look forward to working with LSI faculty, staff, students and others to take action on these recommendations to strengthen and sustain the institute’s strong reputation and impact.”