Strong research relationships are often forged informally - at a conference or with external colleagues whose friendships have endured for years. But informal and verbal agreements do not always hold up when it comes to being reimbursed for conducting work for a sponsored award.
Before faculty begin work on sponsored research, provide Pitt materials, or divulge Pitt confidential information, they should reach out to their department’s Office of Sponsored Programs officer to evaluate what documents might be appropriate to protect or memorialize the project.
It is sometimes impossible to “back-date” a contract to cover monies already spent, intellectual property, or materials provided. Therefore all of that hard work ultimately may have been provided free of charge – So plan ahead, and do not perform the research until the agreement is in place!