Federal Agency Enhances Research Data Management and Research Infrastructure

Challenge

A federal healthcare agency needed to improve how its research teams access, manage, and share data. New compliance mandates, coupled with organizational restructuring and unclear internal workflows, created friction across the research lifecycle. The agency required approaches that could address immediate needs while supporting long-term strategic goals—all without adding new infrastructure during this phase of the project.

Approach

HRG focused on delivering practical tools that aligned with evolving priorities. We designed all deliverables for low-cost implementation using existing platforms, and we created them in close coordination with internal stakeholders.

Key elements included:

  • Building a centralized resource catalog with logic for assessing resources based on compliance status, cost, and ease of acquisition.

  • Creating a modular training library, including visual walkthroughs and reference one-pagers covering core processes like budgeting, biosketch creation, and resource selection.

  • Supporting the testing and revision of a data compliance disclosure tool, with usability input from a diverse group of active researchers.

  • Guiding strategic conversations and developing a set of frameworks—including process maps, data flows, and lifecycle diagrams—to clarify roles, decision points, and interdependencies.

HRG produced deliverables on an accelerated schedule through twice-weekly working sessions, enabling rapid iteration, real-time alignment, and sustained progress through periods of organizational change.

Impact

Over a 12-month period, our clients received 18 fully-functional, implementation-ready products. Each item addressed a specific operational gap and required no additional investment to adopt. Researchers gained faster access to relevant information, clearer guidance, and simplified compliance processes. Internal teams were equipped with durable planning assets to coordinate future work and onboard new leadership.

The project demonstrated that targeted, right-sized support can yield high-impact results. With minimal overhead, the agency received a tailored solution set that improved functionality in the short term while setting the foundation for continued progress.