Contraceptive research and development program (CONRAD)

External evaluation covered the period FY86-7/89. The program, which is being implemented by Eastern Virginia Medical School, has already made significant contributions to the field of contraceptive research through excellent intramural research, over 40 extramural subprojects, and two international workshops with published proceedings. Research progress has been especially significant in the areas of reproductive immunology and the development of hormone antagonists. Research on spermicide and virucide screening is also under way with partial funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. High-quality staff were recruited and put in place very quickly, and an excellent technical advisory committee has been assembled to help guide the program. Positive working relations have been established with other organizations, both national and international, that are involved in contraceptive research and development. Project weaknesses are primarily related to overemphasis on longer-term subprojects and on the intramural component. A programmatic bias towards short-term subprojects has not been maintained, and only half of research resources -- rather than the stipulated two-thirds -- have been allocated to the more cost-effective extramural component. Nor are intramural staff playing the active role envisioned for them in soliciting and monitoring extramural subprojects. These deviations from project design are largely due to loose management controls resulting from an extremely overextended project director and lack of a director of administration. Program monitoring and planning systems for resource and staff time allocation need to be improved.