Research
General Guidance
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What immediate steps can researchers take?
- Researchers must follow the DU COVID-19 guidelines that have been established for reopening research, scholarship, and creative work. Prior to returning to campus, all individuals must obtain their Dean’s approval and complete a survey link to formally register and obtain access to campus. Once approval is granted by your Dean, individuals will be sent the survey link. No employee may return to campus until they have received a formal acknowledgement letter and have been granted card access to their designated location.
- Do not come to work if you are sick.
- Practice “social distancing” – reduce meetings, use videoconferencing, work in shifts of at most 2-3 people, keep 6 foot distances between personnel, work remotely if possible.
- Enhance cleaning of shared instruments and surfaces (shared phones, shared lab equipment, shared benches, doorknobs). Use a disinfectant that is safe and appropriate for the item.
- Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds
- Practice remote working arrangements as possible.
- View specific guidance, FAQs, and resources on the topics listed below.
Research Communications
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How can I keep up with all communications coming out about research?
There are several ways to stay up to date:
- Sign up for the Research listerv
- Participate in Virtual Research Town Hall meetings – please email audry.lacrone@du.edu to be added to the distribution list for future meetings.
- Watch the previous Virtual Research Town Hall from May 25 (Access Password: 3p^^?*&Q)
- Keep checking the FAQs for updates under Faculty/Research.
Restarting Research Paused Due to COVID-19
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When can PIs resume research in labs and human subjects research in person?
Researchers may resume research once they are approved to return to campus by following the DU COVID-19 Protocols for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Work” guidance. All PIs and their research staff members must follow the DU COVID-19 guidelines that have been established for reopening research, scholarship, and creative work issued 5/11/20 through the Provost’s Office. The University will transition through phases in accordance with state and local orders, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. At this time, only Phase I and Phase II employees have been granted access to campus by the Provosts Office. As personnel are approved and granted access, additional requirements must be followed that includes completing a daily Personnel Symptom Monitoring Survey when you arrive on campus and when you leave, and following the policies on social distancing, PPEs, and disinfecting cleaning the lab and work sites. PIs will be responsible for ensuring that these strict safety guidelines are followed, with support as needed. Please note this is subject to change.
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When PIs do ramp back up their research, what will they need to do and what supplies will they need?
To safely resume research, research teams will be required to adhere to strict safety guidelines in DU COVID-19 Protocols for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Work. All PIs and research personnel must obtain approval and access to their lab or work site, and receive an acknowledgement letter before restarting any research. Once a PI has been approved to restart their research, EHS will make arrangement with Housekeeping to provide appropriate disinfectant to be used in the lab or workspace. Please note this is subject to change.
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What can PIs be doing now to prepare for returning to their research?
- Contact their Dean to seek approval for returning to their building on campus. This will initiate a process for formal approval and granted access.
- Be in contact with your funder to determine what flexibilities are allowed.
- Be in contact with partnering institutions to determine if there are additional requirements that are mandated by the affiliated research facility. DU investigators must comply with that institution’s safety protocols in addition to applicable DU protocols.
- Consider your various active projects and determine which can be conducted remotely to continue to reduce risk (preferred), which need be conducted in labs or in-person while adhering to safety guidelines, and which should remain on pause until safety guidelines are less restrictive.
- Carefully review DU COVID-19 Protocols for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Work.
- Develop a safety protocol for projects that need to be conducted in labs or in-person in the community.
- Gather safety supplies needed as possible. PIs are encouraged to purchase face coverings/masks for their research staff and require participants to either wear their own face covering/masks or provide a face covering/masks to research activities. Many grants allow PPE to be charged. If PIs have insufficient funds to pay for PPE, they should contact ORSPadmin@du.edu for help acquiring supplies as available.
- Wait for announcements from the Provost’s Office indicating if additional restrictions will be lifted and the next phase for returning to campus has been approved.
- Please note this is subject to change.
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Is in-person human subjects research allowed?
Once a PI has received an acknowledgement letter and building access from the Provost’s office, they can restart the following forms of human subjects research.
- In-person human subjects research on DU campus that follows strict safety guidelines is allowed.
- In-person human subjects research at other research and higher education institutions that follows safety guidelines is allowed.
- In-person human subjects off campus, including community-based organizations, who have established safety guidelines, is allowed.
- In-person human subjects research that involves bodily fluids, (i.e., blood draws, sputum samples, etc.) regardless of whether it takes place on or off campus, is allowed if established safety guidelines are established.
- In-person human subjects research in participants’ homes is NOT allowed at this time.
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Who should I contact if I have questions about safety protocols or guidelines?
Please contact your SPARC representative or Jerry.Mauck@du.edu with questions.
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What is the guidance for repurposing federal funding from the NSF to respond to COVID-19?
The Foundation has issued guidance on NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum (M-20-20), entitled, Repurposing Existing Federal Financial Assistance Programs and Awards to Support the Emergency Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). NSF remains committed to working with the Administration, other federal agencies, and the research community to effectively respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. This guidance is to implement the flexibility class exception authorized by OMB Memorandum M-20-20 that allows Federal awarding agencies to repurpose their Federal assistance awards (in whole or part) to support the COVID-19 response, as consistent with applicable laws. This will certainly help address questions that recipients may have regarding the donation of items/resources from NSF awards.
Any questions about the policies described in the NSF Guidance should be directed to policy@nsf.gov. Questions specific to a particular award should be directed to the cognizant NSF Program Officer. NSF is working to update existing FAQs and other resources to reflect NSF’s new guidance and will keep you informed on our website at: nsf.gov/coronavirus.
Research Travel
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Should I cancel travel plans related to research (conferences, site visits, etc.) amid the COVID-19 outbreak?
Please refer to the university’s COVID-19 page for the latest information regarding university travel restrictions.
Research Costs
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What is the suggested general guidance regarding research costs?
For guidance on specific costs, please first refer to DU’s main COVID-19 page for FAQ’s on temporary institutional changes for policies and procedures. Information such as changes to travel and payroll guidance will be continually updated. Additional questions and answers can be found below and we will continually update these questions and answers as we receive guidance and updates.
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Can you clarify for us what we need to be doing as PIs to ensure that our employees continue to be paid?
Review your funder’s policy as posted on the COGR website. Contact your funder with specific questions.
Review DU FAQs for staff related to employee pay.
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I am a principal investigator working remotely from home during self-isolation. Can my effort still be charged to my federal grant?
Yes, provided you remain engaged in your project. Current NIH and NSF prior approval requirements regarding disengagement from the project for three (3) months or more, and effort reductions of 25 percent or more, remain in effect.
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I am a principal investigator and am required to work from home as a result of COVID-19. Can I charge supplies relating to telework (i.e., such as a laptop, printer, office supplies, etc.) to my grant?
No. These types of expenses are considered administrative costs (indirect costs), and generally are not appropriate as a direct cost unless specifically approved by the sponsor. A reduction in operations at DU does not change this fact. If you need to work remotely from home, please consult with your department or school to identify whether computing resources are available.
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I planned to travel to a conference to present my federally funded results. The conference was cancelled due to COVID-19. May I still charge the travel-related costs to the grant? Can I charge trip cancellation insurance to my federal grant?
COGR has been covering policies related to research travel, including non-refundable travel here: COGR's main page.
DU’s travel expense policy can be found here: Travel Expense Policy
Your department grant administrator or ORSP grant administrators can help you navigate these policies.
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Can I find specific guidance from federal agencies on the impact of COVID-19 on research in one location?
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) has been compiling federal agency responses, and will continue to update the list of responses as they are announced. Please see the section Institutional Responses and Agency Responses to COVID-19 and Additional Resources on COGR's main page for continual COVID-19 updates.
Additionally, COGR has released FAQ’s Regarding COVID-19’s Impact on Federal Awards. This document can be found on COGR's main page for continual COVID-19 updates.
DU will continue to monitor OMB Guidance to Federal Agencies. The memo dated March 19, 2020, can be found here.
Proposal Submission and Award Management
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Will my proposal still be submitted to the sponsor on time amid a COVID-19 outbreak?
Staff within the Office of Sponsored Programs are working remotely and proposals are being submitted timely. Please continue to follow the Proposal Submission Policy located here.
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Will my proposal still be submitted to the federal government on time if the federal agency to which I intend to apply is closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak?
All federal agencies are accepting proposal submissions as usual. In the event a COVID-19 outbreak closes a federal agency that is currently accepting proposals, we expect the agency will continue to accept proposals; however, the proposals will most likely remain in a queue (e.g., within the Grants.gov system), pending resumption of agency operations – as has been the case during recent federal budget-related shutdowns.
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) developed a webpage (link is external) that features comprehensive links to key federal agencies' COVID-19 operations.
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How can I reach staff within the Office of Sponsored Programs?
The Office of Sponsored Programs employees are working remotely and will respond to emails at ORSP@du.edu.
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Will I be able to get an extension on a proposal deadline in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak?
Most of the DU’s sponsors do not accept late proposals, and if they grant extensions, they do so on a case-by-case basis. Given that Sponsored Programs staff are working remotely, and thus operational, it may prove difficult to convince a sponsor that your circumstances warrant granting an extension. Faculty who are working on a proposal now should therefore plan on submitting by the sponsor’s stated deadline regardless of whether there is an active COVID-19 outbreak at DU. If you personally experience impacts from COVID-19, reviewing the sponsor's standard exception policies may be warranted. Sponsor’s deadlines and any movement on these timelines can be found at The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) website.
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As it relates to research grants, how does the National Institutes of Health respond to natural disasters and other emergencies?
Please visit the NIH research website for recent notices and policies.
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As it relates to research grants, how does the National Science Foundation respond to natural disasters and other emergencies?
Please visit the NSF’s website for recent notices and policies.
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As it relates to research proposals, how is the U.S. Department of Justice responding to COVID-19 public health emergency?
Please visit DOJ’s website for recent notices and policies.
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What should I do if I have an internal DU award such as a (FRF, PROF, Knoebel Pilot) for which the COVID-19 conditions will likely halt or slow progress to completion within the funding period?
All internal awards will be given a 1-year automatic extension. Please contact Janet Ianni with your award number to request the extension.
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Will requests for no-cost extensions on sponsored projects need to be run through ORSP?
Yes. Please consult your agency website because some no cost extensions are being granted automatically. March 18, 7:55 p.m.
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How might we proceed with grants and contracts from industry, foundations and other non federal entities in regard to changes in costs or expected outcomes?
Contact your funder to discuss your contract or grant. If the terms of the award need to be amended, ORSP personnel are available to help through this process and discussions.
Human Subject Research
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Can I still continue to recruit participants during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, if the recruitment and ongoing data collection is done in a method that follows the current DU safety protocol, recruitment for your research project can continue as approved by the IRB.
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Can I still interact with my research subjects?
All research studies that were initially approved by the IRB that involves direct person-to-person interactions, with the exception of research in participants’ homes, may resume as originally approved if all research personnel and participants follow the DU safety guidelines. If remote methods were implemented in response to the COVID-19 restriction, the IRB does not require that a formal amendment be submitted to convert back to in-person interactions. However, if research interventions can continue remotely, it is still recommended to limit in-person interactions, if possible.
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Are research participants allowed to come to the DU campus (i.e. lab) for research activities?
Yes, PIs and any of the research staff who have been approved to be on campus, may contact research participants and resume research activities on the DU campus if the DU safety guidelines are followed. The guidelines include completing a daily Personnel Symptom Monitoring Survey when you arrive on campus and when you leave, and following the policies on social distancing, face coverings, and disinfecting cleaning the lab and work sites. A visitor survey to monitor symptoms must be completed for each research participant visiting campus, and all visitors must follow policies on social distancing and wear a face covering/mask while on the DU campus.
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Do I need to submit an amendment if I modify my protocol to use an electronic format for obtaining data rather than collecting through an in-person interaction?
No. The IRB does not require that current research participants be re-consented. The IRB does not require an amendment application be submitted through IRBNet for this type of change. Nor does the IRB require an amendment application be submitted through IRBNet if research activities revert back to in-person interactions from using a remote format. To inform current research participants about the change in allowing in-person interaction, investigators are required to contact each participant prior to their research visit, complete a visitor symptom survey and review the DU safety guidelines. For any new projects or amendments to an IRB-approved research project, it is recommended that the PI incorporate the use of remote options as well as in-person interaction into the protocol and consents. This change will allow investigators to utilize either method without having to modify documents later to adapt to the lessening or increase of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Can research that has does not require IRB approval and has received a Human Subjects Determination letter collect data through in-person interactions?
In-person interactions with participants may occur if the DU research personnel have been approved to be on campus and follows the strict safety protocol regardless of whether a proposed project qualifies as human subjects research.
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Do I need to re-consent current research participants if the method to collect data is changed from in-person interactions to “remote” options?
No. The IRB does not require that current research participants be re-consented. The IRB does not require an amendment application be submitted through IRBNet for these type of changes. To inform current research participants about the change in method for collecting data, the IRB requires that investigators contact research participants by phone prior to scheduling any in-person visits on campus or in the community, complete a visitor symptom survey for each research participant (within 2 hours prior to their arrival on campus) and review the DU safety guidelines (at a minimum). Currently, no in-home research visits are allowed.
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Do I need to modify my current consent if I will continue to recruit new research participants and plan to change the method to collect data from in-person interaction to “remote” options?
Yes. The IRB must review and approve any changes in the project procedures and they must be reflected in the research consent when administered to new research participants. An amendment application must be submitted through IRBNet along with a tracked and clean copy of the informed consent document. For any new amendments to a research project, the IRB recommends that the PI incorporate the use of remote options as well as in-person interaction into the protocol and consents. This change will allow investigators to utilize either method without having to modify documents later to adapt to the lessening or increase of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Which studies or study procedures must be paused?
- No in-home visits conducted for research purposes are allowed. This restriction is reviewed weekly and is subject to change.
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Which studies may continue?
Once a PI has been approved to be on campus and received an acknowledgement letter, they can restart the following forms of human subjects research.
- In-person human subjects research on DU campus that follows strict safety guidelines is allowed.
- In-person human subjects research at other research and higher education institutions that follows safety guidelines is allowed. Other institutions may have their own guidelines for restarting research, and PIs should develop plans that meet both institutions’ guidelines (or the more restrictive policy) as they prepare to restart their work.
- In-person human subjects research at other community-based organizations that have their own established safety guidelines. In the event that an organization’s guidelines are less restrictive than DU’s guidelines, DU researchers must follow DU’s safety guidelines.
- In-person human subjects research that involves collection of bodily fluids as long as that research does not occur in participants’ homes.
- Studies conducted electronically or via telephone or involving secondary data analysis may continue.
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Are these simply guidelines or true restrictions?
Any research involving in-person interaction, including interventions that involve bodily fluids, are allowed if the DU safety guidelines are followed. In-home visits are currently not allowed.
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How will the pause in research impact studies conducted outside of a DU setting, both domestic and international?
- Once a PI has received an acknowledgement letter from the Provost’s office, they can restart the following forms of human subjects research.
- In-person human subjects research on DU campus that follows strict safety guidelines is allowed.
- In-person human subjects research at other research and higher education institutions or at community-based organizations that follows safety guidelines is allowed. Other institutions may have their own guidelines for restarting research, and PIs should develop plans that meet both institutions’ guidelines (or the more restrictive policy) as they prepare to restart their work.
- If a study is deemed to have potential direct therapeutic benefit (FDA-regulated drug or device) to individual subjects, the study may continue.
- Domestic studies involving person-to-person interactions in participants’ homes must be paused, unless research procedures are modified to eliminate face-to-face interactions with participants.
- Research in international settings must be paused or modified as described below:
- For projects where an international collaborator is responsible for the direct interaction/intervention with participants, or where DU and international researcher are conducting such interactions together, the local COVID-19 situation must be considered. The study team should seek guidance from the local IRB or research ethics review board regarding the continuation of the research and share this information with the DU IRB. In areas with high-risk for COVID-19, projects involving person-to-person contact should be paused or use modified procedures to eliminate the need for person-to-person contact. Investigators (faculty, staff and students) must obtain travel clearance through Enterprise Risk Management before research projects will be reviewed by the IRB.
- For projects where DU researchers, such as anthropologists, are already in country and actively involved in person-to-person subject interactions independently, the research must be paused and procedures modified to eliminate person-to-person interactions and conform to the local COVID-19 restrictions.
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Should social-behavioral and observational studies be paused?
No, once a PI has been approved and received an acknowledgement letter, they can restart the following forms of human subjects research.
- In-person human subjects research on DU campus that follows strict safety guidelines is allowed.
- In-person human subjects research at other research and higher education institutions that follows safety guidelines is allowed. Other institutions may have their own guidelines for restarting research, and PIs should develop plans that meet both institutions’ guidelines (or the more restrictive policy) as they prepare to restart their work.
- In-person human subjects research at community-based organizations and agencies if strict safety guidelines are followed. Community based organizations may have their own safety guidelines, and PIs must conform to their guidelines and policies that meet both institution’s safety guidelines (or the more restrictive policy).
If research will be conducted off campus at a community-based organization or at a higher education institution, the PI should submit an IRB amendment through IRBNet, along with that organization or institution’s safety guidelines. The PI will be required to comply with the current DU safety guidelines and the organization or institution’s safety guidelines or policy (or the more restrictive).
- In-person human subjects research that involves bodily fluids, regardless of whether it takes place on or off campus, that follows strict safety guidelines is allowed.
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Temporary halt to study enrollment. What do I do?
This does NOT need to be reported to the DU IRB unless the study hold is initiated at the request of an external funding agency or the study’s Data & Safety Monitoring group (if there is one).
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May we continue to collect data and follow up with subjects by telephone when in-person data collection has been paused?
Yes.
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May we continue conducting telephone screening of potential subjects?
Yes.
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May we conduct home visits to collect data in studies with no potential therapeutic direct benefit (FDA-regulated drug or device) to participants?
- No, in-home visits are currently restricted. Please note this is subject to change.
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Is an amendment necessary if I wish to change the mode of data collection for my exempt study?
No. The IRB does not require an amendment to change from face-to-face to phone or electronic data collection.
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Do we need approval from the IRB for communications to study subjects explaining the pause in activities?
No. The IRB does not require an amendment application be submitted through IRBNet for this type of change. To inform current research participants about a temporary pause in activities, the IRB requests that Principal Investigators distribute a Participant Letter template to all active research participants.
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If I am pausing study procedures on a project reviewed by an external IRB of record, must I notify that IRB?
Yes, as soon as feasible, for their awareness. The IRB of Record may require review/approval prior to resumption of study procedures.
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I am interested in conducting research with infectious SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-19). What should I do?
Both IRB and IBC approval may be necessary prior to initiating any studies related to COVID-19. Refer to the CDC link for additional guidance.
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Do I need to submit an amendment if I modify my protocol to use an electronic format for obtaining data rather than collecting through an in-person interaction?
No. The IRB does not require an amendment application be submitted through IRBNet for this type of change. To inform current research participants about the change in method for collecting data, the IRB requests that Principal Investigators distribute a participant letter to all active research participants. Please refer to the attached Participant Letter template for guidance.
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Is the DU IRB operating as usual and still processing IRB submissions?
Yes, the DU IRB staff is currently reviewing and processing IRB submissions submitted through IRBNet. However, during the initial review of a project, the IRB will assess whether the project has modified the study design to accommodate the current COVID-19 restrictions.
If research will be conducted off campus at a community-based organization or at a higher education institution, the PI should submit an IRB amendment through IRBNet, along with that organization or institution’s safety guidelines. The PI will be required to comply with the current DU safety guidelines and the organization or institution’s safety guidelines or policy (or the more restrictive).
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If I have a question about my research, who should I contact at the IRB?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRB staff are working remotely but are responding to emails sent to the IRBAdmin@du.edu account. Please submit your questions to this email account and an IRB staff member will respond within 24 – 48 hours.
Research Involving Animals
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What plans are in place to ensure that the animals housed on campus will continue to receive care?
The Animal Vivarium will maintain mechanisms for providing continued daily care to all animals housed on campus in the event of a natural disaster or other events that may interrupt normal business, including the COVID-19 situation. This includes continued veterinary medical care; assessment of animal health and wellbeing; provision of food, water and clean cages; and maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions. Our top priority is to continue the provision of critical life support services that ensure animal welfare.
The Provost Office is issuing clearance letters and managing the requests for essential personnel for animal research studies.
As of 5/11/2020, approved Phase 2 personnel will be allowed to continue their work in the Vivarium.
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Will I be able to access the animals in my facility during the campus closure?
Only essential personnel and Phase 2 personnel approved by the Provost Office will be allowed in the animal vivarium and have vivarium clearance from the Animal Vivarium Director.
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How will I be notified of any animal health issues during a campus closure in research operations?
The Provost Office, vivarium staff or IACUC Chair will reach out to the individual Principal Investigator or essential personnel with any animal health issues requiring attention. Notifications will be sent using the contact information (i.e., email address, phone number) provided to the Provost Office.
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My IACUC protocol is expiring and I would like to continue my work. Do I still need to renew my project before the 3-year expiration date?
Yes, researchers are still required to renew their IACUC projects if they wish to continue their work after the 3-year expiration date. Protocols with animals that are currently being housed in the vivarium will be transferred to the Vivarium Holding Protocol, and work will not be able to continue until a renewal protocol is approved.
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Do I still need to complete a Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) Meeting for my IACUC project during the approval anniversary month?
Yes, all researchers are still required to complete an annual PAM meeting for their approved protocols. The IACUC Administrator will send a reminder email before the anniversary month of the protocol approval and work with each researchers to set up a time to complete this process over a Zoom call.
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Additional questions?
For any other questions related to research involving animals, please contact the IACUC Administrator at tyler.ridgeway@du.edu. Additional information can be found on the COVID-19 Pandemic Contingency Planning for Animal Care and Use Programs webpage (https://olaw.nih.gov/covid-19.htm) provided by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
Undergraduate Student Research
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Under COVID-19 precautions, should undergraduates conducting research for credit be allowed to continue working in the lab?
Researchers, including undergraduates, must follow the DU COVID-19 guidelines that have been established for reopening research, scholarship, and creative work. Prior to returning to campus, all undergraduate students must work with their Principal Investigator or Faculty Advisor and obtain their Dean’s approval and then complete a survey to register and obtain access to campus. Once approval is granted by your Dean, individuals will be sent the survey link. No employee may return to campus until they have received a formal acknowledgment letter and have been granted card access to their designated location. Each building on campus has been assigned a COVID-19 building manager to coordinate schedules and monitor the number of employees that are allowed in the building at one time per CDPHE policy.
Graduate Student Research
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I am a graduate student and am uncertain as to what is happening in my research lab. Will it still be operational?
Currently the University allows personnel approved by their Dean. Please communicate with your faculty advisor and Dean for additional information or potential concerns about your individual research.
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The COVID-19 situation will impact my graduate research and/or dissertation. What should I do?
DU will work to mitigate any challenges that the COVID-19 situation creates in completing research projects and/or dissertations on time. We encourage open communication with your advisor to ensure agreement about procedures for graduate student researchers in each lab.
Faculty Advisors
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I am a faculty advisor to a graduate student who is trying to complete their research. What advise can I provide if the research lab is not operational?
We ask all faculty to work with students to accommodate their particular situations, while helping each student continue their research path under the current circumstances. Currently, only essential personnel are allowed on campus and in research labs.
Under “Safer at Home” orders, researchers, including graduates students must follow the DU COVID-19 guidelines that have been established for reopening research, scholarship, and creative work issued 5/11/20. Prior to returning to campus, all individuals must obtain their Dean’s approval and complete a survey link to formally register and obtain access to campus. Once approval is granted by your Dean, individuals will be sent the survey link. No employee may return to campus until they have received a formal acknowledgement letter and have been granted card access to their designated location.
Remember that research and scholarship involves many activities that can occur remotely, including literature reviews, experimental design, data analysis, use of digitized archives and other online research and data collections, video and phone interviews, and writing. We ask all faculty to work with graduate students to allow flexibility with regard to where research is performed.
Research Facilities/Laboratory Safety
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What can I do to prepare my laboratory research area?
Update your Contingency Plan to include the following:
1. Identify procedures and processes that require regular personnel attention (e.g., cell culture maintenance, animal studies, human subjects contacts).
2. Assess and prioritize critical laboratory research activities.
Level 1: Work can be conducted remotely
Level 2: Work can be delayed or stopped, but requires onsite presence to continue (e.g., non-essential lab experiments)
Level 3: Long-term experiments and activities that would generate significant financial and data loss if not completed
Level 4: Essential activities that must continue (e.g., vivarium, human samples that cannot be recovered, maintenance of liquid nitrogen freezers)
3. Identify any research experiments that can be ramped down, curtailed or delayed.
4. Identify essential personnel able to safely perform essential activities and submit requests to the Provost Office.
5. Ensure you have access to contact information for your critical staff.
6. Consider documenting critical step-by-step instructions.
7. Review emergency procedures with researchers and staff. Ensure your door signage is up to date.
8. Maintain a sufficient inventory of critical supplies that may be impacted by global shipping delays.
9. Ensure that high-risk materials (radioactive, biohazards, chemicals) are secured and freezers are labeled with emergency contact information.
10. All waste should be secured.
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Are there any restrictions regarding how many individuals can be in a research laboratory space?
The DU campus is currently closed and no social gatherings are allowed. The University does not allow more than 3 – 4 essential personnel in a research laboratory space.
To accommodate reduced laboratory density, researchers can plan to:
- Shift activities to computational work, data analysis, literature reviews. Writing, experimental design, etc.
- Develop staggered schedules
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Now that classes are being delivered remotely in alternative formats – and not meeting in person – are research laboratories and facilities still open and operational?
Only essential research laboratories and facilities remain open. All lab personnel, including students, must be classified as essential and must be approved by the Provost Office.
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Should researcher expect shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as N95s and gloves that are often used in laboratory spaces?
Research laboratory managers and PIs should anticipate a PPE shortage, and limit the number of essential personnel entering lab spaces that require donning and doffing of PPE (masks, gowns, face shields, etc.) for critical lab functions. This is especially important for users of N95 masks because these items are being prioritized for the healthcare industry. Please contact EH&S to discuss options available if shortages do occur.
Research Involving Recombinant DNA and Biological or Chemical Hazards
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My IBC protocol is expiring, and I would like to continue my work. Do I still need to renew my project before the 5-year expiration date?
Yes, researchers are still required to renew their IBC projects if they wish to continue their work after the 5-year expiration date. Protocols involving the use of recombinant DNA or other biological and chemical hazards that are not renewed will be closed, and work will not be able to be resumed until a renewal protocol is approved.
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Do I still need to complete a Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) Meeting for my IBC project during the approval anniversary month?
Yes, all researchers are still required to complete an annual PAM meeting for their approved protocols. The IBC Administrator will send a reminder email before the anniversary month of the protocol approval and work with each researchers to set up a time to complete this process over a Zoom call.
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Additional questions?
For any other questions related to research involving recombinant DNA and biological or chemical hazards, please contact the IBC Administrator at tyler.ridgeway@du.edu.