COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
Research Restart:
As of June 29th, 2020, Upstate Medical University has entered Phase 5 of our research restart plan. Critical new on-campus research allowed, but labs are only allowed to operate at 70- 90% total personnel capacity, with social distancing maintained and masks in use at all times. All research that can be done remotely should continue to be, including all seminars, group meetings, etc. Onsite research activity estimated at 70-85% of normal.
In parallel with the Phases of the Upstate Campus and Hospital, Clinical Research Visits are resumed under the 90% density guidelines as of 7/1/2020. Please see 5/14/2020 memos below for guidelines for the research at the CRU and in ambulatory settings.
5/14/2020:
- Principles and Framework for a Phased Approach to Restarting University Research
- Upstate Ramp Up Checklist - PI Lab Level Pre-Start Checklist for Safety Consideration
- PI Laboratory Operation Plan
- Sponsored Programs Procurement Process for Pre-Order lab supplies
For the latest institutional guidance for practitioners, researchers and the general public please see the Upstate Emergency Management Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.
Upstate COVID-19 Related Research Expenses
Per the governor's executive order, all COVID-19 related costs will be reimbursed by the state. For COVID-19 related costs that are being processed on the RF side please complete a RF purchase requisition as normal, including your RF PTA, approve and note in the comments section "COVID-19 RELATED EXPENDITURES". This will flag the buyers in Campus Purchasing to switch the RF account to the appropriate campus account. Please also provide a justification as to how it is COVID-19 related and attach that to the requisition as an attachment. These costs will not be charged to your RF account and will allow UMU to be reimbursed by the state for COVID-19 costs. If you have any questions please reach out to Shawna Frigon at FrigonS@upstate.edu
Upstate Research Operations Updates
3/23/20: Frequently Asked Questions - Guidance for Researchers and Staff
3/23/20: University-Wide Policy Manual: Home Use of State/Research Foundation Assets
- Form to complete: Off Campus Use Authorization Form
DLAR Guidance
- Restrict research personnel to the minimum possible to reserve capacity in case lab personnel are needed for animal care later.
- For animals already within DLAR, conduct experiments as expeditiously as possible to minimize numbers without wasting valuable experimental resources.
- Maintain breeding colonies at a minimal level (1-2 cages) replacing older breeders as younger animals become available. Once enough young animals of the correct genotype are available, halt breeding until further notice.
- The overall goal is to minimize cage, tank and animal numbers to the minimum possible, but with the ability to ramp back up quickly once we are over this hurdle.
IRB Guidance
Institutional Review Board COVID-19 Guidance
Clinical Trials
3/24/20: NCI CIRB Information About COVID-19
OMB
3/20/20: Managing Federal Contract Performance Issues Associated with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
DoD
CDMRP
3/26/20: COVID-19 FAQs for Grant Applicants and Recipients
NIH
4/13/20: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients
3/18/20: Dr. Mike Lauer, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, provides an update for applicants and recipients of federal funding on flexibilities NIH has put in place to support them and their research through the disruptions caused by COVID-19. This message covers topics including applications, progress reports, budgeting and spending for active projects and more. We strongly encourage your viewing as Dr. Lauer's message covers many pertinent and frequently asked questions
NIH Message to Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funds on Flexibilities Needed for COVID-19
Guidance for NIH-funded Clinical Trials and Human Subjects Studies Affected by COVID-19
FAQs on COVID-19 Flexibilities for Applicants and Recipients
NIH Guidance on Travel and Meetings Hosted by NIH
NIH Extramural Response to Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies
Special OLAW Webinar on March 19: Pandemic Contingency Planning and Its Impact on Animal Care
The Council on Government Relations (COGR) has curated a detailed list of information. We will continue to add guidance and resources as updates are made:
Additional Resources
American College Health Association: https://www.acha.org/documents/resources/guidelines/ACHA_Preparing_for_COVID-19_March-3-2020.pdf
Association of American Medical Colleges: https://www.aamc.org/coronavirus-resources
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Responses to Coronavirus: https://www.aplu.org/news-and-media/communications-resources/coronavirus/
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/index.html
Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE:
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
Council on Governmental Relations: FAQs Regarding COVID-19's Impact to Federal Awards: https://www.cogr.edu/faqs-regarding-covid-19s-impact-federal-awards
COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel (Department of Education) https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus
Department of State Travel Advisories: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education (2013): https://rems.ed.gov/docs/REMS_IHE_Guide_508.pdf
Guidance for Interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (Department of Education): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communhttps://ifap.ed.gov/electronic-announcements/030520Guidance4interruptionsrelated2CoronavirusCOVID19ity/guidance-ihe-response.html
Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-ihe-response.html
NAFSA: Association of International Educators COVID -19 Information and Resources: https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/coronavirus-critical-resources
NASA Administrator Statement on Agency Coronavirus Status: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-statement-on-agenc...https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-statement-on-agency-coronavirus-status
NIH Extramural Response to Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/natural_disasters.htm
NIH NIAID: Coronavirus Resources for Researchers: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-resources
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Disaster Planning and Response Resources: https://olaw.nih.gov/resources/disaster-planning.htm
PRIM&R:COVID-19 and Coronavirus: Updates for the Oversight Community: https://blog.primr.org/covid-19-and-coronavirus-updates-for-the-oversight-community/
Resources of Institutes of Higher Education (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/index.html
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (Department of State) https://step.state.gov/step/
State and Territorial Health Department Websites: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (ICE): https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bcm2003-01.pdf
United States Senate Letter to OPM on Protections for Federal Employees and Contractors:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public