COVID-19 updates on research activities and support personnel

A message from our Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Dr. Kathy Lewis

I hope you are all keeping well during these very challenging times. Thank you for your diligence around various directives and for playing your part in helping us get through this crisis. Please see updates below for guidelines on research activities, and requirements for filing safety plans.

All research personnel should be instructed to monitor their own health and to follow public health guidelines should they start feeling unwell.

Expenses related to COVID-19 pandemic

We have been asked by government to track expenses that are directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic (example extra fuel cost for separate research vehicles), therefore when coding for research expenditures, please code these to COV19 in the PROG code.

Requirements for research involving human participants

While Province-wide restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted, all researchers who have updated their protocols and received the necessary approvals to commence or reopen in-person research MUST also pay particular attention to the Public Health Officer's ongoing updates and recommendations. Researchers should still consider using virtual methods to conduct in-person research.

For further information, including REB Chair Bulletins, please refer to the Research Ethics Board website related to COVID-19 and Research Ethics.