Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Updates

Information for researchers

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Questions? Email:
University Research and Compliance Office at comply@k-state.edu
PreAward Services at research@k-state.edu
Office of Research and Development at ord@k-state.edu
 

Public Health Precautions for the K-State research community

The university has announced a reopening plan that aligns with State of Kansas guidance. Reopening phase 1 was effective May 4, 2020. The reopening pages describe the precautions that must be taken and indicators for moving from phase to phase.
 

Preparing to Reopen Your Research Program

Our philosophy as researchers is that while we all are anxious to get back in full operation, we value all our faculty, staff, and students who are part of our research activities and must ensure that their health and safety remain our paramount concern.

Since our research labs, sites, studios, and facilities have now been shut down for six to eight weeks, we need to conduct a careful and thoughtful reawakening process in order to resume operations while being mindful of health and safety guidelines and compliant with State and University reopening plans.

There is detailed information and background on the framework that has been developed guiding our reawakening research plan. This document shows how reopening of research aligns with the phases of the university plan. Considerations for ramp-up planning are laid out.
 

Committee Guidance on Protocol Approvals

During the reawakening process, the University Research Compliance Office will conduct business as follows:
IACUC
  • Full committee meetings will be held on an as needed/case-by-case basis.
  • All protocol reviews will continue as normal except for those that must go to full committee.
  • Meetings will be held by Zoom virtual meeting until the committees are able to conduct in person meetings.
IBC
  • Full committee meetings will be held on an as needed/case-by-case basis.
  • All protocol reviews will continue as normal except for those that must go to full committee.
  • Meetings will be held by Zoom virtual meeting until the committees are able to conduct in person meetings.
IRB
  • Full committee meetings will be held on an as needed/case-by-case basis.
  • All protocol reviews will continue as normal except for those that must go to full committee.
  • Meetings will be held by Zoom virtual meeting until the committees are able to conduct in person meetings.

Additional Considerations for Animal or Human Subjects Research

  • Is the location of the study remaining open and available for participants to be present?
  • Has the location implemented any procedures for human subjects to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that will affect participation in your study or the ability of your study to proceed?
  • Does your protocol require in-person participation? Can it be modified for remote participation?
  • Does your protocol require in-person monitoring? Can it be modified for remote monitoring?
  • Should your participants be screened for the novel coronavirus as part of your inclusion/exclusion criteria?
  • Would your data or results be affected if your participants had to self-quarantine or if they contracted coronavirus?
  • Does your protocol for animal husbandry and management require regular monitoring?
    • Review protocols and your operation plan with CMG: dmarlow@k-state.edu.

Any modifications made to IRB, IBC, or IACUC protocols as a result of preparation for the coronavirus need to be submitted to the URCO at comply@k-state.edu and approved before implementation.

If you have any questions, please contact us at comply@k-state.edu.

 

PreAward Services

The PreAward Services staff will continue to provide normal proposal services, including submission, as well as continue to process awards and agreements and negotiate contracts to ensure the continued on-boarding of new and continuing project awards, but will be doing so largely through telework until late in the reawakening process.

 

The OVPR website includes staff contact information. However, in lieu of leaving voice-mail messages for a specific staff member, you are encouraged to send a direct email to them, or to research@k-state.edu, which is monitored by multiple individuals.

 

Additional Considerations for Environmental Health and Safety

EHS Face Mask Safety Training must be taken before personnel return to campus.

Other safety issues are covered in the checklists (pdf) and EHS must be notified of lab reopening.

For notifications/questions for EHS, or to report locations of unstable materials, please contact Christina Aguilera, cmaguilera@k-state.edu

 

Federal Guidance (updated July 23, 2020)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Council on Governmental Relations (COGR)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Justice Programs (DOJ)
National Security Agency (NSA)
Department of Energy (DOE)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
Department of Defense (DOD)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Department of Health and Human Services 
Department of the Air Force
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Endowment for the Humanities
Office of Naval Research (ONR) 
National Endowment for the Arts
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Department of Interior
Department of Labor
Department of State
Acquisitions.Gov
*All guidance is subject to change.
 
If you have any questions, please contact:
University Research and Compliance Office at comply@k-state.edu
PreAward Services at research@k-state.edu
Office of Research and Development at ord@k-state.edu