COVID19 & Research Activities

OVCR Research-Related Updates Regarding COVID19 Emergency and Research Activities
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COVID19 Information

Information for Research during COVID19 – January 29, 2021

OVCR Operational Information

Illinois and Chicago are in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois/Protecting Chicago, currently in Tier 1 Mitigation restrictions.  Current advisory recommendations made by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health to reduce COVID19 transmission are in effect.  Current guidelines and information on OVCR operational units is provided below and will be updated as needed.

Researchers with Human Subjects and COVID19 sample Contact are eligible for COVID19 Vaccine

Researchers with human subjects or COVID19 patient materials contact are eligible for COVID19 vaccines.  Department heads and directors and individual investigators are invited to provide rosters of faculty and research staff (including students and volunteers) who have contact with human subjects or COVID19 specimens or samples on research protocols. Lists may be submitted to covidvaccine@uic.edu and must include Name; UIN numbers; and Email contacts.  Eligible groups will be invited to schedule their vaccine appointments using the UIC EPIC MyChart system. Pre-registration in MyChart is recommended at  https://hospital.uillinois.edu/patients-and-visitors/patient-information/mychart.  Please contact covidvaccine@uic.edu if you have questions about prioritization and the vaccine roll out to our campus population.

Research protocols that can be conducted without face-to-face contact are encouraged to continue to use IRB-approved alternate procedures.  Protocols that have reopened with face-to-face contact are reminded to use masks, maintain six foot distance whenever possible, and use handwashing/sanitizer.  Researchers whose studies face-to-face protocols were paused or modified or who are starting new human subjects protocols are reminded that starting or restarting face-to-face contact requires a Human Subjects COVID19 Review.  Applications to open or re-open IRB approved protocols should be submitted to OVCR through: https://uic.infoready4.com/#manageCompetitionsDetail/1817478 (UIC login is required). Please contact research@uic.edu if you have any questions about these requirements.

 

 

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on October 19, 2020 remains current

Facility Access

Access to the main BRL office entrance and COMRB Animal Facility north entrance is available to all staff M-F from 8:30 AM to 4:00 pm. All research staff and visitors entering the BRL and COMRB animal facilities during this time must complete an onsite temperature check and a wellness survey to obtain facility access through these two entry points.  Card readers at other entrances are inactivated M-F 8:30 to 4:00.

Card readers at all entrances will be activated between 4:00 PM and 8:30 AM M-F as well as on weekends and holidays.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirement

All research staff and visitors will be required to wear a mask or face covering upon entering animal facilities. Face masks as well as gloves and hand sanitizer will be available at all animal facility entrances. To conserve PPE, research staff are allowed to wear the same masks between animal rooms.  NOTE: All PPE, including face masks, must be removed and replaced when exiting from BSL2, chemical hazard, or quarantine rooms prior to entering another room.

Social Distancing & Occupancy Limits

Social Distancing:  Research staff working in animal facilities must practice social distancing, i.e. maintain a six-foot distance whenever possible. The nature of some research projects precludes social distancing in which case it is imperative that staff are wearing a full complement of PPE.

0ccupancy Limits:  No more than one lab group (maximum two people) should be present in an animal or procedure room at a time. Research staff must follow room specific occupancy limit signs posted throughout the animal facilities at all times.

Room Scheduling:  To promote social distancing, BRL has developed an online calendar to schedule rodent animal room and procedural space use within the BRL, COMRB and MBRB animal facilities. This calendar can be found under the “Room Request Calendar” quick link. You will need to select a building, the room type (animal room vs procedure room) and then choose from the list of room numbers to access an individual room calendar.  Room use should be scheduled sufficiently ahead of time (at least 30 minutes in advance). Room use without scheduling in advance will be on a first come first serve basis until the next scheduled activity occurs.

Archived Updates

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on March 25, 2020 remains current

Updated FAQs: (March 25, 2020)

  • How should I communicate with OACIB?
    In response to the COVID19 pandemic and recommended social distancing, OACIB is operating remotely and will continue until further notice. During this time, general questions and concerns, and protocols and protocol modifications should be sent to oacib@uic.edu with the subject line appropriately completed. A member of the OACIB staff will respond to the inquiry and/or acknowledge receipt of the submission. Do not submit questions or documents to a specific employee during this time.
  • Will my submission be reviewed?
    Please note that during this time of remote operation, OACIB will triage submissions in order to accommodate projects with active ongoing animal experiments. The highest priority will be given to protocols undergoing triennial renewal and in “Just in Time” as well as modifications to protocols in which animals are currently being used in an experimental study. New protocols and/or modifications requesting to conduct new experiments will be considered a lower priority as research staff are not to initiate new studies at this time. As a result, protocols and modifications categorized as low priority may experience a delay in the review process compared to previous submissions. The intent, however, will be to review all submissions in as timely a manner as possible during this unprecedented time.

Archived Updates

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on January 29, 2021 remains current

Archived Updates

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on November 16, 2020 remains current

Research Development Services is providing frequent updates on new funding opportunities and announcements related to the COVID19 pandemic.

Our Limited Opportunities Newsletter and RDS News will continue to be published weekly with general funding announcements.  Please reach out to RDS@uic.edu with any specific questions.

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on February 12, 2021 remains current

Research and Funding Opportunities Daily Update

Latest Update: 3/1/2021 - Information provided on June 3, 2020 remains current

As of June 8th, Research Resources Center (RRC) cores will begin to work on all projects and services as well as open shared equipment schedules. There will be new guidelines issued by each core due to COVID19 for the use of shared equipment, sample drop off, etc. We expect delays for new projects and services due to the collection of backlogs, and we kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this transition time. Please reference each core’s new user guidelines before requesting services, projects, or scheduling equipment. All questions or inquiries must be sent over email and/or scheduled over phone call/video conference call. ( Updated: June 3, 2020)

Archived Updates