Ensuring Research Continuity at FSU during COVID-19
March 12, 2021 Update
Research involving in-person conduct can resume based on approval from the Office
of the Provost. The procedure to request resumption of research involves completing
a COVID-19 Face-to-Face Research Request Form. To request to start or resume research
that involves face-to-face interaction, submit a completed Academic Affairs Laboratory Safety Research During COVID-19 Pandemic Request Form.
As stated on the form: Send the completed form along with any additional supporting documentation to the
Academic Affairs Director of Laboratory Safety.
Once the form has obtained approval by the Provost’s Office, add it directly to your
IRB application.
If your application is in the initial review phase, include the approved form as an
attachment within the procedures section of your application in Cayuse IRB.
If your application has already been reviewed and approved by the IRB, but has been
on pause/hold due to the suspension, include the form as an attachment within the
procedures section as a revision request within Cayuse IRB. As a reminder, revision
requests can be submitted by opening the project within Cayuse – select the blue,
‘new submission’ button and from the drop down select ‘revision’. Complete, certify
and submit.
As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread in the United States, researchers should
evaluate their study protocols for the subject risk accordingly. Contacts with subjects
in your study may have originally been low risk or classified as no more than the minimal risk encountered in practice.
With uncertainty about COVID-19 exposure, routine contacts with subjects may no longer
pose minimal risk. They also do not constitute a risk encountered in practice. Risks
associated with COVID-19 exposure do not only include the most serious risk of sequela
from the virus, but the impact that exposure has on day-to-day life.
Research that is done online or through remote interactions (e.g., by phone, QuestionPro,
SurveyMonkey, Zoom, or other means) that has already been approved to use these measures
may continue as originally approved by the IRB.
If you wish to transition your research protocol to remote interaction from direct
contact, then an application modification will need to be submitted and reviewed by
the IRB.
Temporary enrollment holds do not need to be reported to the IRB, however you may
need to notify subjects already enrolled, study investigators or study sponsors. If
you are planning human subjects research, you should take this into account when completing
your application.
Yes. However, IRB application reviews rely upon faculty volunteers. Since most faculty
are working hard to move their courses/teaching online, protocol reviews may be delayed.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is continuing to submit proposals,
even if personnel are working from home. Funding agencies (Sponsors) may be flexible
about deadlines under difficult circumstances beyond our control. However, if agencies
are officially closed, proposals will likely remain in queue, pending resumption of
agency operations. Continue charging grants as normal, including effort reporting.
Contact your College Dean’s office with lab-specific questions.
Contact the IRB with questions regarding human subjects research: [email protected]
Contact ORSP with questions about research grants or other research-related questions:
[email protected]
Complimentary course to train staff, students, and faculty on COVID-19 safety for
their return to campus and research. These modules are OPTIONAL for researchers to
complete and are available until March 1, 2021.
If you are looking for other alternatives to face-face research for your scholarly
work, or for your student research projects, there are many robust public access data
files available. The IRB, in conjunction with FLITE, has established a resource to
view different databases that are available at: https://ferris.libguides.com/datasets
During the ongoing national health emergency, the FBI encourages research institutions
and investigators to remain vigilant for any attempts by organizations or individuals,
whether foreign or domestic, to unlawfully obtain and remove sensitive research, including
but not limited to research related to COVID-19, and including that funded by the
U.S. Government. The FBI also encourages these same entities to proactively review
existing safeguards, including cyber security, in order to ensure this research remains
protected. For further guidance or to report any unusual or suspicious activity associated
with research security, please contact your appropriate security representative or
Special Agent Richard Foran, FBI Detroit, at (313) 965-6059.
Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education (FLITE) Ferris State University 1010 Campus Drive, FLITE 410 D & F Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 591-2547 [email protected]
