Operational Guidance on Research Activity

March 31, 2020 @ 10:55 a.m.

Dear Research Community Colleagues,

We appreciate everyone working together as a remote research community. As the spread of coronavirus continues in Colorado, and with the recent stay-at-home orders from local and state officials, the University has extended remote working through Friday, April 17.

We must all continue to work together as a team and follow specific guidelines and restrictions during this pandemic. Please avoid person-to-person contact and continue refraining from in-person meetings. This includes access to labs on campus. The University has curtailed nearly all on site research activity in an effort to practice social/physical distancing to keep yourself and others healthy and safe. We believe this is one of the most important and impactful institutional actions that we can take. 

Any ongoing research at the CU Denver and CU Anschutz campuses, beyond limited maintenance activities for those on the “critical personnel list”, must be justified and cleared by the dean of the school/college and the vice chancellor for research. In addition, all regulatory approvals for new or ongoing work must also be approved by the appropriate body (IBC, IACUC, COMIRB, etc), all of which continue to function remotely.

Currently, there are still individuals in labs performing work, who are not identified as “critical personnel.” Access to the building is being monitored and we need to continue to reduce on campus presence. We recognize that there are exceptions and we ask that you follow the appropriate measures if you are exempt. Additional information and details on research access exemptions were outlined in our communication last week.

Your support in this effort is vital. As a research community, we will be unable to do the focused COVID-19 research that can potentially impact this situation, if the “critical personnel” policy is not followed.

If in doubt, please find ways to work remotely. We must all come together as a community and follow best practices.

Please visit the CU Denver | Anschutz COVID-19 research guidance website for more information.

Sincerely,

Thomas Flaig, MD
Vice Chancellor for Research
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus