As an institution of higher learning, where faculty driven research efforts are integral to our academic mission, IUPUI took the unprecedented step of largely hibernating its on-campus research mission in response to the public health threats posed by the COVID-19 virus on March 27, 2020 and restricting access to buildings and research activities. This resource is meant to provide guidance for the staged reopening of research spaces at IUPUI, while still following procedures meant to control the transmission of COVID-19 between individuals working in our research spaces. For the purpose of these guidelines, research spaces are defined as areas on campus where two or more people interact for the purpose of research. Guidance is also provided for research conducted in the surrounding community, where the physical space is not under the purview of Indiana University. It is understood that all guidance should follow local safety and advisory warnings.

The Research Activities Task Force at IUPUI prepared the following guidelines, members are listed below.

• Chair, Janice Blum, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education
• Janet Carpenter, Science of Nursing Care, Office of Research Support/Associate Dean for Research, School of Nursing
• Tien-Min (Gabe) Chu, Associate Dean, Research/Professor, Biomedical and Applied Sciences, School of Dentistry
• Shiaofen Fang, Interim Dean/Professor, School of Science
• Philip Goff, Professor, American Studies, School of Liberal Arts
• Thomas Hurley, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, School of Medicine
• Marc Mendonca, Associate Vice Chancellor, Research, School of Medicine
• Jere Odell, Scholarly Communication Librarian, University Library
• Kristi Palmer, Herbert Simon Family Dean, University Library

Goals and responsibilities

• Mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on research activities to ensure IUPUI remains supportive of faculty research, innovation, and commercialization.
• Maintain and enhance current research activities.
• Minimize adverse impacts of any research disruptions.
• Capitalize on research related opportunities to address COVID-19.

General principles

1. The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty are paramount.
2. Labs and research spaces will likely open in stages with faculty, staff and gradual inclusion of specific student populations dependent on local safety conditions.
3. Social distancing, frequent hand sanitizing and PPE will be required and must be available for the foreseeable future.
4. Frequently touched surfaces in research spaces and offices must be thoroughly cleaned before and after use.
5. The impact of primary school and daycare closures will likely impact all research roles.
6. Flexibility, empathy and clear communication are keys to successfully reopening offices and research spaces.

Specific guidance for campus research space

1. Once the University eases the current restrictions, the faculty supervisor should create a plan for resumption of their research program - consult with research team members, department chair and, if available, department or school safety officers.
2. The Faculty Supervisor is ultimately responsible for team member safety and therefore must properly supervise ongoing research. If the Faculty Supervisor is not able to perform these duties due to health concerns, an appropriate senior member of the group should be designated.
3. Building and research space access and egress plans should be in place and strictly followed by all team members. This may include having staff at the main entrance for any recommended health screening procedures.
4. Only primary researchers will be allowed in buildings and labs; only authorized visitors will be allowed.
5. The number of individuals working within a research space will be limited to ensure the 6 foot distancing rule at all times. Different research spaces are likely to have differing guidelines (e.g., “wet bench” versus “computer lab”).
6. Consider utilizing shifts for research work. Ensure that your research group can accommodate their assigned shifts with respect to any responsibilities outside your assigned space.
7. Maximize time away from on campus research spaces for planning and data analysis, using only the time in the designated campus research space for work that must be done on-site. This will reduce the need for continued replacement of PPE.
8. Use of video-conferencing for research meetings or any gatherings greater than 3 persons within 500 square feet of space.

Specific guidance for field work, community-based and clinical research

1. Social, psychological, anthropological, field work and other community-based research must follow local, state, and national guidelines once “stay in place” orders are eased. If this research can be performed by phone, email, social media, and other electronic platforms it should continue in that form. If relevant contact the IRB for guidance on protocol changes.
2. If in person “face to face” interaction or on-site field work is required for the research, social distancing and PPE must be available and will be required for the investigators and the public. The requirement for PPE may change over time. PPE may require special fitting or instructions for use. Contact campus EHS for information on selecting and fitting PPE.
3. If research requires transportation by private or university owned car or van, proper cleaning procedures must be strictly adhered to and performed.
4. Field work and community based research should be carefully planned so that face to face interactions are kept to a minimum.
5. Research working with populations at high risk of contracting COVID-19 (e.g., immunosuppressed, comorbidities, & elderly) should carefully weigh risks associated with in person contacts and move to remote procedures whenever possible. PIs should consult with IRB for potential needs to modify consent forms if moving to remote procedure not possible.
6. PIs of research projects on human subjects that involve aerosol-generating procedures should consult with EHS to ensure mitigations are in place to minimize aerosol.