Below is a list of funding opportunities for research faculty and students in the areas of Agricultural Sciences, Animal Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Food Sciences, and opportunities for startups.  If you would like to have an opportunity added to the below list, please contact techcomm@uconn.edu.

Agricultural Sciences

Physical Sciences

This document details the minimum safety procedures that must be in place in order for UConn and UConn Health investigators to be approved by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) to reopen or initiate new human subjects research. Principal investigators (PIs) must tailor their safety plans to meet the needs of each individual research situation. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is available to answer safety related questions from PIs. If you have safety related questions, please email ehs@uconn.edu if your human subject research activities are conducted at the Storrs or regional campuses or call (860) 679-2723 if these activities are taking place at UConn Health.

Guiding principles:

• Careful planning is required to reduce opportunities for exposure.
• No individual project involving human subject research activities may be re-started without prior approval from the OVPR.
• Plan for and operate under the assumption that everyone is an asymptomatic virus carrier.
• Physical distancing is critical. The recommended minimum distance between individuals is six feet.
• The smallest number of study personnel possible should conduct approved research until UConn returns to normal operations. This may require the development of cohorts and non-overlapping shifts when scheduling.
• Research or components of studies that can be conducted without face-to-face interactions or interventions should continue to be conducted remotely.
• Guidelines will be continually updated as more information about COVID-19 becomes available. Updated guidance will be posted on the OVPR website and communicated to UConn/UConn Health faculty and staff. PIs are responsible for staying informed about changes that will impact human subjects research.
• If there is a second surge of infection, it may be necessary for research to be ramped down again. During safety planning, consider which studies can be easily halted or delayed. PIs should develop a continuity plan for another potential research ramp-down.
• Special attention must be paid to risks posed to more vulnerable research subjects (e.g., immunocompromised subjects, older adults with multiple chronic diseases) when evaluating the risks/benefits of subject visits to UConn research facilities.
• If the facility where the research is being conducted has specific requirements or policies related to COVID-19, then the more restrictive of those or the policies described in this guidance must be followed.

Specific recommendations:

Screening

All participants must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Ideally, participants will be screened prior to entering the research facility (e.g. phone, email, or web-based assessment on the day of the visit) or otherwise being engaged with study interactions or interventions.

Screening Questions

1. Have you or someone you live with been tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last four weeks?
2. Are you experiencing any of the following?

• Fever (100.4 or higher)
• Chills
• New or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New or worsening cough
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• New loss of smell or taste

If, such as is currently the case at UConn Health, all individuals entering the facility or building will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure, then additional screening would not be necessary. If a participant screens positive, then their appointment must be cancelled or rescheduled and the individual should be encouraged to contact their primary care physician and/or the UConn Health COVID Call Center at (860) 679-7560. Temperature screening is not required, but PIs may choose to adopt this measure if it is consistent with campus/building recommendations.

Facial Covering/PPE Requirements

1. A cloth facial covering or procedure mask must be worn by study personnel and by participants during face-to-face interactions and interventions when:
   • The participant responds NO to COVID-19 Screening AND
   • The participant is located in or from an area or facility with no or only isolated cases AND
   • The interventions are not aerosol generation procedures AND
   • At least six feet of physical distancing will be maintained at all times

Participants and study personnel may wear their own facial coverings. If participants do not provide their own coverings or if their covering fails to cover their nose and mouth, participants must be provided with a procedural mask. Similarly, procedural masks must be available for study personnel. Furthermore, study personnel must keep facial coverings in place regardless of whether participants are present. The use of physical barriers, such as plexiglass, should be considered as additional measures.

1. Study personnel must wear a procedure mask and face shield during face-to-face interactions and interventions with participants when:
   • The participant responds NO to COVID-19 Screening AND
   • The participant is located in or from an area or facility with no or only isolated cases AND
   • The interventions are not aerosol generation procedures AND
   • At least six feet of physical distancing will NOT be maintained at all times

Participants must continue to wear their own facial coverings or a procedure mask to the fullest extent possible. Participants should remove their mask only briefly (few minutes) if needed for study procedures. If participants do not provide their own covering or if their covering fails to cover their nose and mouth, participants must be provided with a procedural mask. Similarly, procedural masks must be available for study personnel. Furthermore, study personnel must keep facial coverings in place regardless of whether participants are present.

1. Study personnel must wear an N95, procedure mask, face shield, and gown during face-to-face interactions and interventions with participants when:
   • The participant is known or suspected to have COVID-19 OR
   • The participant is located in or from an area or facility with known or a high likelihood of cases and/or transmission OR
   • Study procedures will not allow the participant to wear a mask or face covering for an extended period of time OR
   • The interventions are aerosol generation procedures

If N95 masks are required, study personnel are required to complete EHS training and certification in order to gain approval for N95 mask usage as outlined in EHS’ Respirator Program Policies, Programs, and Procedures. Medical clearance is also required for study personnel who will be wearing N95 masks. For student personnel, this clearance can be obtained through UConn’s Student Health and Wellness; for other research staff, clearance can be obtained through an Occupational Medicine provider (Storrs and Regional Campus researchers can contact CorpCare in South Windsor). Please contact EHS with any questions pertaining to N95 mask usage.

Relevant Resources

• UConn Health PPE Guidance
• EHS’ Respirator Program Policies, Programs, and Procedures
• Respirator (N95 mask) program procedure for students

Cleaning/Disinfecting

1. Research procedure areas, data collection areas, and equipment must be carefully cleaned and disinfected prior to and following use by participants or study personnel. This will include a regular wipe down of shared research equipment and spaces (e.g., desktops) after each participant visit plus a wipe down of shared research equipment and spaces at the end of the day. If participants wish to also wipe down apparatus, they must be provided with disinfectant wipes and encouraged to wear gloves when using them. Please note that any cleaning done by participants does not substitute for the required cleaning by study personnel. If participants are using keyboards, study personnel should put a smooth covering over them. Participants using a shared piece of equipment should also be offered hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol and gloves for optional use during the visit. Participants who choose to wear gloves should be provided with instructions on how to remove and dispose of gloves safely. Hand sanitizer should be available to participants throughout their study visit.

Relevant Resources

• EHS information sheet on glove removal and disposal
• CDC poster on glove removal

To allow for cleaning and ventilation, avoid scheduling immediate and consecutive participant visits to research spaces. If more than one clinic or procedural space is available, use a staggered schedule to alternate visits among rooms. Windows should be open when possible to aid in ventilation.

Other Considerations

If study personnel are visiting off-campus, non-UConn affiliated facilities (e.g., schools/camps, clinics, etc.), PIs must adhere to the rules for the site. In all cases, the more stringent of the UConn or site guidelines must be followed. Recommendations for study personnel and participants regarding the wearing of facial coverings/masks, maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, and frequent handwashing must always be followed. Research visits to study participants homes should only be conducted if they can be “contactless,” such as deliveries and pickups of samples. Research visits to long-term care facilities and nursing homes must be conducted in accord with state DPH guidelines.

UConn Storrs/Regional Campus PIs should contact EHS at ehs@uconn.edu with specific questions about research spaces; UConn Health investigators should contact (860) 679-2723.

References:

CDC Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The NIH has issued guidance regarding the preparation of Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) and the reporting of effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on research projects.

If an investigator is unable to complete a scheduled RPPR by the due date, a notice should be sent to the Grants Management Specialist and the Program Official to let them know that the report will be late and that research outcomes are not available at that time, as well as an outline of when the investigator will be able to include details related to the disruptions to the research efforts. This notification should be completed as soon as possible and should be developed and coordinated with Sponsored Program Services (SPS).  Please be aware that the continuation grant award will be delayed and will not be issued until the RPPR has been received and accepted by the NIH.

RPPRs that were affected by COVID-19 should include an explanation on the effect that COVID-19 has had on the project, the steps that have been taken to mitigate the disruption, and plans to address these in the coming award period. If certain research outcomes are not available at the time that the RPPR is submitted, those should be outlined and a timeline should be provided as to when they will be addressed.

Sponsored Program Services is here to assist you with this process and to answer any questions that you may have related to RPPR preparation and submission. Please contact Paul Hudobenko or your Project Officer at UConn Health or your Pre-Award Grant Specialist at Storrs and the regional campuses as early as possible if you have any questions regarding the preparation and submission of RPPRs.   See NOT-OD-20-086 for additional details on late submission.

Version 1, May 5, 2020

To prepare to resume research on May 20, 2020, researchers will be allowed to begin some rebreeding activities and animal orders.

Effective immediately:

• Researchers and research staff may work from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
• The availability and access to procedure rooms is as usual.
• No more than a total of two people are allowed in a room at a time. Research groups must coordinate room access among themselves to maintain this density.
• All individuals must have been previously trained and given access to the vivarium. New individuals without previous access or training are not allowed. Individuals do not need to have been previously listed on a Critical Research Infrastructure request form.
• Everyone must wear a cloth face covering or the mask provided by vivarium at all times.
• The Facility Manager for the UConn vivarium or Center for Comparative Medicine staff for the UConn Health vivarium must be contacted a day in advance if assistance will be needed, such as needing large numbers of new cage set-ups for breeding, drug orders, veterinary staff help, or other needs.
• An amendment should be submitted as soon as possible to the IACUC if the animal number on the approved protocol needs to be increased.
• Research employees who are not feeling well and experiencing any symptoms of illness should remain at home, not report to work, and immediately contact their manager or supervisor. For more information see Guidance on Research Employees Returning to Work.

Orders for new animals can resume Monday, May 11, 2020.

Version 1, May 5, 2020

To prepare to resume research on May 20, 2020, researchers will be allowed to begin some other activities, such as expanding cell lines, propagating plants, and rebreeding of non-vivarium houses animals/insects.

Effective Immediately:

• Researchers and research staff may work from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with a limit of no more than four hours per day.
• No more than two people are allowed in a room/area at a time. Each Research Group must self-coordinate room/area access. For large areas such as large shared labs or research spaces, the greenhouses and fields, personnel density may be more than two, but must ensure at least six feet distancing in all directions for all individuals.
• Only individuals who have been previously approved on a Critical Research Infrastructure request form are allowed. CRI requests should be amended as needed.
• Everyone must wear a cloth face covering at all times unless doing so would pose a risk to an individual’s health or safety because of a medical condition.
• People must come in, do what is necessary, and then leave. No “hanging out,” initiating research activities or experiments, doing other tasks, etc. is allowed.
• Each researcher is responsible for cleaning/disinfecting all areas where they have worked upon completion.
• Suspension of research ramp-up may occur at any time depending on circumstances and state guidelines. This could require an immediate discontinuation of all work. All researchers must bear this in mind when considering which research reagents to re-initiate.
• Research employees who are not feeling well and experiencing any symptoms of illness should remain at home, not report to work, and contact their manager or supervisor. For more information see Guidance on Research Employees Returning to Work.

Version 1, May 5, 2020

If you are a research employee who is returning to work and you are not feeling well and/or are experiencing any symptoms of illness, please remain at home, do not report to work, and contact your manager immediately.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., fever, dry cough, body aches, loss of smell or taste, headache), you may wish to contact your personal physician or you should immediately call the UConn Health COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 for further guidance and then contact your manager. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should not report to work unless cleared by a physician to do so and you may be asked to wait until at least one week or longer has passed since the onset of symptoms, symptoms have improved, and you have been free of fever without any fever-reducing medications for at least 72 hours.  

If you have been exposed outside of work to a COVID-19 symptomatic or positive individual, you should call the UConn Health COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 for further guidance and also contact your manager. If you have been exposed for a prolonged period of time to a co-worker who is positive for COVID-19 and it is known to the University, you will be contacted by your manager. You may be instructed, depending on the date of last known contact or length and circumstances of the contact, to self-isolate and self-monitor for a recommended period of time up to 14 calendar days from the date of exposure. If you are determined to be at low risk, you may be instructed to self-monitor and can report to work as normal. 

If you were not in prolonged close contact and are considered to be an individual who is at low risk for exposure, you may be eligible to continue working. A close contact is defined as an individual who has been within six feet for a prolonged period of time (i.e., for longer than 15 minutes) or has had direct contact with the infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (for example, being coughed on while not wearing any PPE). Close contact does not include a brief or passing interaction with an individual.

If you have any questions and work at UConn Health, please contact HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu. If you work at Storrs or any one of the regional campuses, please contact hr@uconn.edu.