Research Revealed: COVID-19 Updates for Researchers

Insider Insights

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Research Community Updates
Our COVID-19 page is updated daily with resources to support researchers and administrators through the pandemic, including coronavirus research funding, grantFAQs, and guidance for donating supplies to our BU colleagues on the front line.

An open data set for research on COVID-19 (Allen Institute for AI)
Tools for running research groups remotely (Nature)

Research Response

While we have taken measures to ramp down non-essential laboratory research in response to the pandemic, we are also mobilizing new research to expand the work of our faculty, labs, and centers doing work related to COVID-19.

We ask that faculty members with relevant research in the works, expertise to contribute, or ideas for addressing the pandemic, related policy, or aftermath please consider filling out this form so the University can begin to facilitate collaborations and support.

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Find Funding

Our frequently updated listing of COVID-19 research funding opportunities includes more than two dozen funding calls from the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and many more. Another helpful resource is this library of COVID-19 opportunities from InfoEd Global.

Campus Climate Lab is soliciting ideas for research projects to advance sustainability at BU through Wednesday, April 1.

The Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research is accepting applications for Affinity Research Collaboratives through Monday, April 13.

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Manage an Award

Research administration guidance related to COVID-19 varies by funder. We have compiled an extensive list of sponsor guidance from federal and non-federal agencies, as well as frequently asked questions. For project-specific questions, please contact your Sponsored Programs Research Administrator or reach out to ospera@bu.edu

Personnel activity reports, reviewed and signed, are due to Post Award Financial Operations via effort@bu.edu by Friday, April 10.

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Conduct Research

Last week, research labs took measures to ramp down normal operations and shift to critical maintenance only, with the exception of COVID-19 research and essential biomedical research. This took a tremendous amount of coordination and work on a tight timeline, and we want to thank every member of our research community for their efforts. If you have any outstanding questions, please reach out to your department chair or the Office of Research

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) has posted guidance on the best way to clean and disinfect common spaces, including research labs, during the pandemic. EHS remains open and continues to advise labs as needed on issues related to COVID-19. Contact oehs@bu.edu with questions.

Anyone conducting research with human subjects should review updated guidance from the Charles River Campus Institutional Review Board (IRB) office or the Medical Campus IRB office, including information on how to request approval for coronavirus-related study changes. While most in-person interactions have ceased, you may submit new research involving remote interactions with participants, in-person interactions to begin once restrictions are lifted, or both.

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Notes & News

Scientists at BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories became the first team in New England to conduct research on live samples of the novel coronavirus. Read more in The Boston Globe and on The Brink.

In a matter of days, BU’s Center for Regenerative Medicine transformed from a stem cell research center into an FDA-approved COVID-19 diagnostic lab to meet the growing needs of the Boston community. Read more on The Brink.

Professor Kevin Gallagher, Director of the Global Development Policy Center, published an article in the Financial Times on the role of the International Monetary Fund in combating the economic effects of the pandemic.

On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The bill includes funding for COVID-19 related research at the National Institutes of Health ($945 million), US Department of Energy Office of Science ($95 million), National Science Foundation ($75 million), Department of Defense Health programs ($415 million), and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities ($75 million each). A full summary of the bill’s higher education provisions is available from the Association of American Universities.

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