• Are you ready to return?
• Letter from the HRPP regarding the R2R plan
• Investigator responsibilities to the IRB during the R2R
• Supplemental flowchart for investigator responsibilities during the R2R
• Supplemental video guidance
• WIRB guidance (Western IRB, WIRB, Copernicus, WIRB-Copernicus Group, WCG)
• Advarra guidance (including studies previously reviewed by Chesapeake, Schulman and Quorum)
• NCI central IRB guidance
• HRPP COVID-19 FAQ
• Comparison of different methods of obtaining consent signatures remotely
• VCUHS guidance on COVID-19 prevention for human research

Visit the animal care blog for:

Staged reopening — Return to Research update for users:

The Division of Sponsored Programs is continuing to submit proposals even when staff work remotely. All new grant applications should utilize the normal RAMS-SPOT review/submission process. Federal agencies are aware of current challenges, and we will share additional guidance as it becomes available.

Principal investigators are expected to continue to submit timely annual and final reports in the event of an emergency university closure, which includes work-from-home provisions. Institutional reports (non-financial) will continue to be processed and submitted by OSP staff.

If, as the PI of a grant, you anticipate that your grant deliverables will be delayed by offsite work, please contact your program officer immediately to let them know of your work plan adjustments and copy (cc:) your OSP team on the email communication. Additionally, please prepare a brief explanation of the delay for your next progress report. The explanation should outline the alternative work completed and your plan for accomplishing the original deliverables.

The Council on Governmental Relations provides researchers with its assessment at www.cogr.edu/faqs-regarding-covid-19s-impact-federal-awards.

Current guidance from sponsoring agencies:
(updated 4/8/20)

• Update on COVID-19 Flexibilities for the Research Community (Dr. Mike Lauer) (added 3/31/20)
• NIH Message to Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funds on Flexibilities Needed for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (Dr. Mike Lauer) (added 3/20/20)
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients
• UPDATE: NIH Late Application Policy Due to Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (added 3/31/20)
• Guidance for NIH-funded Clinical Trials and Human Subjects Studies Affected by COVID-19
• Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
• NIH LATE APPLICATION POLICY Due to Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - COVID-19  Flexibilities for Applicants and Recipients
• General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Proposal Submission and Award Management Related to COVID-19
• Funding Information (updated 4/8/20)
  • PA-20-135 - Emergency Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Awards (Emergency Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-18-935 - Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement -  Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-18-591 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NOT-CA-20-048 - Notice of National Cancer Institute (NCI) Participation in PA-18-935 “Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)”
  • NOT-DC-20-003 - Notice of NIDCD's Participation in PA-18-935 "Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)"
  • NOT-HG-20-034 - Notice of NHGRI’s Participation in PA-18-935 "Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)"
  • NOT-MD-20-018 - Notice of Participation of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) in PA-18-935 Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NOT-TR-20-015 - Notice of NCATS' Participation in PA-18-935 "Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)"
  • NOT-AG-20-022 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): NIA Availability of Administrative Supplements and Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • NOT-HG-20-030 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Urgent Competitive Revisions for Research on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
  • NOT-DA-20-047 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Administrative Supplements and Urgent Competitive Revisions for Research on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
  • NOT-HL-20-757 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative Supplements and Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NHLBI)
  • NOT-TR-20-011 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program Applications to Address 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Heath Need
  • NOT-ES-20-014 - Notice of Special Interest: NIEHS Worker Training Program Coronavirus and Infectious Disease Response Training (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NOT-AI-20-034 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Emergency Competitive Revisions for Research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NIAID)
  • NOT-GM-20-025 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Urgent Competitive Revisions for Research on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Causative Virus SARS-CoV-2 (NIGMS)
  • NOT-EB-20-004 - Notice of NIBIB's Participation in PA-18-935 "Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional)"
  • NOT-AI-20-031 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NIAID)
  • NOT-TR-20-012 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Repurposing Existing Therapeutics to Address the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• Dear Colleague Letter on the Coronavirus Disease 2019, on proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical-care research for immediate use to explore how to model and understand the spread of COVID-19 (added 3/27/20)
• NSF Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17, entitled, “Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations” (issued 3/23/20)
• Coronavirus Information
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposers and Awardees
• Dear Colleague Letter: Provisioning Advanced Cyberinfrastructure to Further Research on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Additional FAQS (issued 3/16/20)
• Impact on Existing Deadline Dates (issued 3/17/20)

• NOT-HS-20-007 - Notice of Intent: Revision Supplements to Existing AHRQ Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Address Health System Responsiveness to COVID-19
• NOT-HS-20-008 - Notice of Intent: New Funding Opportunity Announcement to Support Novel, High-Impact Studies Evaluating Health System and Healthcare Professional Responsiveness to COVID-19

• Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) No Cost Extensions (NCEs)

• Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) for DARPA Performers

• Allow Exemptions for DOD Financial Assistance Recipients Affected by the Loss of Operational Capacity and Increased Costs Due to the COVID-19 Crisis
• Frequently Asked Questions for DOD Research Proposers and Awardees Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Institute of Education Sciences – IES in a Time of Pandemic

• Accommodating Interruptions to Applicants-Awardees due to COVID-19

• Guidance to Award Recipients Impacted by COVID-19: Short Term Relief for Various Administrative, Financial Management, and Audit Requirements, March 21, 2020 (added 3/24/20)
• COVID-19 Impacts

• NOT-FD-20-019 - FDA - Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19

• Information for IMLS Grant Applicants and Awardees

• NASA Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17
• Grants and Research during the COVID-19 Epidemic
• Assistant Administrator for Procurement Message on Coronavirus

• National Endowment for the Arts FAQs and Information for Applicants and Grantees in response to COVID-19

• Information on NEH and COVID-19

• M-20-18 Managing Federal Contractor Performance Issues Associated with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (added 3/23/20)
• M-20-17 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations (added 3/20/20)
• M-20-11 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• USAMRAA’s Supplemental Guidance on Administrative Flexibilities for Grants and Cooperative Agreements in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
• FAQs on COVID-19's Impact to Human Subjects Research

• Response to COVID-19

Please review your funder’s guidance if your project is being impacted by COVID-19. Please contact your OSP team for more guidance and to initiate any necessary sponsor notifications or requests. (updated 3/17/20)

VCU researchers are encouraged to consider potential funding opportunities for research related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many sources of information for external funding are:

Innovation Gateway

• Operations will continue if staff must work remotely.
• Meetings may be rescheduled or held remotely.
• Senior Executive Director Ivelina Metcheva will handle document signing.

VCU Ventures
Staff is prepared to work remotely to continue operations.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration