[Faculty] Sustaining Research Operations

[Antin, Parker B - (pba)]

Dear CALS Faculty,

The ramp up to Phase 3 research activity is now largely complete.  As of this morning, CALS faculty/laboratory supervisors have completed 121 checklists, the most of any college.  Thank you for moving efficiently through this process.

During the several weeks since we began increasing research activity to Phase 3 levels, local and regional COVID-19 cases have increased dramatically and so thinking/preplanning has begun to anticipate the possibility of moving to the more restrictive Phase 2 research operations.  Phase 2 will not entail another approval process, but will likely entail procedural changes to reduce the risk of virus transmission even more than current checklist procedures. This may include reducing personnel density in laboratory spaces, and of course we must continue to ensure strict adherence to face covering usage directives and disinfection procedures.  The administrative directive on the use of face coverings on campus is available here<https://president.arizona.edu/news/2020/06/administrative-directive-use-face-coverings>. While this directive does not specifically address research laboratories, face covering are required in all laboratory spaces as well in building common areas.

A key criteria for deciding if and when we move to a more restrictive research phase will be the detection of horizontal transmission of COVID-19 among laboratory workers. As of today, horizontal transmission from individual confirmed on-campus COVID-19 cases has not been detected. While this might indicate that we are rigorously following social distancing and sanitization procedures, this could also merely reflect the relatively low number of confirmed on-campus cases to date. We must therefore remain extremely vigilant and strictly adhere to COVID-19 mitigation directives and guidelines.

With this in mind, I want to emphasize that a strong and broadly supportive culture of compliance is our best protection against horizontal transmission and maximizing the likelihood that research activity will continue. This includes ensuring a supportive environment in which everyone feels comfortable speaking up if potential unsafe conditions or instances of non-compliance are observed.

By far the best approach to handling suspected instances of non compliance is direct communication between PIs/laboratory supervisors in the local area.  You are responsible for the safety of your laboratory workers and for ensuring their compliance.  Please contact your unit head and me should local communication fail to resolve research related noncompliance issues.  I am also always available for direct communications regarding any COVID-19 related safety concerns. Your building managers are primary sources of information regarding building specific directive and guidelines, and for protocols that ensure safe operations in building common areas.

I anticipate receiving more information next week about a potential shift to Phase 2 research activities and will pass on information as I receive it. In the meantime, I encourage you to contact me with any concerns or thoughts you might have about research operations.

Be well and stay safe.

Parker


Parker B. Antin, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Research
Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension
Associate Dean for Research
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
College of Medicine
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Forbes Building, Room 314 | 1140 E. South Campus Drive
P.O. Box 210036 | Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
Office:  520--621-5242
Cell:  520-661-6382
pba at email.arizona.edu<mailto:pba at email.arizona.edu>
alvsce.arizona.edu<http://alvsce.arizona.edu>






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