An update re. COVID-19 and research participants from the AHS Office of the Dean

Given the new guidelines from state government and university leadership regarding appropriate precautions to protect against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), we need to adhere to the following for research involving in-person contact with research participants.

In an effort to minimize person-to-person contact and maximize social distancing, starting immediately, research participants may not come to campus to participate in research. This includes any testing, exercise training or other activities that that involve in-person contact with research participants. This also applies to AHS researchers who conduct research in community settings that require group meetings or in-person contact.

We realize this is not ideal and will present a hardship for our research efforts, however, we must put the safety of our participants, faculty, staff and students first. We will reevaluate this policy in two weeks and issue further guidance at that point.

Additional information on COVID-19 and research operations at UIC is available from the UIC Office for the Protection of Research Subjects and on UIC Today.

Bo Fernhall
Dean and Professor

Philip Clifford
Associate Dean for Research and Professor