Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – UCSF Research Guidance
Updated 07/30/2021
Clinical Research
Clinical Research General Questions
What is the population density currently allowed in clinical research?
Beginning April 28, 2021, specific density restrictions on clinical research activities were removed and UCSF research guidelines were linked directly to compliance with the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 policy.
Effective June 17, 2021, changes in state regulations have removed the COVID-19 public health requirement for maintaining 6-foot physical distancing in the workplace in most non-clinical environments. Maintaining physical distancing is still required for everyone in all indoor patient care or clinical settings regardless of vaccination status. Physical distancing will no longer be necessary for employees and learners working in UCSF research laboratories and other on-site non-clinical research facilities, allowing laboratory and clinical research activities taking place in non-clinical settings to return to pre-pandemic levels.
For additional guidance and specific considerations, please refer to: https://research.ucsf.edu/guidance-onsite-clinical-research-activities
Is masking mandatory or optional if fully vaccinated?
Effective July 1, UCSF adopted a new policy for wearing masks and face coverings that depended on whether individuals are fully vaccinated or not, and on the particular UCSF setting and building. This policy was revised on July 15 to account for an increase in COVID-19 infections related to the Delta variant.
In short, employees and learners at UCSF will be required to wear face coverings in indoor places, regardless of vaccination status. Masking is not required in most outdoors settings for fully vaccinated individuals except when within thirty feet of the entrance to a health care building or while standing in line at shuttle stops, and is recommended for unvaccinated individuals.
Please review the revised Masking/Face Covering on Campus and Health Facilities guidelines, and follow the guidelines applying to your particular clinical research study.
What training is available for CRCs and other clinical staff?
All UCSF faculty, staff, and student employees are required to review the short “COVID-19 Prevention Training” document , regardless of whether they work on-site or remotely. The training covers basic hazards of COVID-19, the methods being used to limit transmission, and responsibilities.
All employees who work on-site must complete the COVID-19 Prevention eCourse prior to their first shift.
The Office of Research is strongly encouraging CRCs and other study team members to complete the new online training course, Clinical Research During COVID-19, which can be completed through MyAccess. The brief course takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is designed to support the safe conduct of clinical research by 1) reviewing fundamental information about COVID-19 and institutional policies governing the restart of onsite clinical research, 2) outlining COVID-related responsibilities of study teams, and 3) providing an aggregate list of institutional resources as a useful reference tool.
The Office of Research developed a resource that provides an overview for how study teams can use MD Link for the remote monitoring of studies by study monitors: https://rise.articulate.com/share/3Ucnf0Gk2dhOdJiyzEfbGIm6WvndWo4r
Refer to the Office of Research’s Clinical Research: Return to Work Checklist for other COVID-19-related training, resources and support developed for research staff.
Are clinical researchers required to document compliance with COVID-19 guidelines?
Clinical research Faculty and Staff must follow the current guidelines for on-site and off-site clinical research. The Office of Research has developed a Clinical Research Return to Work Checklist to support PIs and research teams.
At this time, no documentation of compliance is required by the Office of Research, however research groups should check whether documentation is required by their Department/Division/Unit Management or by sponsors.
Does clinical research staff need to screen research participants for COVID-19 before in-person visits?
Yes. The Office of Research has developed “Guidance for Screening of Research Participants by Clinical Research Staff”. Please refer to the guidance document and current UCSF Guidance for Onsite Clinical Research Activities for additional details.
Do participants need to consent to UCSF Policies for COVID-19 screening and testing?
Yes. Before in-person visits, research participants should consent to COVID-19 screening and/or testing that are unrelated to the study protocol and are done for the sole purpose of adhering to UCSF Guidance for Onsite Clinical Research Activities. Please refer to COVID-19 Screening and Testing Forms developed by the IRB for additional guidance on when and how to use these forms.
Are there special Consent Requirements for Vulnerable populations
Yes. Please refer to the IRB guidance on special Consent Requirements for Vulnerable Populations: https://irb.ucsf.edu/special-consent-requirements-vulnerable-populations
Are there informational materials for participants about COVID-19?
Materials and resources targeted for patients are available on the UCSF Coronavirus Resources website and the CDC COVID-19 website. Participants should be provided with information regarding the current COVID-19 epidemic and how best to reduce their risk of infection. This information may be provided in multiple forms suited to the type of contact, including a website link, a telephone script and/or a mailed or in-person handout. If possible, this information should be shared before the research visit.
Are there COVID-19 resources available for participants with limited English proficiency?
The COVID-19 screening questionnaire has been translated into several languages (Spanish, Chinese, Russian, etc.). For participants with limited English proficiency, consider using the self-screening tool and selected the appropriate language in the drop-down menu located in the top right corner of the landing page. For general information about COVID-19, research staff can refer to a site with COVID-19 fact sheets in 30+ languages: https://covid19healthliteracyproject.com/.
UCSF Language and Interpreter Services and UCSF Telehealth are in-house interpreter services that could be used for research participants visits (both in-person or remotely). Refer to the one-page guide to requesting interpreters for ambulatory patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) for a quick summary.
Detailed instructions on how to order services by following Telehealth’s workflows can be found on the document library page (https://telehealth.ucsf.edu/document-library). When the workflow requires an APeX step, services should be ordered in APeX and linked to the applicable research study for billing, like other research encounters-related activities requiring APeX. For instructions on linking encounters, please reference the APeX User Guide for UCSF Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs).
Are study teams allowed to conduct off-site research or field work?
For off-site research conducted locally outside of UCSF facilities (e.g., community studies), refer to the Office of Research Guidance for Category 2 and 3 Research Conducted “Offsite”.
Studies involving long-distance domestic or international travel of clinical research staff for field recruitment or other type of field work fall under current UCSF travel policies. Please refer to this policy for current definition of “essential travel” and requirements for approval.
Do the UCSF COVID-19 guidelines apply to Affiliate locations (ZSFG, BCH Oakland, etc)?
In general, the UCSF Office of Research policies apply to research conducted at ZSFG, BCH Oakland, SFVA and across other UCSF Core Affiliate sites, but they need to be reconciled with local regulations. In case of discordance, researchers should contact local research administration officials for guidance on managing the discrepancies. Please follow-up with the Office of Research ([email protected]) if you need further assistance resolving specific issues.
Screening and Testing of Participants
How can UCSF study teams obtain COVID-19 tests for research participants?
COVID-19 PCR tests for research participants are ordered through APeX, and CRCs or other members of the research team will need to get access to APeX to place the orders. Please refer to the APeX User Guide for UCSF Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) for instructions on how to gain access and place orders for research in APeX.
As with all research encounters, RT-PCR COVID-19 testing for research participants should be ordered in APeX and linked to the applicable research study (CPT 87635 – infectious agent detection by nucleic acid DNA or RNA amplified probe technique). For instructions on linking encounters, please reference the APeX User Guide for UCSF Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs).
Are there testing and PPE guidelines for aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs)? What about other types of clinical research visits?
Pre-visit RT-PCR COVID-19 testing is required for all research participants who will be undergoing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), regardless of their vaccination status. Please refer to this guidance for a current list of AGPs and PPE recommendations from UCSF Health.
For clinical research visits other than AGPs, refer to HEIP guidelines and algorithms for testing of adult and pediatric participants. Answers to most common questions can be found in FAQs for COVID-19 screening of asymptomatic adult or pediatric patients.
Can research participants be tested outside of UCSF?
Participants may obtain testing from outside sites, as long as it is a PCR test and not the Abbott ID Now. Study participants may obtain testing on their own, as long as they are able to share a copy of the laboratory test result with the CRC that shows the patient name, test date, and test result.
COVID-19 results from outside labs can be imported using the External Result Console-COVID-19: The External Results Console is a tool that serves as a central location to enter results from outside facilities that need to be viewed easily in the chart. This also can place an infection flag on the patient’s chart if they have tested positive at an outside facility. Test results must also be scanned into to the Scanned Clinical Documents section of the chart. Click here for Tip Sheet on how to enter results in the External Results Console.
Can I use COVID-19 Abbott ID NOW Rapid Test for research participants, especially for studies with multiple weekly visits?
Beginning April 10, 2021, the COVID-19 Abbott ID NOW Point-Of-Care Test (POCT) can be used for asymptomatic individuals in certain settings, but PCR testing is still required for AGPs (Aerosol Generating Procedures), PUIs (person under investigation for COVID), and other “high-risk” scenarios. Please review UCSF Health Clinical Guidance for Ordering POCT vs. PCR to determine what applies to your particular study, and Pre-procedure COVID-19 POCT Workflow for non-AGPs for operational details on using Rapid Testing.
You can also refer to UCSF Health guidelines for more detailed guidance on protocols for testing of asymptomatic or symptomatic patients/participants.
What is the recommended timeframe between COVID-19 testing and study visits?
There is currently a 4-day testing window recommended between COVID-19 testing of participants and study visits, including for tests obtained from outside. Please refer to UCSF Health guidelines for current timeframes and detailed workflows for testing of asymptomatic and symptomatic participants.
The 4-day testing window applies equally to single visits and multiple visits even if they occur within a short timeframe. In that case, research groups can try to optimize the testing schedule so that a new test will not be necessary before each visit (as long as the 4-day window is followed for all visits).
What is the turnaround time for COVID-19 PCR test results?
The turnaround time for patients who are having an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) will be dependent on how the test is ordered in APeX. There are options for next day, 2 days, or 3-4 days. Please refer to UCSF Health “COVID-19 Testing Guidance” for additional details on turnaround times.
Please note: The estimated Test turnaround time (TAT) for COVID-19 PCR is based on when samples arrive in the lab. Estimates do not account for samples that require repeat runs due to technical issues. Phone calls from requesters asking for expedited processing or status updates for individual patient samples take away lab staff from doing testing and cause delays in all results. If results are time-sensitive, do not call the lab until the full TAT has elapsed.
If participants are coming onsite for clinical care and a study visit, do they need to be screened for COVID-19 twice?
No. If patients are coming in for clinical care, the screening is usually handled by clinical staff. Please refer to the Office of Research Guidance for Screening of Research Participants for more details on screening guidelines for participants.
Remote Visit Tools and Processes
Which video-conferencing and remote visit tools are permitted for the conduct of human-subjects related research visits?
Research visits planned for ambulatory settings should be performed remotely whenever possible. Options for remote visits include phone and video conferencing.
If a study enrolls participants at UCSF Health and involves a clinical trial and/or maintains data in APeX, video interactions should be conducted using Zoom in accordance with UCSF Health’s telehealth policies (see https://telehealth.ucsf.edu/covid-19 for additional details).
Additionally, please refer to the following guidance for Zoom: https://it.ucsf.edu/services/zoom-web-conferencing
For other studies, study teams may consider using these additional modalities for video conferencing: Apple FaceTime, Zoom, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google G Suite Hangouts video or Skype for business. Please be aware that UCSF has not evaluated the risks inherent to using these modalities, which may include exposing study teams’ phone numbers among other things. The federal government has advised that these third-party applications potentially introduce privacy risks and investigators remain responsible for enabling all available encryption and privacy modes when using such applications. Research participants should be informed that there may be risk in remote communication, due to potential IT security risks, before proceeding with the remote communication and ask the research participant if they still wish to proceed with the visit and document their response.
Sample language: Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, we are now conducting research visits remotely. We will be using [X platform] to conduct our research visits until the public health crisis ends and we can resume in-person visits. Use of [X platform] may present some security risks and therefore may present additional risk to your privacy and the confidentiality of your information. You may choose not to participate in remote visits. Do you agree to the use of [X platform] to resume our research visits remotely?
*Note: This HIPAA guidance may be applied to all studies enrolling participants at UCSF Health, including UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. For studies conducted at ZSFGH, SFVAMC or other non-UCSF Health locations, please consult HIPAA guidance from the applicable institution.
If changes are made in accordance with COVID-19 interim policies, what should we submit to the IRB, and when?
If changes from the IRB approved research protocol are necessary, including remote research visits, see IRB FAQ #1 for guidance on what needs to be reported to the IRB: https://irb.ucsf.edu/irb-covid-19-faqs-resources#irbfaq
Do we need participant consent to conduct remote research visits?
A special consent for conducting a research visit remotely (instead of in-person) is not required. However, research participants should be informed that there may be risk in remote communication, due to potential IT security risks, before proceeding with the remote communication and ask the research participant if they still wish to proceed with the visit, and document their response.
What are available options for obtaining electronically signed consent and Part 11 compliance?
UCSF has two electronic platforms that can be used for signed research consent and HIPAA research authorization: DocuSign and REDCap. Each of these platforms has a regular/standard version and a new FDA-compliant version. Studies not regulated by the FDA may use a regular platform version to collect research signatures, while FDA-regulated studies should use an FDA-regulated version.
Please refer to question Q2 in the IRB FAQ for details and the most current guidance.
Does the IRB application need to be updated to utilize the remote consenting process?
Yes, but not immediately. When next submitting a modification or continuing review application, include the changes to the consent process. You do not need prior approval to transition to a remote procedure in light of COVID-19. For more info, see question Q1 in the IRB FAQ
What are the consenting options and requirements to enroll non-English speaking participants?
Please refer to the IRB resources on Consenting Non-English Speakers for guidance. The IRB also developed a Quick Guide for a summary of this information.
How can we verify identity remotely in the consenting process?
The IRB recommends requesting copies of a legal form of ID. This can be provided by the participant before and during the consent discussion. Researchers are advised to make a record of the additional steps they take to remotely verify the identity of the person signing study documentation (i.e., by asking security questions or viewing some form of official identification). Researchers also should document that the use of electronic consent at a remote visit is in compliance with the Interim UCSF Policy (https://research.ucsf.edu/guidance-onsite-clinical-research-activities).
Are there alternatives to electronic Consent when conducting consent remotely?
We recommend conducting the consent discussion via teleconference then mailing or faxing the form, providing a stamped envelope so that the participant may sign and return the signed form by mail.
Refer to FAQ #13 in FDA guidance (https://www.fda.gov/media/136238/download)
What are the criteria for obtaining a waiver of signed consent (eg, obtaining verbal consent)?
In general verbal consent is acceptable when a waiver of documentation has been granted by the IRB under the following criteria:
- The signature on the informed consent document would be the only record linking the subject to the research and the principal risk of harm to the subject would be a breach of confidentiality. For example, for research on sensitive topics, such as domestic violence or illegal activities; OR
- The research presents no more than minimal risk of harm to subjects and involves no procedures for which written consent is normally required outside the research context. For example, minimal risk research that involves surveys/interviews conducted via telephone or online.
It is important to note that all waivers must be approved by the IRB. For more guidance, review IRB guidance available at: https://irb.ucsf.edu/verbal-electronic-or-implied-consent-waiver-signed-consent
Clinical Monitoring and Regulatory Documents Electronic Storage
What are available options for on-site/remote site monitoring?
All study teams and monitors must follow the Office of Research Guidelines for Clinical Research Monitoring and UCSF Vendors policy.
Regarding remote vs. on-site monitoring, remote monitoring visits should be considered as a first option in all cases. Monitoring visits that are essential to participant safety and/or study integrity can occur on-site if approved by the PI or the department head. Site monitors and associated personnel coming on-site must adhere to all UCSF safety practices, including daily health screens, face coverings, and physical distancing.
Please refer to the links above for details on monitoring options and safety requirements that monitors must follow.
Can we request monitors to get COVID tested prior to arrival?
All study teams and monitors must follow the Office of Research Guidelines for Clinical Research Monitoring for onsite monitoring. Clinical monitors are also required to follow the UCSF Vendors policy, which include guidance for testing requirements after travel.
Is MD link only for inpatient activity or will it cover outpatient visits as well?
MD Link covers both inpatient and outpatient activity – anyone with medical records available in APeX.
If you have source documents stored in ApEX that the monitors need to review, e.g. labs and tests done at UCSF, you can use MD Link to provide remote access to monitors for both inpatient and outpatient visits. For more information on MD Link, refer to “MD Link and Remote Monitoring Visits: CRC and Monitor Workflow” – a resource that provides an overview for how study teams can use MD Link for the remote monitoring of studies.
Which sponsors are approved for MD Link?
Please refer to the “MD Link and Remote Monitoring Visits: CRC and Monitor Workflow” resource for the most current list of approved sponsors.
Are site monitoring policies the same at UC Health and ZSFG?
ZSFG has different policies from UC Health for both on-site and remote monitoring. ZSFG’s guidelines are provided below as an informational summary only, and investigators at ZSFG should confirm and follow current guidelines:
- On-site monitoring visits are allowed but remote monitoring is highly encouraged
- Remote monitoring in ZSFG Epic: Some investigators have needed limited access to ZSFG Epic systems for remote site monitoring by sponsors. Access requires approval and the process can be summarized as follows: The ZSFG investigator needs to work with the DPH business sponsor and the industry sponsor requesting remote site monitoring to fill out an “Approval” sheet and send it to DPH-Data Sharing ([email protected]) with a brief summary of the request. Researchers are encouraged to contact DPH-Data Sharing before starting the process, and the same email can be used for support. Additional information on DPH data sharing is also provided in the SFDPH Data Sharing Request Form
- Other options for remote monitoring at ZSFG include:
- “Over the shoulder Zoom” is approved by UC legal and compliance offices, and other UCSF investigators have used it at ZSFG
- The “manual” option described above can be used if no other options are available
- The MDLink approach is being considered only for UC Health and will not initially be rolled out at ZSFG
What is Veeva Site Vault? Is it 21 CFR Part 21 and HIPAA compliant?
Veeva SiteVault is a cloud-based platform that study teams can use to store regulatory documents and facilitate remote monitoring, including access to non-redacted documents such as signed informed consent forms. It is 21 CFR Part 11 and HIPAA compliant. For technical support or product-related questions about Veeva SiteVault, contact [email protected]. For UCSF-specific questions contact [email protected]
Veeva SiteVault is being used by study teams at UCSF. The main use cases for Veeva Vault are:
- E-regulatory binders: Many sponsors use this system which pulls the docs from Veeva’s study eBinder into the sponsor’s Trial Master File
- ePatient Charts: Study teams will be using Veeva to store source documents that are not found in APeX and accessible through MD Link (examples: patient questionnaires, disease assessment forms, and any source docs that are created specifically for study purposes and therefore not saved in the patients EMR).
• For studies where the sponsor has declined to sign the MD Link Agreement, Veeva Vault can be used to share source docs with study monitors remotely without having to spend hours redacting the source docs.
What information and training are available to setup a Veeva SiteVault account?
Please refer to the Office of Research information sheet on Veeva SiteVault for instructions on setting up accounts and a list of training and other resources. You can also find helpful information on the Veeva SiteVault FAQs page.
Can we use Veeva SiteVault to store completed studies?
Yes, Veeva SiteVault can serve as an electronic repository for archived studies. There is no limit on the number of documents, studies or users in SiteVault Free. Studies can be marked as Archived and there are additional automatic archival features in development to make electronically archiving a simple quick process.
How many years will the documents be sored on the portal?
The current retention period is 25 years, which is aligned with standard global regulatory retention requirements.
Can the entire eBinder be downloaded for long-term storage?
Yes, you can export study documents or the entire electronic regulatory binder, and store outside of Veeva SiteVault onto an external hard drive or any other electronic storage platform. However, many sites keep their documents in Veeva SiteVault as an archival system since the SiteVault document version history and audit trails may be useful in an audit.
Laboratory Research
What is the population density currently allowed in laboratory research?
Beginning April 28, 2021, specific density restrictions on lab research activities were removed and UCSF research guidelines were linked directly to compliance with the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 policy.
Effective June 17, 2021, changes in state regulations have removed the COVID-19 public health requirement for maintaining 6-foot physical distancing in the workplace in most non-clinical environments. Maintaining physical distancing is still required for everyone in all indoor patient care or clinical settings regardless of vaccination status.
Physical distancing will no longer be necessary for employees and learners working in UCSF research laboratories and other on-site non-clinical research facilities, allowing laboratory and clinical research activities taking place in non-clinical settings to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Every effort should be made to work remotely and limit onsite work to essential activities that cannot be accomplished from home. All other existing safety protocols also will remain in place, including wearing face masks, frequent hand-washing, and completing the daily health screening before coming to campus.
Is masking in research labs mandatory or optional if fully vaccinated?
Effective July 1, UCSF adopted a new policy for wearing masks and face coverings that depended on whether individuals are fully vaccinated or not, and on the particular UCSF setting and building. This policy was revised on July 15 to account for an increase in COVID-19 infections related to the Delta variant.
In short, employees and learners at UCSF will be required to wear face coverings in indoor places, regardless of vaccination status. Masking is not required in most outdoors settings for fully vaccinated individuals except when within thirty feet of the entrance to a health care building or while standing in line at shuttle stops, and is recommended for unvaccinated individuals.
Please review the revised Masking/Face Covering on Campus and Health Facilities guidelines, and follow the guidelines applying to your particular setting.
Is there one consolidated website with funding opportunities for COVID-related research projects?
Please refer to the UCSF COVID-19 Related Research website dedicated to support the UCSF research community in finding funding and building collaborations: https://covidresearch.ucsf.edu/funding
What is the current timeline for reopening Cores and other research support services?
Core facilities and support services provide critical services to the research community and are often in high demand. As research density increases, researchers should expect delays in the reactivation of core facilities and services as they develop protocols in order to adjust to the new guidelines.
Core facilities often have unique layouts and specifications related to their specialized equipment and services. In addition, there have been reports of crowding and unsafe distancing at some core facilities in the past. For these reasons, facility staff have the authority to turn researchers away if the facility cannot be operated safely.
Are there any travel restrictions for laboratory researchers to conduct off-site research or field work?
Research involving long-distance domestic or international travel of clinical research staff for field recruitment or other type of field work fall under current UCSF travel policies. Currently, essential travel is defined as travel that is required — and cannot be postponed — in order to preserve the safety of a patient or research subject or results of research activity.
Research Safety and Operations
Remote vs. onsite work for research personnel
In agreement with the current guidance for telework at UCSF that extended the work-from-home guidance through October 1, 2021, research activities that can be performed remotely should continue remotely. This includes clinical research activities without direct human subjects contact, computational, dry lab research, office-based research performed entirely using telehealth or other virtual methods, etc. However, researchers are free to return to campus if it is appropriate for them and their work setting. All individuals working on site are required to follow health screening, masking, and other campus protocols.
For additional guidelines and resources on telework that apply to all UCSF employees, please refer to the UCSF Telework Toolkit, which combines resources developed by departments across UCSF in a usable, easy-to-navigate format.
Which type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do I need for my research?
All UCSF staff, students, visitors, and patients are required to wear face coverings while on campus, except when alone in a private office, alone in your private vehicle, or when eating physically distant from others (while such face coverings are not considered PPE, they are listed here because they are worn similarly to PPE).
Additional requirements and recommendations for PPE are documented in guidelines that are specific for the type of research being conducted and consider other factors affecting the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (e.g., ability to physically distance, specific clinical procedures, etc.). Refer to the Office of Research guidelines for a summary of PPE currently required for onsite clinical research, and offsite clinical research.
UCSF PPE policies are updated frequently to maintain the safety of the campus community while adhering to public health orders and/or local guidance. Researchers are encouraged to refer to the UCSF Coronavirus website or the UCSF Health’s Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention (HEIP) website for additional clinical guidance, or if their specific situation is not addressed in the Office of Research guidelines.
Where can I obtain the PPE required for my research?
Researchers may obtain PPE through the “SCM COVID Store” internal catalog in BearBuy. For any specific needs that would be better addressed programmatically, contact the UCSF Emergency Management at [email protected].
N95 respirators are currently available for campus researchers and staff who need N95s for their research, but they are not listed in the BearBuy catalog due to additional steps required to enroll in UCSF’s Respiratory Protection Program prior to distribution (i.e., hazard assessment , medical clearance, fit testing, and training). Please refer to EH&S guidelines for details on the process required before N95 masks can be obtained, and inquire with [email protected] for any further assistance.
How is UCSF keeping the research community safe?
The Office of Research remains committed to helping the research community pursue trailblazing science in an environment where safety is our top priority. Throughout the pandemic, the Office of Research has monitored the situation closely and continuously reassessed research policies based on our review of our current metrics, discussions with various stakeholders across the UCSF and broader UC research community, and consideration of current public health guidance.
Additionally, UCSF Occupational Health Services (OHS) has developed infection control policies and procedures that have resulted in extremely low infection rates and transmission in the UCSF workplace. Please see the communication from the Office of Research (https://research.ucsf.edu/protecting-ucsf-research-community), which contains links to comprehensive additional information.
Are there guidelines regarding volunteers (including undergrads) coming back the lab?
As announced on April 26, 2021 by the Office of Research, there are currently no restrictions on bringing volunteers in campus research laboratories and other research locations. Volunteers should follow the same safety measures as all other research staff, and the current approval process for hosting volunteers is equivalent to the process before the pandemic.
Regarding transportation, what is the guidance on using public transit or shuttles, and is parking available for those who commute by car?
Please refer to the UCSF Coronavirus website for a summary of current Campus Services operations and guidance. Additional details on parking and transportation/commuting can be found on the Campus Life Services website.
What are my options if I observe non-compliance with UCSF protocols for working on-site and am concerned about safety?
All research personnel working on-site must follow UCSF Campus Access & Protocols and Protocol for Working Onsite. The metrics followed by the Office of Research have shown excellent compliance by the research community since the beginning of the pandemic.
In cases of non-compliance, principal investigators should make every effort to resolve compliance problems locally if possible. If safety deficiencies are not resolved locally in a timely fashion, the issue will be escalated to the appropriate department chair, dean, clinical unit leader, or research oversight committee for swift correction.
Other options for initiating an evaluation of unresolved safety concerns are by emailing EH&S ([email protected]), through anonymous reporting on the EH&S website, or through an Improper Governmental Activity (“Whistleblower”) Report.