April 2020 | View Online

Department Chairs: Please forward to staff in your department
Colleagues,
These are unprecedented times that we are facing as the challenges related to COVID-19 multiply across our globe, but I have never been so proud to be part of an institution with such expertise, creativity and innovation that can contribute to solutions. You — our researchers — along with our healthcare workers, are the true heroes of today and we are seeing many inspiring examples emerge across our campus. The world thanks you for the critical role that you play in responding to this crisis.

The Office of Research remains fully operational to support your needs. Our doors may be closed, but our laptops and phone lines are open for business. We also have staff on site conducting essential duties, such as our animal care team.

You can find more information, as well as some specific research opportunities related to COVID-19 below. 

Prasant Mohapatra
Vice Chancellor for Research
Directive to Ramp Down On-Campus Research
For your reference, we are including the latest (3/17/20) message to campus directing researchers to ramp down on-campus research activities. This includes a definition of critical research functions.

Portal for COVID-19 Related Research Resources
We have organized a central web portal to keep you connected with the latest information related to research operations.

COVID-19 Research Working Group
The Office of Research has organized a research working group on COVID-19 in an effort to bring together researchers from all disciplines interested in working toward solutions to this ever-present health crisis. Through the group’s website, you can easily connect with other researchers and efforts, find a listing of campus resources, discover funding opportunities and stay abreast of the latest news regarding UC Davis’ contributions to COVID-19 research. Virtual Town Hall meetings occur every Friday at 10:30 to 11:30 am.

COVID-19 Research Accelerator Funding Track
In response to the unprecedented research challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis Office of Research is launching the COVID-19 Research Accelerator Funding Track (CRAFT) which aims to provide rapid-response awards to support research activity on campus, including facilitating both intra- and extramural collaborations.

Funding Opportunities Related to COVID-19
The Office of Research has assembled a curated a list of funding opportunities related to COVID-19. This list includes extramural and intramural funding opportunities. It will be updated as new opportunities are offered.

Proposal Submissions and Award Management
The Sponsored Programs Office remains operational and continues to process proposals and manage awards. Proposals, awards and outgoing subawards related to COVID-19 are being prioritized.

Charging Grants and Contract Costs, Including Salaries
We have received many inquiries about how to charge costs, in particular salaries for employees not able to work remotely due to the shelter-in-place order. While not every agency has issued guidance, we have developed a summary based on those that have, as well as guidance from UCOP related to leave for academic appointees.

Status of Animal Care Operations
Our dedicated animal care staff at UC Davis continues to fully support the care of animals used for research and teaching and expects the scientific integrity of ongoing studies can be maintained. Researchers are being asked to minimize orders and breeding as much as possible. 

Guidance Related to Studies Involving Human Subjects
The UC Davis Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administration is recommending that study investigators take specific actions to limit transmission of the virus by delaying or otherwise modifying non-essential interactions. 

Innovation and Technology Commercialization Operations
The Innovation and Technology Commercialization (ITC) office remains fully operational with employees working remotely. ITC is advancing several new technologies developed at UC Davis related to COVID-19. If you have an invention with commercial potential, please reach out to us . We are also connecting startup companies with related resources .
COVID-19 Related Research News
You can view a curated list of UC Davis research news related to COVID-19 on our website or Twitter feed.
Prasant Mohapatra | Office of Research | pmohapatra@ucdavis.edu