Memo from the Vice President for ResearchMarch 25, 2020Governor’s Executive Order and pause of all research activitiesState of Michigan Executive Order No. 2020-21 “Temporary requirement to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life “ https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-522626--,00.html Dear Colleagues - All laboratories have now ramped down research activities per guidelines from leadership over the last two weeks as we pause our research activities to best manage the challenge at hand and the health and well being of all. The guidelines and expectations from the Vice President for Research over the last week for the ramp down were critical steps in advance of the Executive Order issued by Governor Whitmer on Monday. This series of actions and the continued, dramatic accelerated increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths as well as stress on our health care systems further reinforce the immediate responsibility that we all have for each other’s well being and the path forward. My appreciation to each of your for taking all necessary actions in this regard to protect your health, the health of your laboratory members and the health of all the staff that support our research mission. Per guidance from the Vice President for Research and in accordance with the Executive Order, all research activities and support should now be enabled remotely and any on-site operations paused at minimal operational level for essential lab maintenance and safety and for maintaining materials and instrumentation requiring refrigeration or inert gas. This includes all research core facilities across campus. Key critical infrastructure workers, as defined by the Governor’s Executive Order and per university guidelines, must be minimal in the strictest sense for the required specific activities and must be approved through the vice dean for research and the dean of the school/college and the Vice President for Research. The Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, the Human Research Protection Program and the Vice President for Research have provided additional guidance and requirements for investigators with approved protocols involving animals or human subjects. I cannot overemphasize the importance of these required steps at this time and full compliance with all related university requirements and the Executive Order from the Governor of the State of Michigan. All efforts should be focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19. This is a serious responsibility that we all have and we must step up across the board. Monitor these sites for current info and updates. |
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