Research During COVID-19

While Bruyère continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we may experience interruptions to onsite research. When our hospital campuses require restricted access to either limit traffic and transmission, or in response to municipal or provincial mandates, research activities may be suspended by senior leadership at the Research Institute, in consultation with Bruyère.

At all times, research activity will follow Bruyère, municipal, and provincial measures to ensure the safety of everyone impacted by ongoing research. Please note that the most up to date information on Bruyère’s response to COVID-19 can be found on InfoNet. Updates on the status of onsite and face-to-face research will be communicated via email and the Research Institute’s weekly newsletter.

PROCEDURE FOR RESTARTING RESEARCH

All Bruyère Research Institute research teams whose studies require conducting face-to-face research at any Bruyère campus or in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic must follow the process as outlined below.

Review the latest version of this document, “Procedure Manual on Conducting Face-to-Face Participant Research on Site or in the Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic."
Revise their study plan to comply with the latest version of this document.
Discuss their revised study plan with their assigned Research Operations Manager.
Complete the Restarting Research Approval Spreadsheet contained in Section 3.1 Process in the Procedure Manual on Conducting Face-to-Face Research.
Await notification from their Research Operations Manager that their study has been approved or check the status of the plan in the Restarting Research Approval Spreadsheet.
Submit their amended protocol to the Bruyère Research Ethics Board and receive approval.

For investigators who are considering starting research within a timeline of a few months, we recommend beginning to prepare immediately to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Research that does not involve face-to-face interaction with participants does not require a return to research plan; however, ensure any necessary amendments to your protocol are submitted and approved by the Research Ethics Board.

RESOURCES & QUICKLINKS

Procedure Manual on Conducting Face-to-Face Research
Covid Consent Form - English
Covid Consent Form - French
Research Summary Form
IPAC Tips and Tools on InfoNet - useful for clarifying when to wear different PPE for restarting research plans

Can we have visitors or community partners onsite at Bruyère? Can we hold offsite meetings?

See section 4.3.1 Important Considerations of Community Research Visits and Appendix B in the Procedure Manual on Conducting Face-to-Face Research.

How do I start new face to face research?

For all new studies requiring face to face interaction with participants, the template for restarting research must be completed along with the regular Research Ethics Board submission. These templates can be obtained from the Research Operations Managers.

The Bruyère Research Ethics Board continues to operate as usual. Please continue to submit all ethics applications, amendments, addendums, deviations, serious adverse event forms, and other documentation for review. Please note that approvals are subject to any COVID-19 research restrictions

Who can I contact for more information?

All members of the Bruyère RI – investigators, staff, trainees and students – are invited to ask questions or raise concerns. Open dialogue and collaboration is encouraged and will be vital to ensuring we provide a safe and healthy working environment while advancing research. Please address your questions to the following person:

Questions about	Who to contact
Working onsite	Kaitlyn McGuire AND Your Research Operations Manager Alex Cornett Helen Niezgoda Kerry Moloney Justin Joshko
Conducting in-person research Restarting or beginning a new project that involves face-to-face interactions with participants Meeting with research teams in person	Research Operations Manager Alex Cornett Helen Niezgoda Kerry Moloney Justin Joshko
General inquiries related to handling of COVID-19	Trish De Fazio
Facility access-related question	Kaitlyn McGuire
General feedback on the handling of COVID-19	Trish De Fazio

Bruyère Research Institute