Last updated Tuesday January 19, 2021 at 6:30 PM EST
Please Note
MESSAGE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY ON RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
If you have broader questions relating to COVID-19 and the University's planning, we encourage you to visit the University's COVID-19 website.
Message from the VPRI
The University launched UTogether: A Roadmap for the University of Toronto. It serves as a guide to the community as we undertake the process of returning to research, course instruction and other activities on our campuses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular updates will be made to the roadmap as new guidance, strategies, and related materials become available.
As part of this roadmap, the Division of the Vice-President Research & Innovation has released two documents to guide the recovery and adaptation of research. The Approach for Research Recovery and Adaptation outlines the process and risk assessment considerations for gradual and controlled research recovery and adaptation on and off campus. The COVID-19 Guideline for Reopening Research provides strategies and the University’s requirements for making research spaces ready for re-entry or increased occupancy.
We encourage everyone to review these materials. Academic divisions, UTM and UTSC, and their units must follow the principles, processes and guidelines that are articulated in these documents.
The University of Toronto is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of all of our community members and to the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses, which includes current COVID-19 measures. We appreciate how our academic community continues to adapt to new circumstances in these unprecedented times.
Status of Research
The University remains committed to minimizing the transmission of the virus on campus. As such, in accordance with the provincial State of Emergency, all research that can be conducted remotely must be done remotely. Researchers are encouraged to consider alternative procedures for projects that do not disrupt scholarly merit and integrity. The University is advising all members of its community to avoid all non-essential international travel.
If researchers must return to on-campus research because the nature of their work requires them to do so, they must have an approved research recovery plan from their division or unit. To apply, they must submit to their Chair (or Dean in single department faculties) a research recovery request using an approved divisional or unit form. Academic divisions will approve on-campus recovery plans based on the capacity of buildings and research spaces to accommodate increased occupancy based on public health guidance and that include measures such as 2m physical distancing and use of masks. The same process should be used for those who want to modify their previously approved research recovery plan (e.g. if researchers wish to increase the number of people in their lab they need to revise their plan and submit it to their Chair or Dean).
Face-to-face research involving human participants is currently not permitted (with some exceptions). The Research Ethics Boards will not approve new protocols or amendments that involve face-to-face in-person human-participant research that is non-COVID-19 research until further notice.
Stay Informed
- Faculty members have a responsibility to their staff, students and research participants by staying informed of current University-wide and research-specific guidance. Please ensure that all relevant information is disseminated to applicable research team members and that the University’s guidance is followed.
- Researchers are encouraged to visit the Centre for Research and Innovation Support (CRIS) website which has curated a set of resources for researchers. These new Spotlight pages are updated regularly to respond to the needs of our community.
- Reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 by following all applicable public health precautions
- This page is frequently updated with the latest relevant information on how to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research and innovation operations across the University. If your question was not answered in any of the resources below, please email roco@utoronto.ca
Updates to 5.3, 5.9
1.0 Restart
Restart
2.0 Research with Indigenous Communities
Indigenous Communities
3.0 Human Research
Human Research
4.0 Research Laboratories
Research Laboratories
5.0 Research Funding
Research Funding
6.0 Facilities
Facilities
7.0 International
International
8.0 Research & Innovation Resources