COVID-19 Information

Yeshiva University continues to closely follow the COVID-19 outbreak. The information below contains information about COVID-19 as it relates to the conduct of research, research operations, and sponsored projects. This page will continue to be updated as new information is received.

In present circumstances, it is important to reduce in-person research activities and move to as much remote work as possible. This applies to both principal investigators and other personnel working on research. If you are conducting research at another University’s campus, it is important that you follow that institution’s policies and procedures in regard to lab use, personnel, etc. Remote activity should be assumed to continue for 6-8 weeks. Because conditions are constantly changing, the time period will be reviewed regularly.

Study procedures involving in-person contact with participants at a location in the greater New York (NY) area or participant travel for research purposes within the greater NY area must be paused effective immediately or as soon as can be implemented. Procedures such as telephone/video contact or monitoring or remote data collection may continue.

Many agencies, including NIH, NSF, and OMB, have begun to implement flexibilities in regard to proposal submissions and grant spending. Please consult with the sponsored agency, Yeshiva University OSP, and/or Yeshiva University’s post-award/finance team if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to a proposal submission or in regard to spending and reporting on an active award.

Conducting work relating to COVID-19 requires approval from senior leadership of the University and may require multiple offices to review and negotiate the terms of the sponsored award and to assist you in obtaining required institutional approvals (e.g., IRB, etc.). You should immediately contact OSP if you are looking to apply for or conduct COVID-19 related research, who will then provide you information on next steps.

• NIH: Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19 (March 12, 2020)
• NSF: Coronavirus Information
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget (0MB) agency actions to relieve short term administrative, financial management and audit requirements under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (March 9, 2020): Office of Management and Budget Memorandum
• HHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Grant Opportunities and Guidance

GrantForward search results

InfoEd SPIN search results

See the NSF Coronavirus page for the Dear Colleague Letters and FAQs on this opportunity.

• Dear Colleague Letter: Provisioning Advanced Cyberinfrastructure to Further Research on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - posted 3/5/2020

Dep. of Energy (DOE) Dear Colleague Letter -- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Asking for input on COVID-19 rapid research response involving DOE user facilities and infrastructure.

• ​​RFA-AI-20-028: Partnerships for Countermeasures against Select Pathogens (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) - application due date June 29, 2020
• All other COVID-19 NIH Funding Opportunities are posted on their dedicated COVID-19 website.
• See Mike Lauer blog dated 4/13/2020 with updates about the competing revisions and NOSIs

Administrative supplements for unanticipated costs

Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19 (NOT-OD-20-086) and Guidance for NIH-funded Clinical Trials and Human Subjects Studies Affected by COVID-19 (NOT-OD-20-087) - If unanticipated costs are identified due to impacts of COVID-19, and unobligated balances are not available to re-budget, recipients may request administrative supplements from the funding ICs (see PA-18-591 Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). 

However, please note per NIH's FAQ:

"While Institutes and Centers plan, based on availability of funding, to issue administrative supplements when absolutely necessary, it is clear that for the vast majority of grantees, supplement requests in the next 2-3 months would be premature. We therefore recommend that institutions hold off on submitting COVID19-related administrative supplement requests until such time as (1) the full impacts of the pandemic on your research are clear, and (2) you have had the chance to discuss the various options with the relevant NIH staff and you have agreed that an administrative supplement is the best option for your project.

There are two exceptions. The exceptions to this recommendation are for (1) supplements to existing projects that will allow investigators to immediately address scientific questions of direct relevance to the COVID19 epidemic, and (2) supplements that are needed to address immediate, mission critical needs over the next 3 months. Investigators who believe they meet these exceptions should raise these issues with their program officers or grants management specialists prior to submitting such requests."