UW Updates Human Subjects Research Policy
Posted: 8/11/2020 (Demography News)
Effective August 12th, 2020 the Human Subjects Division (HSD) has made changes to human subjects research that is allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes draw upon improved knowledge about how to effectively manage the risk of COVID-19 infection. This includes the addition of a COVID Relative Risk self-assessment tool.The advantages of the risk tool are:
- Evidence-based
- Captures the major known risks associated with COVID infection and severity
- Easier for researchers to apply
- Allows researchers to easily see what changes might significantly lower the COVID risk profile of a study
- Can be easily adjusted/revised as new information about COVID risks and current pandemic status becomes known, though HSD intends to revise the scores and threshold infrequently and only when there is significant, reliable new information that would generally affect other UW operations as well.
Summary of the changes
1. No already-active research is being halted. Already-started research that met the earlier criteria for being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be allowed.
2. Revised criteria for allowed research. All new and currently-halted research should be assessed against the revised criteria.
3. Requirements for all in-person research. All research involving in-person interaction with participants, whether new or ongoing, must meet common-sense infection and risk control requirements (e.g., face coverings, screening for COVID symptoms).