Dear Research Faculty,

Governor Abbott issued an executive order a week ago to begin opening the economy in Texas. As businesses slowly and deliberately reopen, we will be able to open the campus for selective activities as well. We are closely monitoring the situation to decide when we can ramp up research. We have taken our first steps and are developing a robust plan that will be shared with the leadership of all colleges, the Faculty Senate, the Research and Scholarship Committee, Environmental Health & Safety, and other central administrative units. The Chancellor has formed and charged a taskforce to articulate a strategy for phased return to operations, and research is one of the candidates for early ramping up of activities, subject to safeguarding the health and safety of our staff, students and faculty.

Here are a few additional updates:

Funding Opportunities

The NIH continues to issue Notices of Special Interest for administrative supplements and revision supplements on COVID-19 for current awards. The most recent one is from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NOT-AA-20-011) to fund research on the complex relationships between alcohol consumption and COVID-19 related-outcomes. The National Institute of Aging released FAQs for their COVID-19 funding opportunity (NOT-AG-20-022), which includes supplements that are related to Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias.

Security of Video Conferencing Platforms

In my last letter, I mentioned the importance of using UH-licensed video conferencing platforms for human subject research. I have since learned that the Department of Defense has issued new guidance on the use of the video conferencing platform Zoom, namely that DOD users may not host meetings using Zoom’s free version. We expect that this guidance will be extended to apply to grantees as well. To keep all your meetings secure, you should only use the UH licensed platforms for remote interactions and follow guidelines, such as password protecting your meeting, using a waiting room, and limiting screen sharing. Read more about this on our COVID-19 Additional Resources page.

Faculty Café and Mastering the Craft of Research

Next Tuesday, April 28 from 11 a.m.-noon, we are hosting the Mastering the Craft of Research: Architecture event. Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design professor Bruce Race will be interviewed by fellow professor, Patrick Peters. Please register for this online event.

We are offering bi-monthly 50-in-5 Faculty Café sessions on University Research Explained that focus on available funding opportunities in response to the coronavirus crisis. The second online session on this topic is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. Please mark your calendar and register for the event. 

Best regards,

Amr Elnashai, FREng  
Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer