Office of Research Units - Ramp Down Status

Below you'll find the status of each unit of the Medical School Office of Research as we prepare for ramping down biomedical research operations at the U-M.
 

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CORE FACILITIES
In an effort to protect the health and safety of the University of Michigan community amid the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and in compliance with directive from the UMOR, Biomedical Research Core Facilities (BRCF) will switch from normal to emergency operations. As part of emergency operating procedures, all non-essential activities will be suspended, keeping only critical activities operational. Please visit our website, contact Core Directors for updates regarding specific core access, or contact us at brcf-umms@umich.edu.
 

CALENDAR REVIEW & ANALYSIS OFFICE
The Calendar Review and Analysis Office will remain open and conduct business consistent with the most current guidance from the university. We will handle immediate issues that arise on a case-by-case basis and follow prevailing guidance. In recognition of the benefits of social distancing in slowing the potential spread of COVID-19, CRAO staff are working remotely. CLICK HERE for our staff directory that includes email and phone numbers, or contact us at cr2-ao@med.umich.edu.

CENTRAL BIOREPOSITORY
In compliance with the directive from UMOR that all labs should ramp down operations, the Central Biorepository (CBR) will switch from normal to emergency operations, no later than March 20, 2020.  Non-essential activities will be suspended, keeping only critical activities operational,  including:

• Maintenance of a safe work environment
• Control of in-transit biospecimens
• Maintenance of biospecimen temperatures
• Maintenance of the LabVantage database

CBR has already made arrangements to receive most, if not all,  in-transit biospecimens and accession them into the appropriate long-term storage environment.  Thank you for your partnership in communicating your needs and working with our team to send samples to CBR.  If you have not yet made arrangements for CBR to receive your samples, please do so now, so that we may receive and accession them by March 20, 2020.
 
CLICK HERE for more details about CBR operations relative to the COVID-19 situation, or contact us at cbr.requests@umich.edu.
 

CLINICAL TRIALS SUPPORT OFFICE
The Clinical Trial Support Office (CTSO) and its units will remain open and conduct business consistent with the most current guidance from the university. We will handle immediate issues that arise on a case-by-case basis and follow prevailing guidance. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions at ctsogroup@umich.edu.


DATA OFFICE
In alignment with the University of Michigan’s policy encouraging telecommuting, the Data Office team is currently working from home. We will continue to be available by phone and email, individually and as a unit (click here: https://doctrjira.med.umich.edu/servicedesk/customer/portal/1) so you should continue to experience the service you have come to expect across all our service areas. Please watch return emails in the event a specific member of the team is out, and if needed, redirect your inquiry here: https://doctrjira.med.umich.edu/servicedesk/customer/portal/1 to be assisted.  
 

FAST FORWARD MEDICAL INNOVATION
The Fast Forward Medical Innovation team is currently working from home, in alignment with the University of Michigan’s policy encouraging telecommuting. We will continue to shepherd the biomedical research enterprise's business development, commercialization, and innovation education remotely, so you should not experience any disruption in the services we provide, but we encourage you to contact us via email with any concerns. CLICK HERE for our staff directory that includes email and phone numbers, or contact us at ffmioffice@umich.edu.
 

GRANT SERVICES & ANALYSIS
Grant Services & Analysis team members are available by phone and email, individually and as a unit (msgrants@umich.edu or click here) so you should continue to experience the service you have come to expect across all our areas. Please watch return emails in the event a specific member of the team is out, and if needed, redirect your inquiry to msgrants@umich.edu.
 
Questions? Please contact msgrants@umich.edu.
 

IRBMED
IRBMED encourages study teams to monitor the IRBMED website for any changes in workflows and for additional guidance (especially IRBMED procedures for urgent amendments and study conduct during the research pause).  The UMOR website also contains important responses to frequently asked questions that relate to clinical research at Michigan Medicine.  Check that website frequently as questions are updated daily.   General questions for IRBMED can be submitted to irbmed@umich.edu. The email inbox will be monitored during normal business hours and over the weekend. Responses will be provided within one business day.
 

ULAM
The Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) will maintain mechanisms for providing continued daily care to all animals housed on campus in the event of a natural disaster or other events that may interrupt normal business, including the COVID-19 situation. This includes  veterinary medical care; assessment of animal health and wellbeing; provision of food, water and clean cages; and maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions. All animal care staff (veterinarians, veterinary technicians, husbandry and housing, etc.) are considered mission-critical staff and report to work to ensure the continued health and well-being of all animals. Questions? Contact us at ulam-questions@umich.edu.