Funding, News and Announcements

Monday, March 23, 2020

Important update on Research and Innovation activities at Dalhousie University:

On Friday, March 20, 2020, a memo was sent out by Dr. Alice Aiken, Vice-President Research and Innovation, which provided important information about steps being taken by Dalhousie Research and Innovation to meet the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (read full memo here).

All researchers are advised that all university campus-based research operations are to be suspended as of 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, until further notice. Critical COVID-19 research is exempted and will continue as a matter of urgency, with full support. Exceptions are being considered for other time- or resource-sensitive critical projects.

Principal Investigators and their associated research staff, postdoctoral fellows and students, who are able (as determined by the Principal Investigator) to continue their work off-campus and/or online, are expected to do so as long as it is in keeping with guidance provided by Nova Scotia Public Health. All employees who are working will continue to be paid.

In addition, on Sunday, March 22, 2020, The Province of Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The province’s new measures include a limit on group gatherings to no more than five (5) people and a requirement to maintain a distance of at least two (2) meters apart, among other measures. Failure to comply with the new measures may result in fines. 

Due to this announcement by the Province, all faculty and staff are expected to work remotely. Attendance on campus is strongly discouraged unless directed or permitted to attend work by an administrative head.  From the research perspective, this includes:

• Those working on essential, exempted research or approved special projects, such as COVID-19 research, and
• those providing essential services to the university, such as approved ongoing research maintenance, and animal care.

Resources for researchers:

• Process for temporarily shutting down a research lab, due to COVID-19
• Summary of Pandemic Plan for Research Animal Facilities
• REB Review during pandemic
• Frequently Asked Questions page