Immediate Suspension of In-Person Research Activities

The novel COVID-19 is impacting our communities, and the Simmons University IRB places the health of all individuals as the most important priority. In light of Simmons University moving courses to online learning and canceling in-person gatherings, the IRB requires all researchers working with human participants in-person to postpone or modify their research. All researchers who would come into physical contact with study participants must postpone those research activities immediately, until notified by the IRB that you can restart them, and those who can do so should amend their study to conduct their research remotely.

Please inform the IRB by emailing [email protected] immediately if you are conducting research activities in physical proximity to participants.

If your research currently involves in-person interactions with human participants and you plan to modify your research to use alternative means, such as through Zoom, Skype, phone, etc., you must submit a request for a modification to the IRB prior to implementing changes in the protocol and continuing research activities.  

In your amendment, please:

1. include revised informed consent documents, and 
2. describe the modifications in recruitment, the consent process, data collection procedure, and revised data management plans.

Once it is complete, please email it to [email protected].

We apologize for any inconvenience, but hope that you recognize that these actions are being taken to prevent possible significant harm to research participants, and their social contacts. Please contact the IRB office if you need to modify your study procedures or timeline. The IRB is prioritizing these amendments, and will complete them as quickly as possible to minimize delays in your work. 

Thank you for your time and serious consideration in this matter.