COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance

Message from the Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

After more than two years of pandemic-related restrictions, I am delighted to announce that the University of Windsor is moving to Phase 4 of the Resumption of Research Framework effective immediately. Accordingly, all research activity may return to normal, including in-person and human participant studies.  Depending on the specific project, additional health and safety protocols may be required by REB to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

As a reminder, all research activities should continue to follow guidelines established by the University, including masking in all indoor spaces where physical distancing of two meters cannot be maintained.  I am confident that our research community is familiar with best practices for protecting yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

I would also like to thank you for your ongoing commitment to research and the incredible patience that you have all demonstrated as we have navigated the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Chris

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you may know, the Council of Ontario Universities announced on March 11, 2022 that: “In order to minimize uncertainty and disruption and to continue to support our students, staff, faculty and university communities, Ontario’s universities will maintain their COVID-19 vaccination and masking policies until at least the end of the current term.”  The University of Windsor announced on March 17 that it would retain institutional COVID-19 policies, despite the Province’s removal of mask mandates on March 21 and intention to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions by the end of April.

After consultations with the Chair of the Research Safety Committee, Chair of the Research Ethics Board, Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Chair of the Return to Campus Action Group, and colleagues, I am pleased to announce a pause to all University of Windsor requirements for research protocol / laboratory operation approvals, effective March 28, 2022.  This pause also applies to approvals for field work and research involving human participants. All faculty, staff, and students must still adhere to University of Windsor health and safety policies related to COVID-19 until Phase 4 Normal status is established. However, after March 28, there will no longer be independent vetting of safety protocols related to research conducted on and off campus.

Effective March 28, all research activities will be governed by the University’s health and safety regulations and, for field work, any additional health and safety regulations of the host site.  Until the University removes or suspends its mask policy, breaching of physical distancing in research involving human participants will be permissible with appropriate personal protective equipment and vaccination (though caution is urged).

I sincerely hope that this pausing of research approvals will turn out to be permanent, and that no new variant of concern will emerge and necessitate the reintroduction of restrictions.

All the best,

Michael

Message from the Vice-PResident, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

I am sure you have been monitoring the COVID-19 infection data, and like me you are thankful that the impact of the Omicron variant is abating in the Province (https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/ontario-dashboard/ ) as well as in Windsor-Essex (https://www.wesparkhealth.com/covid-screening-platform#Dashboard ).  The Premier Office’s news release on January 20, 2022 announced three stages of lifting of restrictions with the first stage on January 31.  The next stage was set on February 21.

As you have no doubt heard, the Premier announced earlier today that Ontario will be able to enter into this next stage ahead of schedule and on February 17.  After consultation with colleagues, including Chairs of the Research Safety Committee and the Research Ethics Board, I would be pleased to lift the restrictions placed on research and innovation announced on January 5 on February 17, in concert with the Province’s moving forward to this next stage.  This means that if your Faculty was at Research Phase 3 prior to January 5, it will revert back to Research Phase 3.  If your approved normal research protocol permits breach of physical distancing, you will once again be able to conduct such research as authorized.

After almost two years of the pandemic, vaccination, masking, and physical distancing have remained the most effective means against COVID infection.  I know we are all tired, but I remain optimistic that a semblance of normalcy is just around the corner, and that we will emerge from the pandemic wiser if not stronger.

All the best,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation - January 5, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

I trust you had a good holiday break and were able to enjoy some much deserved rest and recreation.

Please note the following updates to research protocols during Modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen announced by the Government of Ontario effective January 5, 2022:

• Implement as much as possible a voluntary reduction of your research personnel working in a laboratory setting at any given time by 50% from the capacity on December 16, 2021 to reduce contact between persons due to the high infectiousness of the Omicron variant.

• Be vigilant about masking, wearing eye protection, maintaining physical distancing of at least 2 metres at all times, avoiding gathering around the laboratory to minimize the risk of transmission, and washing hands frequently.

• Stop research with human participants that requires the breaching of physical distancing limits.  Breaching occurs when interactions with human participants exceed a total of 15 minutes within a given day when physical distancing of at least 2 metres cannot be maintained.

• Prepare a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of possible extended absences of key research personnel due to quarantining.

• Plan for the potential consequences of reduced staffing at the Chemical Control Centre and the Central Animal Care Facility.

• The Research Safety Committee will continue to re-evaluate field work that was approved in 2021 but has yet to take place, in accordance with updated rules and regulations of governments and health authorities.

• Consider (continual) volunteering in the saliva-testing research project to help better protect colleagues around you.

The above recommendations and regulations will be reviewed and adjusted in accordance with the changing pandemic impacts.

Wishing you a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2022,

K. W. Michael Siu

Message from the Chair of the Research Safety Committee - December 26, 2021

Given the uncertainty with the Omicron variant and the circumstances around rising COVID-19 cases, the Research Safety Committee is providing the following recommendations to research personnel who are requesting to resume field research during the Winter 2022 semester.

Field Research within Windsor-Essex County

• Continue to follow the usual safety protocols (mask usage, physical distancing when possible, etc.)
• Adhere to any Government of Ontario and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit COVID-19 restrictions.
• Pursue the booster dose as soon as possible.
• Consider double masking or wearing N95/KN95 masks with proper fit testing when conducting field work. 

Field Research within Ontario

• Continue to follow the usual safety protocols (mask usage, physical distancing when possible, etc.).
• Adhere to any Government of Ontario COVID-19 restrictions.
• Pursue the booster dose as soon as possible.
• Consider double masking or wearing N95/KN95 masks with proper fit testing when conducting field work.
• Travel by vehicle and avoid airplane/train travel, if possible.
• Have a contingency plan in place for self-isolation should personnel test positive for COVID-19.

Field Research within Canada

• Continue to follow the usual safety protocols (mask usage, physical distancing when possible, etc.)
• Adhere to any COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the Government of Canada and the province in which field research is taking place.
• Follow any new travel conditions imposed for travel from Ontario to the destination province.
• Pursue the booster dose as soon as possible.
• Consider double masking or wearing N95/KN95 masks with proper fit testing when conducting field work.
• Have a contingency plan in place for self-isolation and extended stays should personnel test positive for COVID-19.
• Verify health coverage for travel out of province.

Field Research to United States via Land Border

• Continue to follow the usual safety protocols (mask usage, physical distancing when possible, etc.)
• Adhere to any Government of Canada COVID-19 restrictions during travel.
• Follow any new travel conditions imposed for travel from Canada to the United States.
• Pursue the booster dose as soon as possible.
• Consider double masking or wearing N95/KN95 masks with proper fit testing when conducting field work.
• Have a contingency plan in place for self-isolation and extended stays should personnel test positive for COVID-19.
• Verify health coverage for travel to the United States.
• Engage in regular, weekly testing (rapid antigen testing or other) during the duration of the study.

Field Research outside of Canada via Air Travel

• International travel should be delayed until Canada lifts non-essential travel advisory.
• Should PIs have an international field research project that they deem critical and time sensitive, please submit a Request for Resumption of Field Research form for RSC vetting and deliberation.   Please provide your rationale of the essential nature of this research and why the research outcomes outweigh the additional health risks related to travel at this time.

Should you have any questions about the above recommendations, please contact the committee at rsc@uwindsor.ca.

Thank you,

Kenneth Drouillard
Chair of Research Safety Committee
University of Windsor

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, as long as COVID-19 infection rate continues to stay low, the University is planning to implement increased capacity in teaching and research labs in the Winter Term, up to the maximum fire-code capacity, or 50 students, whichever is less.  After consultation with colleagues at Health and Safety and the Research Safety Committee (RSC), I am writing to provide information on implementing / continuing to implement the following interim measures with regards to research lab operations between October 25, 2021 and January 6, 2022.  Further communication regarding increasing research lab capacity in the Winter Term will be forthcoming.  Health and Safety will be determining fire-code capacities of individual labs and ensuring that they are posted prior to beginning of the Winter term.

Interim measures:

1. Halt the need for revision of currently approved protocol that involves personnel additions/removals; however, the PI should keep track of personnel changes.  RSC will stop tracking of personnel tied to safety protocols and will no longer update the master spreadsheet database;
2. Halt the need for revision of protocol that specifies specific rooms and buildings accessed by personnel.  Posted laboratory capacity limits that observe 2-metre distancing will still need to be observed;
3. Require PI to have an approved safety protocol;
4. Require RSC to vet and approve protocols from PIs who do not have a currently approved protocol;
5. Require RSC to vet all protocols involving field research and breaches of physical distancing of 2 metres; and
6. Require new visiting researchers/students from other institutions to follow UWindsor’s visiting research policy.

Thanks.

K. W. Michael Siu

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

I trust you have heard that the Province of Ontario is moving on July 16 to Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen, five days ahead of schedule.  This is wonderful news and one that we all rejoice in, after 16 long months of COVID-19 restrictions.  The projections are certainly encouraging for the fall term, and I look forward to the days that we can meet physically and enjoy one another’s company again.

With reopening of the Province, the University of Windsor is loosening restrictions, and I am writing to highlight those that are research and innovation related:

• Lab capacity will be reassessed using a minimum separation between individuals of 2 metres; this works out to an area metric of 3.14 square metres or 33.8 square feet per person, to facilitate occupancy-limit calculations.
  • PPEs will continue to be required as per your project/operation approved by the Research Safety Committee (RSC), your dean, and the VPRI.
  • Your dean or their designate(s) have the square footage of each research lab and will determine new capacities, aided by your input; the revised capacities will be forwarded to Health and Safety for documentation and auditing.
  • Health and Safety will inform Facilities of the new lab capacities so that they can be posted.
• The RSC and the Research Ethics Board will now consider applications or revisions that involve planned breaches of physical distancing in research involving human participants that exceed 15 minutes per day.

Please see the Updated Resumption of Research Framework document with updated and new appendices, including those that apply to field research, research with human participants, revision of approved project details, breach of physical distancing, and visiting students and researchers, for current information and procedures.  

Thank you for your continual commitment and dedication to research and innovation.  Vaccination has played a significant part to enable Ontario’s reopening ahead of schedule; I would urge you to continue supporting vaccination and talk to your friends and group about it.  Wastewater testing and the voluntary saliva-based testing are expanding to provide wider coverage of on-campus conditions.  I would encourage you to participate in the saliva testing when it is available to you.

Keep well and safe.

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Colleagues,

As you have no doubt heard, the Ontario government plans to re-open the province in three steps, based on vaccination thresholds.  Step 1 will be initiated when 60% of adults are vaccinated, estimated to be the week of June 14, 2021.

In synchronization with Step 1, the University of Windsor will lift restrictions introduced on April 8 with regards to research protocols and applications.  The Research Safety Committee (RSC), Research Ethics Board (REB), and Animal Care Committee (ACC) will resume approval of new research protocols and applications.  This change will be implemented automatically on the first day that Ontario enters Step 1; no further communication will be required.  We thank you for your patience during the shut-down period and look forward to continuing working with you in support of your research endeavours as authorized in your faculty research phase.

Our ability to maintain research on campus is heavily reliant on everyone’s vigilance when it comes to health and safety in keeping COVID-19 at bay.  Please continue to remind your group to complete the Safe Lancer App Survey or online Self-Assessment questionnaire and file their approval with you prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces.  Everyone should strictly adhere to masking and physical distancing protocols.  Vaccination has proven to be effective in decreasing COVID-19 transmission, morbidity and mortality, and we urge you to get vaccinated as soon as you are able to.

On campus saliva-based testing and wastewater-based epidemiology of COVID-19 continue to progress with the goal of providing as much information on the status of infection at the University as possible.  The saliva-based testing will be expanding its research cohort in the summer with the aim to making it available to everyone in the fall term; please consider participating when testing is open to you.

Let me end by thanking and recognizing every one of you for your ongoing commitment to research.  We can all be proactive in order to facilitate reopening of the University and the Province.

Keep well and safe.

Michael

If you have submitted a Phase 3 COVID-19 Research Resumption Plan that has been approved by the Research Safety Committee and your Dean and your lab has been authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation to resume research activities in Phase 3, you can apply to engage in low risk, outdoor, off-campus research activities that are free of breaches in physical distancing to make observations and collect data in support of your research program.

To apply to resume field research activities, please complete and submit the following application to your Department Head for consideration:

Phase 3 Field Research Safety Plan

Once your Department Head has review and approved your application, they will forward it to the Research Safety Committee for review. If the Research Safety Committee recommend that your project resume or proceed, your application will be forwarded to your Dean for approval and to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation for authorization. 

Please note that only field research that has been fully assessed, approved by the Dean, and authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation can take place.

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Colleagues,

As you have no doubt heard, the Province has imposed a stay-at-home order effective Thursday, April 8, 2021.  I am writing to urge everyone of you to continue to be vigilant and not let your guard down so that we can ensure that our campus can stay safe and open for research and innovation.

Please allow me to start by reminding you of what I have said in earlier communications; I would also emphasize important health and safety points that are paramount to our mitigating the threats of COVID-19, and especially the variants of concern (VOC), to our campus.

• Unless you must be on campus to carry out your research, please stay away.
• Please observe the no close contact rules established by public health authorities and keep track of colleagues who are in the same areas or labs as you are. This is critical in the event that contact-tracing is required.
• Be as vigilant outside of the campus as you are within it to help ensure that we keep the virus away from the campus and our research community safe.  This includes respecting the stay-at-home order and avoiding as much as possible travel outside of the Windsor-Essex Region.
• Observe provincial COVID-19 rules and regulations at all times.
• Observe all health and safety guidelines and procedures established by the University and public health authorities; observe maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and adhere to protocols approved for your project and/or lab by the Research Safety Committee (RSC).
• If it is available to you, consider participating in the on-campus saliva-based COVID testing led by Dr. Lisa Porter; as I said in my April 2 communication, Dr. Porter and her colleagues are expanding their research cohort to include those outside of CORe, but this will take time; contact Jackie Fong for details if you are interested.  Negative results will inform the University that you are unlikely to have been infected should an outbreak occur in the vicinity of your lab.  This will help your team to quickly return to normal.
• In parallel, Dr. Mike McKay and his colleagues will expand the wastewater surveillance program to provide monitoring beyond Alumni Hall; again this will take time.  If you have questions, contact Dr. McKay.
• The University will be working closely with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) upon any COVID-19 cases.
• Your understanding, vigilance and cooperation will help ensure that the University can remain open for research and innovation:
  • All currently authorized research projects/lab operations, including those that involve face-to-face research (in person data collection) with human participants, can proceed as authorized; however, principal investigators are requested to voluntarily reduce personnel at any given time in their labs, and also their hours, where workable;
  • The Central Animal Care Facility (CACF) will continue to operate with a maximum occupancy of 15;
  • Central research facilities will continue to operate, where workable, while minimizing contact and the number of individuals in these facilities.
• Please note that RSC is not approving any new research protocols (unless these are COVID-19-related) or the addition of new research personnel (except for COVID-19 research).  Replacing personnel and amendment of protocols, however, can still proceed so long as replacements do not involve any training of new research personnel.  The RSC, REB and Animal Care Committee (ACC) will continue to review protocols that have been submitted as well as new protocols and applications so as not to create any potential review logjams down the road.  However, no new protocols will be authorized by the RSC or ACC to start during the state of emergency or shutdown.
• The REB will continue to review and clear new applications that have been submitted that do not involve in-person data collection requiring breach of physical distancing.
• Again, please be reminded that during the provincial shutdown, other units within the University and outside organizations may operate at a reduced capacity. This may impact upon the supply of reagents and consumables, as well as the cleaning of common areas. Extra planning and precautions should be exercised.
• It is also important to remember and share with your students and staff that they must complete the Safe Lancer App Survey or online Self-Assessment questionnaire and file their approval with you prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces. As a supervisor, you will be responsible for maintaining a record of these filings that can be accessed readily. Although we hope it will not be necessary, access to this information may be critical in potential contact-tracing in the future.

Let me end by thanking and recognizing every one of you for your ongoing commitment to research.  Our ability to keep research and innovation going will rely heavily on your vigilance and our ability to keep COVID-19 at bay.  Vaccination and on-campus testing are two powerful tools that we can employ.  I urge that you vaccinate as soon as it is made available to you and participate in the on-campus saliva-based testing if it is available to you.  We can all be proactive in order to make a difference.

Keep well and safe.

All the best,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you have no doubt heard, the province of Ontario is entering a 28-day shutdown beginning on April 3, 2021.  I am writing to remind/inform you of the following requirements with regards to research:

• All research that can be performed away from the campus (e.g., writing of manuscripts, theses and proposals; performing statistical and data analyses; modelling; meetings; conducting interviews and surveys; etc.) should be conducted off-campus;
• All currently authorized research projects/lab operations, including those that involve face-to-face research (in person data collection) with human participants, can proceed as authorized; however, Principal Investigators are requested to be vigilant and voluntarily reduce the personnel at any given time in their labs, where workable;
• The Central Animal Care Facility (CACF) will continue to operate with a maximum occupancy of 15;
• Central research facilities will continue to operate, where workable, while minimizing contact.

Allow me to remind you that, to ensure the continued safety of our campus research community during the pandemic, please ensure that you and your research team follow all health and safety guidelines and procedures established by the University and public health authorities; observe maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and adhere to protocols approved for your project and/or lab by the Research Safety Committee (RSC).

Please note that RSC and the Research Ethics Board (REB) are not approving any new research protocols or the addition of new research personnel at this time.  Replacing personnel and amendment of protocols, however, can still proceed.  The RSC, REB and Animal Care Committee (ACC) will continue to accept new protocols and applications for review during the shutdown period so as not to create any potential review logjams down the road.

Again, please be reminded that during the provincial shutdown, other units within the University and outside organizations may operate at a reduced capacity. This may impact upon the supply of reagents and consumables, as well as the cleaning of common areas. Extra planning and precautions should be exercised.

It is also important to remember and share with your students and staff that they must complete the Safe Lancer App Survey and file their approval with you prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces. As a supervisor, you will be responsible for maintaining a record of these filings that can be accessed readily. Although we hope it will not be necessary, access to this information may be critical in potential contact-tracing in the future.

I would like to thank and recognize every one of you for your ongoing commitment to research and the effort you have put into continuing research.  The University is working to expand the cohort base of the COVID-19 survey research project, currently drawing only from researchers at CORe, to include researchers of all authorized projects/lab operations.  I will write again once everything is in order.

Please share this message with relevant students and staff in your research groups.

Keep well and have a safe Easter break and beyond.

Thank you,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you may already be aware, the rate of COVID-19 infection in Windsor-Essex has declined significantly over the past few weeks. Today, the Province announced that our region will be among those returning to Code Red (Control) of the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 with, however, the cautionary note that any spike in infection cases could either delay the reopening or force it to return to lockdown.

With the above proviso, I am delighted to announce herein that all Faculties that have been operating in “Modified Research Phase 3” during Code Grey (Lockdown) and the restrictions associated with the Second Provincial Emergency stay-at-home-order will revert to regular Research Phase 3 effective next Tuesday, February 16. All other Faculties will remain at their current research phases.

In addition, I am pleased to share with you that the following parameters will apply:

• All research that can be performed away from campus should continue to be conducted off-campus, regardless of the Faculty Research Phase designation;
• Authorized in-person, face-to-face research involving human participation will resume;
• The Central Animal Care Facility (CACF) will revert to regular Research Phase 3 and a maximum capacity of 15; and
• The Research Safety Committee will resume review of new and revised research protocols and/or the addition of new research personnel.

I am also pleased to share that many University services, including those provided by the Chemical Control Centre, custodial services, and Shipping and Receiving, will begin to revert to levels commensurate with our current COVID-19 Response Framework code.

This said, it is imperative that we continue to be vigilant in our adherence to the health and safety guidance and procedures established by the University and public health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19; observe maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and follow protocols approved for our projects and/or research labs by the Research Safety Committee.

It is also important to remember and share with our students and staff that they must continue to complete the Safe Lancer App Survey and file their approval with their supervisor prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces. Supervisors should continue to maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of approval filings as we move forward.

I would like, once again, to thank all of you for your continued commitment to research throughout the pandemic. I recognized how challenging it has been for all of you. I am very hopeful that we will see a return to more normal times in the not-too-distant future.

Please share this message with all relevant students and staff in your research groups.

Keep well and safe,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you are likely aware, Ontario has declared a Second Provincial Emergency and Premier Doug Ford has issued a stay-at-home-order that takes effect at 12:01 am on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Under the Second Provincial Emergency and until further notification, when necessary, all Faculties at the University of Windsor will continue to operate under their current Code Grey research phase.

While research will continue to operate according to the parameters established for research during Code Grey, I would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform you of the following requirements:

• It is imperative that we all work from home unless we absolutely have to be on campus: all research that can be performed away from campus should be conducted off-campus;
• All in-person, face-to-face research involving human participants is suspended;
• Researchers must continue to be vigilant and reduce as much as possible the personnel and number of hours spent on campus;
• The Central Animal Care Facility (CACF) continues to operate under Modified Research Phase 3 with a maximum occupancy of 10;
• Services provided by the Chemical Control Centre (CCC) and custodial services will continue; however, reductions in service frequency and/or hours of operation are possible and researchers should plan accordingly;
• Supervisors must maintain an accurate and readily accessible record of Safe Lancer App Survey filings for each visit of all personnel who travel to campus; and
• Additional adjustments may be forthcoming in further response to the COVID-19 challenge.

Please note that the Research Safety Committee is not approving any new research protocols or the addition of new research personnel at this time.

Please continue to ensure that you and your research team are promoting and protecting the health and safety of our campus research community by following all such guidelines and procedures established by the University and public health authorities; observing maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and adhering to protocols approved by the Research Safety Committee for your research project and/or lab.

Once again, thank you for your ongoing commitment to research during these unprecedented times. I am cognizant of how challenging these last ten months have been and I look forward to a return to normalcy in the not-too-distant future.

Please share this message with all relevant students and staff in your research groups.

Keep well and safe,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

As you have no doubt heard, Windsor-Essex is entering Code Grey (Lockdown) next Monday.  In preparation for Code Grey, the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (OVPRI) has been engaging in discussion with associate deans research, deans, chairs of the Research Safety Committee (RSC), Research Ethics Board and Animal Care Committee, and the manager of Health and Safety on the steps that are necessary regarding research during Code Grey:

• All research that can be performed away from the campus (e.g., writing of manuscripts, theses and proposals; performing statistical and data analyses; modelling; meetings; conducting interviews and surveys; etc.) should be conducted off-campus, irrespective of research-phase designations of your Faculty;
• All in-person, face-to-face research with human participation (as research subjects) will be suspended;
• Faculties currently in Research Phase 3 will enter “Modified Research Phase 3”; others will remain at their current research phases;
  • Lab operations will proceed initially as authorized, but PIs are requested to be vigilant and voluntarily reduce the personnel at any given time in their labs, where workable;
    • Upon requirement by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) or in response to outbreak on campus, and especially in the labs, the number of personnel in the lab will be reduced by X% (20% or larger, to be determined depending on situation);
    • RSC will work with Faculty deans and/or PIs to achieve the X% reduction (input info: building access logs, occupancy data, etc.)
  • The Central Animal Care Facility (CACF) will operate under Modified Research Phase 3 with a maximum occupancy of 10;
  • Central research facilities under Modified Research Phase 3 will have their managers / technologists develop work plans to minimize contact, e.g.:
    • Reversion to a service-based model where access is limited to technical staff; samples are deposited to staff for analysis;
    • Stopping training activities on instruments;
    • Scheduling different days for activities by different groups or cohorts; and
    • Work plans will need to be submitted to RSC for approval.

In order to ensure the continued safety of our campus research community during the pandemic, please ensure that you and your research team follow all health and safety guidelines and procedures established by the University and public health authorities; observe maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and adhere to protocols approved for your project and/or lab by the RSC.

Please note that during Code Grey, other units within the University and outside organizations may operate at a reduced capacity. This may impact upon the supply of reagents and consumables, as well as the cleaning of common areas and snow removal. Extra planning and precautions should be exercised.

It is also important to remember and share with your students and staff that they must complete the Safe Lancer App Survey and file their approval with you prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces. As a supervisor, you will be responsible for maintaining a record of these filings that can be accessed readily. Although we hope it will not be necessary, access to this information may be critical in potential contact tracing in the future.

I would like to thank and recognize every one of you for your ongoing commitment to research and the effort you have put into continuing research during these unprecedented times. The pandemic has proven to be extremely challenging. We are now at a critical juncture in combatting COVID-19 and, with availability of vaccines albeit limited initially, there seems to finally be light at the end of the tunnel.

Please share this message with relevant students and staff in your research groups.

Keep well and safe.

Thank you,

Michael

Message from the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that this message finds you well.

On November 13, 2020, the province of Ontario released an update to its COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. The framework divides Ontario’s COVID-19 restriction levels into five colour-coded categories: Green (Prevent); Yellow (Protect); Orange (Restrict); Red (Control); and Grey (Lockdown).

As you are likely already aware, the rate of COVID-19 infection in Windsor-Essex has increased significantly over the past weeks, leading the province to move our region to the Orange (Restrict) category effective November 20, 2020. Unless this trend is arrested, Windsor-Essex is on track for escalated restriction to category Red (Control) in the near future.

I am writing to you today to urge continued vigilance in adherence to guidance developed by the University and public health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to discuss possible strategies that the University may deploy to support the continuation of research in the event of further provincial restrictions in our region.

In order to ensure the continued safety of our campus research community during the pandemic, please ensure that you and your research team follow all health and safety guidelines and procedures established by the University and public health authorities; observe maximum capacities and health and safety plans for common and research spaces; and adhere to protocols approved for your project and/or lab by the Research Safety Committee.

It is also important to remember and share with your students and staff that they must complete the Safe Lancer App Survey and file their approval with you prior to travelling to campus and accessing common and research spaces. As a supervisor, you will be responsible for maintaining a record of these filings that can be accessed readily. Although we hope it will not be necessary, access to this information may be critical in potential contact tracing in the future.

In the event that the province moves Windsor-Essex to restriction category Red (Control) and/or Grey (Lockdown), the University may consider implementation of any of the following strategies:

• Restriction of all in-person, face-to-face research involving human participation;
• Reduction of approved personnel for all Research Phase 3 projects in coordination with principal investigators;
• Moving some critical research facilities and/or spaces (e.g., the Central Animal Care Facility and staffed Engineering labs) back to Research Phase 2 or 1; and/or
• Moving all research back to Research Phase 2 or 1.

These decisions will be undertaken with guidance from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and with consultations.

I would like to thank and recognize all of you for your ongoing commitment to research and the effort you have put into continuing research during these unprecedented times. The pandemic has been extremely challenging for all of us. We are now at a critical juncture in combatting COVID-19 and, with the promise of vaccines on the horizon, there seems to finally be light at the end of the tunnel.

Please share this message with relevant students and staff in your research groups.

Keep well and safe.

Thank you,

Michael

Last Spring, the Research Planning Working Group and the Critical Research Committee, comprising representatives from Faculties, departments, and offices across our campus, developed a comprehensive framework and process for the resumption of research activities at the University of Windsor. The resulting UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research was approved by the University’s Executive on May 29, 2020, and came into effect on June 1, 2020. On September 29, 2020, it was updated to include the  Framework for the Resumption of Human Research: Research with Human Participants under COVID-19 Restrictions.

The UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research provides a strong, yet flexible, framework that will allow our research activities to resume in a phased and coordinated manner. With an overarching principle of protecting the health and safety of our campus research community and the communities with which we conduct research, this framework and corresponding processes have been designed to function in concert with Ontario’s roadmap for the reopening of the province and to reflect guidance provided by the Province and the Chief Medical Officer on strategies for continued public and workplace health and safety.

The UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research comprises the following phases, and allows for smooth and rapid transition between phases to accommodate changes in the escalation and/or de-escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic challenge:

• Phase 0: Essential Services Only
• Phase 1: Critical Research and Essential Services
• Phase 2: Critical/COVID-19 and Time-Sensitive Research
• Phase 3: Resumption of Field- and Lab-based Research and Re-opening of Facilities
• Phase 4: Resumption of all Research Activities

The University is currently in the process of transitioning between Research Phases 1 and 2, and Phases 2 and 3 (see UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research) depending on the individual Faculty. Demand to resume on-campus research and completion of Zone and Flow Analyses (ZFA), signage, sanitization and safety plans will guide the transition of research phases.

Information on the UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research and the processes established for researchers planning to resume research activities are also available on the COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance page of the OVPRI website.  Please visit the site regularly for updates.

When the UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research took effect on June 1, 2020, in-person, face-to-face research involving human participants was suspended until Research Phase 4. However, the need to and process for resuming human research before the end of the COVID-19 pandemic has proven both necessary and challenging for researchers and institutions across Canada.

Working under the leadership of the Dr. Suzanne McMurphy, Chair of the Research Ethics Board, and in collaboration with research and other administrative units, including the Research Safety Committee, the Return to Campus Committees, and the Pandemic Planning Committee, the Research Ethics Board has developed a framework that allows researchers to apply to resume or initiate human research prior to Research Phase 4.

The Framework for the Resumption of Human Research: Research with Human Participants under COVID-19 Restrictions, which takes effect on September 28, 2020, outlines the process for resuming or initiating research involving human participants that includes in-person, face-to-face data collection with planned, controlled, and time-limited breach of physical distancing.

Faculties and Departments across campus have been transitioning between UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research Phases. If your Faculty and/or Department is in Research Phase 2, you can apply for an exception to the guidelines to resume research that is COVID-19-related, time-sensitive and essential requiring in-person, face-to-face, and planned, controlled, and time-limited breach of physical distancing. If your Faculty and/or Department is in Research Phase 3, you can apply for an exception to the guidelines for either COVID-19 or Non-COVID-19-related research with human participants that cannot be conduct virtually or online and requires in-person, face-to-face, and planned, controlled, and time-limited breach of physical distancing data collection.

Please note that in-person, face-to-face research involving human participants can only resume or be initiated after it has been conditionally cleared by the Research Ethics Board and formally authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

All research that can be conducted virtually and online continues unabated.

On June 1, 2020, the University of Windsor implemented the UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research to facilitate the orderly and phased-in reopening of research facilities and on-site access under the evolving conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research provides a process that allows for researchers to apply to resume critical research activities as the University transitions away from the current essential service-only model.

The framework defines “critical” research as research that has been assessed and determined to be critical by the Department Head and Dean, evaluated by the Research Safety Committee, approved by the Dean, and formally authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

Department Heads and Deans use the Critical Research Assessment Tool to evaluate the criticality of research based on urgency and time-sensitiveness, impact of research on collaborators, funding agency timelines and deliverables, impact on physical and economic health of the community, and the contribution of the research to student training. These factors are balanced against additional risks related to implementing the proposed research, including the number of personnel required to meet project needs; their ability to maintain physical distancing given resource constraints of laboratory space or field work activities; availability of requested space and resources given on-going activities of approved research; the need for internal and external essential services required for delivery of consumables and supplies, maintenance and calibration of equipment, and emergency response; access to public space for off-campus field work; and any other concerns identified Department Head and Dean.

Categories of critical research may include:

• Research related to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 that cannot be undertaken remotely;
• Research in which delay and resumption will have direct impacts on the ability of the community to provide essential services, including health services, to the public;
• Long-running research/field research in which a serious loss of research material, data, or equipment could occur if the work is disrupted, is at a critical stage, or close to an end point;
• Research required to meet a contract deadline with an industrial or government partner that cannot be renegotiated, where failure to complete the research would irrevocably harm the relationship with that partner; and/or
• Research that, if paused, would negatively impact the ability of a graduate student to complete program requirements within the next three months and requires minimal on-site work time to complete.

If you feel that your research project meets the aforementioned criteria and would like to apply to have your research project designated as critical so that you can resume your research activities, complete and submit the following application form to your Department Head for consideration:

Application for Critical and/or Time-Sensitive Research Designation with Research Considerations Appendix

All application forms must also be accompanied by the following Risk Acknowledgement forms for the Principal Investigator and all students and research personnel participating in the project:

Risk Acknowledgement: Principal Investigator

Risk Acknowledgement: Student and/or Research Personnel

If you would ike to make changes to a project previously approved and authorized to resume, complete and submit the following form to your Department Head:

Request to Revise Application for Critical and/or Time-Sensitive Research

If your Faculty has been authorized to move to Phase 3 of the UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research and you would like to apply to have your lab approved and authorized to resume research activities in Phase 3, please complete and submit the following application to your Department Head for consideration:

Phase 3 COVID-19 Research Resumption Plan

Please note that you can only use the Phase 3 COVID-19 Research Resumption Plan application if your Faculty has moved to Phase 3; otherwise, please use the application forms for Phases 1 and 2.

If your lab has been authorized to resume research activities in Phase 3 and you would like to apply to engage in low risk, outdoor, off-campus research activities that are free of breaches in physical distancing to make observations and collect data in support of your research program, please complete and submit the following application to your Department Head for consideration:

Phase 3 Field Research Safety Plan

Please note that you can only use the Phase 3 Field Research Safety Plan application if you have already submitted a Phase 3 COVID-19 Research Resumption Plan and you have received approval and authorization for your lab to resume research activities.

Applications for projects determined by the Department Head to meet the criteria for designation as critical research will be forwarded to the Dean for consideration. Once also assessed as critical by the Dean, applications will be forwarded to the Research Safety Committee for evaluation. If the Research Safety Committee recommends your project for resumption, it will then be forwarded for approval by the Dean and then authorization by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (see flow chart).

Please note that in addition to essential research, only critical research that has been fully assessed, approved by the Dean, and authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation will be permitted to resume during Phases 1-3 of the UWindsor Framework for the Resumption of Research.

Dear Members of the UWindsor Research Community,

By now many of you will have watched or read Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement on May 14, 2020 unveiling A Framework for Reopening our Province – Stage 1. The Province’s plan provides a roadmap for the first stage of its phased approach to reopening businesses, services, and public spaces across the province, while maintaining the health and safety strategies established to protect Ontarians and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The What Stage 1 Means for Industry Service and Retail section of the plan indicates that the province will begin easing restrictions on a variety of industry services and retail activities, including “opening non-essential professional services related to conducting research and experimental development in physical, engineering and life sciences, such as biotechnology, agriculture and industrial research and development labs”.

I know many of you have questions about what this means for the resumption of research activities at UWindsor, and I am writing to provide you with an update.

The University is finalizing a framework that will allow our research activities to resume in a phased and coordinated manner. This framework will be in sync with the roadmap provided by the provincial government and will reflect guidance provided by the Province and the Chief Medical Officer of Health on strategies for continued public and workplace health and safety.

Despite the fact that the Province has included research in Stage 1 of its plan for reopening, the University of Windsor continues to operate on an essential services-only model. It must be emphasized that all research activities must conform with established guidelines for physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and cleaning, monitoring of sick workers, use of personal protective equipment, and limited gatherings. We must also consider the availability of supplies and access to services, including emergency response.

I hope to share UWindsor’s framework for the resumption of research with you in the near future. I thank faculty and administration colleagues who have been working with me on developing this framework.

Until the University has communicated otherwise, only research that can be conducted virtually, does not require the research to be on campus, and does not require any travel by the research team or the research participants can continue unabatedly.  I laud the efforts of all of you in upholding research output, including analyzing data, planning for and writing books, preparing articles, manuscripts and theses, conducting online supervision, investigations and interviews, and writing research proposals during this challenging time.

All research that requires on-campus access, face-to-face interaction, or travel to another site continues to be suspended unless it has been deemed essential in nature and has been preapproved by the Faculty Dean and authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation

More information on the Continuation of Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic can be found on the COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance page of the OVPRI website. Please visit the site regularly for updates.

Please share this message with relevant students and staff in your research group.

Thank you once again for your continued patience during this very challenging time and for your continued dedication to the advancement of research and innovation at the University of Windsor.

Keep safe and all the best,

K. W. Michael Siu, PhD, FCIC, FRSC
Vice-President, Research and Innovation

The impact of COVID-19 is severe and dynamic as we all try to respond and adjust to the challenge the best we can.  Please find below an update on research and innovation at the University of Windsor.

First and foremost, all our policies and actions must conform to the criteria of safety and physical distancing:

• Research which is conducted on-line, does not require the research to be on campus, and does not require any travel by the research team or the research participants may continue;

• All research which requires travel to campus or another site (even if only one person is travelling) must be suspended unless it meets the following criteria:
  • It is considered “Essential” as determined through consultation involving researchers and Departmental Heads or Institute Directors (or Deans where appropriate);
  • It has been approved as Essential by the Faculty Dean, and authorized for resumption as such by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI);
  • COVID-19 research, in general, can proceed; however, any specific project needs to be approved as such by the Dean and the VPRI;
  • For designation as Essential, field research must provide satisfactory plans regarding travelling, field activities, participants, dates and schedules, emergency plans (e.g., regarding sickness), and where appropriate, approval by the hosting authority and/or community;
  • For designation as Essential, laboratory research must provide satisfactory plans regarding participants, dates and schedules, safety, physical-distancing, sanitization and disinfection of equipment and the laboratory; and
  • The details above must be updated and sent to the Dean when there are changes necessitated by circumstance; this information will be invaluable in the case of an emergency.
• Staff and students are not obligated to participate in any research activities should they deem that by doing so they would be subjecting themselves or their families to risks and have the rights to voice their concerns to the Dean; and
• Resumption of all other research activities can only occur after abatement of the impact of COVID-19 and on authorization of the President.

Please visit the COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance page on the Office of the VPRI website regularly for updates and information.  In addition to guidance on research and innovation during the pandemic, the site also provides information and updates on changes to funding applications and timelines, funding opportunities for COVID-19 research, and community news.

The COVID-19 challenge is dynamic.  Let me emphasize that research activities on-campus are limited only to those deemed essential.  Which research projects are “Essential” are established consultatively between researchers and Departmental Heads or Institute Directors, and where appropriate Deans, and are only to proceed after approved by the Dean and authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) (see Continuation of Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic above).

If your laboratory research has been approved and authorized as Essential, please ensure that you have limited staff to essential personnel, and that every effort is made to ensure that research is continually conducted with adequate supervision, safety, and physical distancing considerations in mind. Please ensure that you and your research activities continually meet compliance and regulatory certifications. Work-from-home options should be discussed with staff and research personnel and implemented wherever possible.

Also ensure that the contact information regarding your group and lab is up-to-date and that data and records are backed up and safe. You should consider developing and/or verifying your list of key personnel who will ensure ongoing sound and safe operation of your lab.

If your equipment or instrumentation needs periodic in-person monitoring, servicing or critical supplies and reagents, please ensure that there remains a viable plan moving forward. Please also verify that the handling of hazardous wastes will continuously remain viable and all requirements coordinated through the Chemical Control Centre.

Please continue to monitor the availability of resources to support research, including necessary supplies, and adjust your research plan accordingly throughout this period.

All researchers using animals in their work are herein advised that the University of Windsor Central Animal Care Facility and other Aquatic Research Facilities will implemented the Pandemic Plan effective March 26, 2020. Researchers with questions or concerns regarding the Plan or the use of research animals during this time are asked to contact the Chair of the Animal Care Committee (ACC), John Hudson, or the Operations Manager of the Central Animal Care Facilities (CACF), Linda Sterling (see contact list below). 

The current situation with the COVID-19 outbreak is unprecedented. We would like to ensure you that your research animals are being cared for and that the safety of animal care staff, researchers, and students is prioritized.  Social-distancing is of prime importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Furthermore, as we do not have a timeline as to when the situation will improve, we are trying to maximize our resources so that we can provide acceptable animal husbandry for as long as possible.

With the implementation of the Pandemic Plan, the following guidelines will come into effect March 26, 2020:

1. Access to all Animal Care Facilities, including those in CACF, the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), and the Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre (FREC), will be restricted to animal-care staff and approved research staff only (see below). This step is being taken to reduce the possibility that staff are accidently exposed to carriers of COVID-19, as well as other transmittable diseases.  We want to ensure as much as possible that we have healthy trained staff available to care for your research animals, and that we take all the steps necessary to mitigate the potential of complete closure and the resulting culling of research animals.
   
   Please be advised that we were in the process of hiring additional staff. This process has been expedited and we have a new aquatic animal care technician starting Monday, March 30, 2020. We have also increased the hours of our part-time animal care staff.
   
   Given that we are moving to an essential staff model of care, all additional care fees over and above annual fees incurred during this period will be waived. 
   
   Approved research staff will be limited to one person per specific research group once per week with the approval of the Chair of ACC and the Operations Manager of CACF. This will also apply to Aquatic Research Facilities until the aquatic animal care technician is in place and has been trained.  CACF staff will care for the animals in all other groups.  If you have questions or concerns regarding this, please contact the Chair of ACC or the Operations Manager of CACF.
2. No new animals will be ordered into the facilities. This includes animals from commercial suppliers, as well as animals imported from other academic institutions. Field studies involving capture and long-term holding of animals in research facilities must also be suspended.
    
3. Male and female animals will be moved to separate cages to curtail breeding.  This separation is best performed by research staff so that they can ensure accurate identification of individuals and updating of breeding records.  An exception will be granted with respect to CACF access for this purpose subject to the approval of the Chair of ACC or the Operations Manager of CACF.  If research staff are unable to separate their animals in a timely fashion, animal care staff will do so.
   
   Please note, we realize that some researchers have essential animal lines that must be maintained. If this is the case, please coordinate with the Operations Manager of CACF, Linda Sterling, on how to proceed with the care of these research animals.
4. All experimental procedures involving research animals will be prohibited until the COVID-19 crisis has abated. This includes recovery surgical procedures, administration of substances likely to cause pain, and distress or illness. The exception to this would be in the case of long-term studies in which animals are aging, no manipulation is required, or animals are being bred to maintain a critical colony.
    
5. Researchers are being consulted to determine the relative value and priorities of individual animals and strains. Irreplaceable animals/strains will be assigned higher priority than other animals. Our hope is that the situation will not come to this but we must plan for the event that we do not have sufficient staff or supplies to provide adequate care. (see 7)
    
6. Some standard operating procedures may be amended as required at the discretion of the Operation Manager of CACF (or designate).  For example, cage changing schedules may be altered if animal care staff numbers are significantly reduced.
    
7. If it becomes impossible to maintain all animals in the facility during the pandemic, the Operations Manager of CACF (or designate) may require the humane euthanasia of animals beginning with those of lowest priority.  We hope this will not become necessary; however, please inform the CACF your priorities at your earliest convenience.

Throughout this process the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the Chair of the ACC, the Operations Manager of the CACF, and animal care staff will be working to ensure that the research animals receive daily care. 

Emergency Personnel

The following individuals serve on the Central Animal Care Emergency Team Their role encompasses animal care within the CACF, GLIER and FREC facilities:

As the context for the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, the REB has updated its guidelines for all research involving human participants. The important criterion that needs to be borne in mind is physical distancing:

1. All research which is conducted on-line, does not require the research to be on campus, and does not require any travel by the research team or the research participants may continue;
2. Research which requires travel to campus or another site (even if only one person is travelling) must be suspended unless it meets the following criteria:
   
   a. It is considered “Essential” as determined through consultation involving researchers and Departmental Heads or Institute Directors, and where appropriate, Deans, approved by the Dean, and authorized by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) (see Continuation of Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic above); and
   b. If Essential research requires travel, satisfactory plans regarding travelling, field activities, participants, dates and schedules, emergency plans (e.g., regarding sickness),and where appreciate, approval by the hosting authority and/or community, must be provided in writing to the Dean and updated regularly;
3. All research requiring in-person interaction must be suspended. The REB advises revising in-person data collection methods to on-line through phone or on-line platforms, if possible, taking into consideration that these methods do not increase risks to participants;
4. The REB is reviewing research related to COVID-19 as rapidly as possible; please keep in touch with the REB Chair through ethics@uwindsor.ca;
5. For any research ethics related questions, please contact the Research Ethics Board Chair, Dr. Suzanne McMurphy through ethics@uwindsor.ca  or by home phone:  519-736-8722 or cell: 226-346-1425.
   
   For animal care related inquiries, please contact John Hudson, Chair of the Animal Care Committee at jhudson@uwindsor.ca.

Research Finance will continue to provide support on-line in order to ensure the research activities that you are able to undertake will be supported. Inquiries relating to grant accounts can be directed to resfinance@uwindsor.ca.

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI) is continuing the appointment of grant-funded research personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we ask that supervisors carefully consider and use the upmost discretion when appointing new and/or reappointing existing research personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and wherever possible and appropriate; supervisors are asked to holdoff on appointing new and/or reappointing existing research personnel until the pandemic has subsided and physical distancing measures have been lifted.

In the event that supervisors need to move forward with appointing new and/or reappointing existing research personnel, they should ensure that the appointee can work remotely, contributing to research that is conducted online, and does not require travel by the appointee or research participants.

Exceptions will be considered for “Essential” research, including COVID-19-related research. Guidelines for Essential research during the pandemic are available on the COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance page on the OVPRI website.

In some cases, it may be necessary to delay, cancel appointments that are currently underway, or rescind research appointments that have been issued but have not yet started. If you have questions relating to the delay, cancellation, or rescinding of research appointments, please contact Amy Taylor in the OVPRI at Amy.Taylor@uwindsor.ca.

Please contact Tracy McLeod, Human Resources Manager, in the Department of Human Resources at Tracy.MacLeod@uwindsor.ca with questions relating to student research appointments.

The Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) will continue to maintain its usual suite of services electronically, wherever possible. Most of you are already working with ORIS in this fashion; we, therefore, are hopeful that this will not present a significant challenge. Please email oris@uwindsor.ca for any inquiries and services.

For more information relating to the response of funding agencies to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit Funding Agency Information and Updates.

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI) will continue operations, including the appointment of grant funded research personnel, electronically. Requests for Research or Post-Doc Appointment packages should be circulated for authorization electronically. Email confirmation of sign-off will be accepted. Complete and authorized (by departmental/faculty one-ups and Research Finance) appointment packages and/or inquiries relating to the appointment of research personnel should be submitted electronically to grantappts@uwindsor.ca.