COVID-19 Research Feasibility Review Committee Representation

• Clinical leaders from emergency medicine, pulmonary medicine and infectious diseases should be included to assist with evaluating scientific merit and alignment with organizational priorities and capabilities.
• Infection control and risk management representatives can be included to evaluate the overall impact to the institution.

Research Prioritization

• Organizational prioritization will vary, but the following topics should be considered:
• Alignment with national and global priorities for combating the COVID-19 outbreak
• Alignment with organizational strategy and mission
• Scientific impact
• Availability of resources (staff, facilities, equipment, supplies), particularly if reallocation is required for clinical care purposes
• Ability to recruit study participants
• Level of risk

Scientific Merit

• Consider the degree of alignment with the World Health Organization’s 2019 novel coronavirus blueprint.
• Evaluate ongoing research that may compete with or be complementary to the proposed research.
• Assess investigator experience in the field of study.
• Evaluate the robustness of the proposal/protocol with respect to the objectives, safety and efficacy endpoints, etc.

Resources and Facilities

• Review proposed measures for minimizing risk to the research team and existing risk to the clinical care team.
• Review methodology for ensuring COVID-19-specific personal protective equipment (PPE) is available for staff involved in research, or that any research-specific tests/procedures can be handled by clinical personnel already interacting with study participants.
• Assess the methodology for handling, storing and shipping research specimens.
• Ensure processes for disinfecting workspaces and equipment.

Participant Recruitment

• Confirm the ability to screen, recruit and consent patients that are infected.
• Assess proposed recruitment strategy and safety measures.
• If necessary, consider the ability to recruit to healthy volunteers.

Risk Management

• Calculate the risk of exposure for research staff, investigators, clinical care staff, and healthy or recovering volunteers.
• Consider the involvement of ancillary departments (e.g., pathology, laboratory medicine, radiology, etc.) in measuring the risk of exposure.
• Ensure appropriate processes for managing exposure.