Dear colleagues,
We very much appreciate the positive response to our previous message on the continuation of the COVID-19 research grants announced over the past two weeks. It is gratifying to see how the community is coming together to ensure that this critical research continues to move forward during this difficult time.
At the same time, we fully appreciate the challenges facing institutions and researchers, as many other labs and research facilities begin to wind down activities in the interest of public safety. We look forward to the day when this work can resume. Here again, we applaud consistent efforts made by senior administrators and lead investigators to ensure that where tri-agency grants have not expired and where funding is available, research personnel, such as students, postdoctoral researchers and research assistants, are continuing to be compensated according to existing or alternative arrangements that align with university policies and procedures. While recognizing the challenges this imposes on administrators, institutions, and researchers, we strongly support these ongoing efforts. In our view, this is not only fair, but will help ensure a state of readiness within the research ecosystem as activity starts to increase in the months ahead.
Looking to the longer term, the three agencies will communicate with you in the days ahead regarding other measures that will be taken to further support institutions, researchers and students impacted by the pandemic. We are all in this together, and together we will develop responses that will help us to maintain the health of both our community and the research ecosystem well into the future.
CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC now have sections on their respective websites to inform the research community of any changes to their programs and policies due to COVID-19.
We invite you to visit the following links:
CIHR’s webpage: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/51917.html
NSERC’s webpage: NSERC program information in relation to COVID‑19 https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/NewsRelease-CommuniqueDePresse_eng.asp?ID=1139
SSHRC’s webpage COVID-19: Impacts on SSHRC’s policies and programs at the following link: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/news_room-salle_de_presse/covid-19-eng.aspx
Sincerely,
Dr. Alejandro Adem
President, NSERC
Dr. Ted Hewitt
President, SSHRC
Dr. Michael J. Strong
President, CIHR