Phase 2 research ramp-up

[Craig E.L. Stark]

The VCR has just announced that UCI intends to hit "Phase 2" of our research ramp-up on June 8.  We have been preparing for this for some time now and have developed an SOP specific to doing research during COVID-19 at FIBRE.  I would ask you all to read this SOP and reply either here or to me directly with any suggested revisions to this so that we can have a finalized procedure in place before June 8.

In short, however, what this means is that we will be able to move beyond "critical" scanning so long as we make use of strict procedures in place to help maintain safety (e.g., use of masks / face coverings, self-screening, limitation of the number of people in the facility, decontamination procedures, scheduling gaps between participants, etc.).

Craig

[Craig E.L. Stark]

I've already made a revision -- 

• ·        Given the size of the control room, no more than 2 people (e.g., the scanner operator and the second safety-trained experimenter) may be in the control room at one time.
• ·        Given the size of the rooms in FIBRE, no more than 2 people may remain in any room at any time.  Brief occupancy by 3 is permitted (e.g., participant passing through while both experimenters are present), but only two may remain.
• ·        While we have excellent dedicated air-handling, we must limit the total number of people inside the FIBRE facility at any time to 5 people (noting again, the maximum of 2 people remaining in any single room).

Each of the rooms in the facility is ~170 asf, aside from the main scanner room.  We do have large amounts of dedicated air handling in the facility, but we need to try to keep the overall load as low as possible and spread it over the various rooms.  Typically, there will be 3-4 people in the facility during a scan: Rongwen, 2 experimenters, and the participant. If a participant has a caretaker that will stay in the waiting room, we're fine.  But, we can't have much more than that.  This is, in part, why I've got the 15 minutes between scans rule in there.  If you've got two different groups, it gives a chance for the first to fully clear out before the next one comes in.  If you're in the same group, the first participant can be fully cleared out before the next one arrives.

Craig

[Craig E.L. Stark]

Just a quick heads-up to people.  Our Phase 2 plan is getting green-lit by Social Sciences (FIBRE is located physically in Social Sciences, so that's where the plan's oversight goes).  In addition to what you've seen in the SOP, we'll be including non-contact temperature taking of everyone that comes in and a sign in / out log to facilitate any needed contact tracing.  (Participants will only log in/out via ID number.)

So, as your plans for Phase 2 are moving forward, know that FIBRE will be up and going soon to handle the scans.  More details to come...

Craig

[Craig E.L. Stark]

I've updated the imaging.uci.edu site to now have a full list of manuals and SoPs for FIBRE.  In particular, there's the COVID SOP to pay attention to.  To run your studies at FIBRE you will need to first get your Phase 2 approval from your own department or division.  After that, we've got specific policies to work with so that we can try our best to ensure safety for investigators and participants.  Of particular note:

• All participants and experimenters must
  • Self-screen for symptoms
  • Be temperature-checked upon arrival (FIBRE has a non-contact thermometer)
  • Wear face coverings / masks
  • Sign in / out of the facility (participants may use ID numbers)
• No more than 4 people in the facility at a given time
• Experimenters must wipe down surfaces between scans and note the cleaning on the sign in/out log
• Scans must have a 15 minute window between them to facilitate cleaning and air exchange

More details are in the document, but those are the highlights. If you've gotten approval for Phase 2, contact us so that we can help facilitate your scans.

Craig