As preparations for a potential H1N1 flu pandemic move into a new phase of planning, researchers in all disciplines should think about steps they will need to take if a pandemic is ultimately declared, causing the University to close facilities and/or restrict access to essential personnel.

Preparing now for this possibility will help avoid damage to ongoing research projects and help ensure an effective response, particularly if the situation changes over time.

Here are some things to consider to help guide your thinking on this topic:

General Preparation

• Review your emergency operations or operational continuity plan and ensure that all personnel are familiar with the plan. Information about developing an operational continuity plan can be found at the UWide Policy Library.
• Verify that you have current contact info for all faculty and staff who work in your lab, and share that info with them.
• Identify essential personnel who will be assigned specific tasks in the event of facility closures and/or restricted access.
• Review the template for a laboratory hibernation plan for a checklist of pre-planning items that should be considered ahead of any shutdown of facilities. This form also provides the means to notify others of critical equipment that would need to be checked periodically in the event of a building shutdown.
• Review data backup procedures.

• If subjects travel to a clinic or other location to participate in your project, develop a plan to contact them to cancel or reschedule appointments if necessary.
• Consider alternative methods of continuing your research (e.g., phone vs. in-person interviews).
• For research involving in-patient care, review procedures for ensuring adequate supplies of appropriate medications and other supplies.
• Review plan for ongoing monitoring and record-keeping responsibilities.

• Develop staffing redundancy plans to ensure continuation of animal studies and to conduct breeding colony management.
• Review preservation plans for unique breeding colonies.
• Develop plan for notifying personnel of specific research needs for animal studies.
• Verify how far in advance you will need to order necessary pharmaceuticals and other experimental materials to ensure adequate supplies.

• Ensure staffing redundancy plans are in place to provide appropriate care.
• Develop procedures for handling cultures in incubation chambers as part of your laboratory hibernation plan.
• Develop plan for notifying personnel of specific care needs for select plants/cultures.
• Review your facility's emergency power capabilities.