Table 1.

Strategies for academic medical centers to address pandemic-related researcher needs.

Strategies to mitigate the impact on research operations and infrastructure

Create internal bridge funding by crowdsourcing existing departmental and university funds.

Follow a ride-share model by creating common pools of administrators and research staff to fill work gaps created by hiring freezes and financial constraints.

Promote use of existing multi-institutional databases to generate primary data during the pandemic.

Improve efficiency of internal review boards through increased operational support.

Negotiate bulk purchase rates for laboratory reagents and other supplies at the institutional level.

Build and enhance local outreach campaigns to increase access to COVID-19-related and non-COVID-19-related health care to combat inequities and encourage reengagement with clinical research.

Strategies to mitigate the impact on the research workforce and research pipelines

Automatically extend promotion probationary periods and provide an opt-out option.

Measure, recognize, and reward community outreach and advocacy in promotion processes.

Reinstitute paid research opportunities for students, trainees, and recent graduates given their financial and career vulnerabilities.

Use bridge programs for T32-supported trainees facing hiring difficulties due to hiring freezes.

Extend protected time accommodations for unfunded early career faculty suffering disproportionate pandemic-related impact.

Strategies to bolster the careers of URM researchers disproportionately affected by the pandemic

Develop concrete guidelines to track the equitable use of institutional bridge funds.

Earmark new internal bridge funds for URM researchers.

Increase the availability and use of NIH diversity supplements to support URM researchers.

Develop institutional databases of URM researchers to assist with accountability and multitiered mentorship structures.

Recognize and reward the disproportionate service work performed by URM researchers; include these efforts in promotion metrics, honorary appointments, or full-time equivalent hours.