My project is currently on hold and I’m ready to restart. What do I need to do?
If you think your project is ready to restart, please contact us at research@prostatecanceruk.org and we’ll agree a reactivation date and confirm new project timelines with you. We’ll discuss your plans going forward, and what considerations will need to be taken into account to manage any restrictions which might affect delivery of your project (such as reduced access to your lab and reduced capacity at your institution as a result of social distancing measures).
Your project end date will automatically be extended to account for the time lost whilst your project was on hold, but we’ll consider whether a no-cost extension is also needed in addition to that time to allow the successful completion of the research. Please read our FAQ about no-cost extensions below for more information.
Staff on my project have been placed on furlough. We are now able to resume the project, so what steps do I need to take to get back up and running?
Please work with your head of department and/or HR team if you’re ready to bring staff back from furlough. Once your project is able to resume, let us know, and we’ll agree a reactivation date with you and consider whether a no-cost extension will be needed to account for time lost while your staff were furloughed. Please see our FAQ below about no-cost extensions for more information.
My project is ready to re-start but members of my team are self-isolating and unable to return to work. What should I do?
If your staff are unable to return to work, we recommend keeping your project on hold. If your project is not already on hold, contact us and we will agree a date from which the grant will be suspended and a timeline for when we will review whether the project can be re-activated. Once re-activated, the end date of the grant will automatically be extended for the corresponding duration of the suspension to give you the time needed to complete your project.
If work needs to resume while your staff are unable to return to work, let us know and we’ll help find a way for you to move forward.
Access to my lab is still prohibited, what should I do?
Please let us know if you are still unable to access your lab. If the work on your project is able to continue as planned without being significantly affected by staff working remotely, and without compromising the overall delivery of the grant, then please continue working as you are.
If your project is already on hold, we ask that it remains on hold if activity cannot continue as planned while working remotely. You should also continue to make use of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme during this period to minimise the financial impact on the charity. For further details on this scheme, including eligibility, please refer to the following guidance from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) on how researchers whose salaries are funded by charity or commercial funders are eligible for the furlough scheme.
If your project is not currently on hold and unable to continue with remote working, then we would strongly recommend that all activity stops and the grant be put on hold until a time when you are in a position to resume. Please get in touch with the Research Team to discuss your options further.
My lab has re-opened, but at a reduced capacity and with social distancing measures in place that are likely to slow progress on my grant. What should I do?
Speak to us, and we’ll agree on a way for you to move forward with your project while managing any restrictions in place which may affect your progress. We’ll consider no-cost extensions to manage delays to your project. Please see our FAQ on no-cost extensions below for more information.
Can I request a no-cost extension to my project?
For all grants that have been put into abeyance, the duration of the suspension will automatically be added on to the end of your project to give you time to continue your research once the grant has been re-activated. If you believe you will require more time on top of this, for example due to delays related to measures to maintain social distancing once your project re-starts, we’ll consider a further no-cost extension. For other grants which are currently not on hold, we will still consider no-cost extension requests to make up for any delay to the project, as long as the additional time is suitably justified and there remains sufficient funds on the grant to cover the additional time and activity.
Please don’t apply for the extension any sooner than three months before the end date of your grant, so that all factors can be considered and multiple requests for the same award can be avoided. All requests for extensions should be made prior to your award end date and you must complete and return a change request form. To do this, please email the Research Team.
Will you be offering costed extensions?
Over the past few months we appreciate that not all projects will not have progressed as originally planned, whilst some costs, particularly salary costs, have continued to accrue. This is why we strongly recommended every practical step was taken to minimise grant expenditure during this time, including making use of the Government Job Retention Scheme.
Unfortunately, we’re facing major fundraising challenges due to Covid-19 and the associated measures put in place to contain the virus, and are experiencing a significant drop in income. Therefore, despite our desire to support you in completing the work we have funded, we are unable to commit to providing costed extensions at this point. If you think that elements of your project are at risk of not being completed due to insufficient funds (as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic) then please contact us to discuss your options.
I’m running a clinical trial which was halted due to Covid-19. What do I need to do to get the trial back up and running?
Please refer to guidance from the NIHR on restarting your clinical research. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to support you with getting your research up and running as soon as possible. Please contact us when your project is ready to restart and we will discuss the next steps with you.
We understand there will be instances where there are likely to be lengthy delays to restarting clinical research due to safety precautions related to Covid-19. Please keep us updated with the timeframes you expect to be able to restart your research, and let us know about any delays you anticipate.
What should I do if there’s a second wave of Covid-19 cases and my work is restricted by an increase in social distancing measures?
We’re fully supportive of you returning to your research as soon as you can, but your safety and wellbeing remain our top priority. We’re continuing to closely monitor the situation and if necessary will issue further guidance to help you manage your work in light of any changes to measures implemented nationally or by your institution.
What advice do you have for clinical academics who are returning to their research after supporting the front-line efforts against COVID-19?
Many clinical academics supporting the front-line clinical services during this time are now beginning to return to their training and research activities. The UK Clinical Academic Training Forum (CATF) has set out guidance for academic trainees, their clinical and research supervisors, and their institutions to support the return to clinical and research training.
In addition, the Academy of Medical Sciences have published some useful materials to support clinical academics during this time.
What’s your policy on sick leave?
If you or any of your team become unwell or need to self-isolate, we will follow the employing organisation’s own policy on sick leave and absence. In accordance with the terms of your contract, your institution should cover the costs of any long-term sick leave of staff funded on the grant.
I’ve been awarded a grant but haven’t yet started my project. When am I able to activate the grant?
Due to the uncertain and challenging circumstances we find ourselves in, we strongly recommend that any new projects that have not yet started delay commencing until a time when it can be carried out unhindered and as originally planned.
If you think your project is ready to begin as planned, please contact us and we will work with you to agree a start date.