Progressing human research projects during the COVID pandemic has necessitated flexibility and dynamic methods to manage the changing landscape of restrictions and infection control. The Human Studies Unit (HSU) supported researchers through this period by rapidly pivoting methods for recruitment of participants and collection of biological samples from around Australia. Pressures on staff, infrastructure, logistics and containment management impacted human research projects at clinical and research institutions and challenged conventional methods of biospecimen collection, handling and processing.
The HSU rapidly validated alternative less invasive sample collection methods for system genomics applications which could be collected outside of clinical and research settings, and by the participants themselves. With projects at various stages of implementation the HSU also developed a full e-consent platform to collect informed consent from adults participating in high-risk genetic projects. Access to research staff by self-booking appointment interfaces enabled participants to contact the research team with specific questions around participation. Developing functionality within the HSU’s research Content Management System (CMS) supported staff working from home by automating emails containing links to online surveys and triggering the preparation of sample collection kits; office tasks normally undertaken manually.
The challenges of continuing to support human research projects during the pandemic has necessitated the development of new methods for recruitment, engagement, sample collection and processing. We discuss the successes of this process and how they applied specifically to a project looking to understand the differences in people’s response to COVID-19 infection influenced by underlying genetic factors– The COVID OZGenetics project.