This report presents the findings from the COVID Research Impact Study’s Pulse 3 and Pulse 4 surveys, conducted among member institutions in August and December 2020, each achieving a 40% response rate. The participants included a mix of degree-granting institutions—with and without associated academic medical centers (AMCs)—and stand-alone AMCs. The surveys tracked institutional responses to the evolving pandemic, showing that testing policies were more clearly defined by Pulse 3, with most institutions opting for periodic or baseline testing, typically self-funded. Reopening of on-campus research peaked at Pulse 3, with 85% of labs open, but this decreased to 75% in Pulse 4, coupled with ongoing limits on research density. By Pulse 4, research activity returned to approximately 77% of pre-pandemic levels, while remote instruction and staffing, after initial declines, saw a resurgence in late 2020 as institutions responded proactively to rising case rates, often independent of state mandates.
Significant challenges persisted, particularly in human subject research, with a quarter of institutions in Pulse 4 reporting negative impacts due to increased COVID-19 cases, including suspension of some trials and reduced on-campus staffing. Persistent supply shortages (notably PPE and testing materials) led institutions to adopt strategies such as centralized purchasing and stockpiling. Enhanced support for at-risk faculty, such as schedule flexibility and tenure clock adjustments, was also reported. However, the pandemic’s economic toll was evident, with furloughs, layoffs, and salary freezes/pay cuts sharply increasing by Pulse 4. The cumulative impact included heightened concerns over sustainability, federal assistance uncertainty, and delayed training outcomes, with anxiety for health and safety ongoing. Nonetheless, the onset of vaccination efforts contributed to a sense of cautious optimism about a potential turning point as institutions continued to adapt to unprecedented challenges.
