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19 publications with over 19,000 new publications related to COVID-19 within the past 5 months [6]. An abundance of recommendations and editorials within the field of otolaryngology detail how groups around the world are implementing safe strategies for performing necessary interventions during the pandemic [[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]]. Clinicians who participate in research may have discovered ample time to focus on research projects or ideas. However, in a nationwide crisis with limited resources and the need to provide safe, distanced, working environments for personnel, this has not necessarily resulted in productive research. In the current study, we sought to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon research practices, both basic science and clinical, within the rhinologic community. This cross-sectional study was approved for an exemption by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Institutional Review Board. A survey was designed to identify how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected rhinology research. An invitation to participate in the study was distributed electronically via the American Rhinologic Society membership services to all regular and fellow members. The 8-question survey (Supplement 1) was hosted on the SurveyMonkey platform, and answers were collected and stored in a Microsoft Excel database. Percentages of each response to survey questions were calculated. Participants who answered “not applicable” to any question were removed from the denominator for percentage calculations. Seventy-one participants responded to the 8-question survey for a total response rate of approximately 8.5%. The questions in the survey were designed to evaluate the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on administrative research support and staffing, basic science laboratories, clinical trials, and resident research involvement.Approximately 33% and 31% (n = 15 and n = 14) of respondents reported a change in the IACUC/IRB approval process to be faster or slower, respectively at their institution. While ~36% (n = 16) reported no change in the approval process. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on research support and staff: IACUC/IRB submission and approval timeline (A), Laboratory staff compensation (B), Laboratory staff work schedules (C). Of those who employ laboratory personnel, two-thirds (64.3%; n = 18) have continued to pay their staff a full salary. Salary changes (17.9%; n = 5), partial dismissal of staff (10.7%; n = 3), and complete employee furloughs (7.1%; n = 2) were reported less frequently The vast majority of laboratories had alterations to personnel schedules: 53.1% (n = 17) of respondents indicated employees were unable to return to the lab and 40.6% (n = 13) reported alternating schedules, as a “platooning” format. Only 6.3% (n = 2) reported normal lab staff work schedules Of those respondents who participated in animal based research, none were able to continue normal activities in place prior to the pandemic. The majority (63.6%; n = 14) were forced to halt all animal-based research, but were permitted to continue animal care, 27.3% (n = 6) were limited to currently ongoing studies, and a small percentage (9.1%; n = 2) were forced to euthanize research animals In vitro studies were similarly impacted with merely 4% (n = 1) able to continue in normal pre-COVID in vitro research. The majority of researchers (56%; n = 14) were required to halt their studies, but allowed to preserve cell lines, while 32% (n = 8) were able to continue current studies. Two researchers (8%) were required to
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