B03 - Much Ado About Virtual Research: Considerations, Challenges, and Opportunities 

The pandemic necessitated that researchers transition, where possible, in-person research activities to virtual/online modalities. This form of research is not new, yet, the move from in-person to virtual as a necessity versus a methodological choice raises issues for researchers and IRBs, particularly those not well-versed in conducting research in this environment, including: Are the ethical principles in the Belmont Report flexible enough to address virtual research? What aspects of virtual research do the regulations not address and how should researchers and IRBs respond? Does not being able to conduct research in-person affect research studies and the data collected? In addition, there are the challenges, including obtaining informed consent, paying participants, safeguarding data and participants’ privacy, and ensuring participant representativeness. What was learned during the pandemic about conducting virtual research that could be helpful and/or augment practices in the future