What do I need to know before getting started?

• Before taking photos or videos in a research lab, obtain approval from the lab’s primary investigator (PI) or director.
• News media must be accompanied by university media relations or communications staff.
• Make sure that photographers, researchers, and university staff are familiar with these guidelines ahead of time. ALL subjects (including faculty, staff, students) participating in photos and videos need to sign a release form. Learn more and find release forms on the Photos/Video Permission Guidelines & Forms page. See below for information about photographing patients and research study participants.

What kind of protective gear should researchers be wearing?

• Safety guidelines are explained in the video “Portrayal of Safety in Media” (uNID required).
• All personnel who enter a laboratory on campus—including photographers, reporters, university staff, and researchers—must wear the following minimum personal protective equipment (PPE):
  • Closed toe shoes
  • Long pants
  • Fully buttoned lab coat
  • Protective eyewear
  • Long hair should be tied back
• Certain types of labs where chemicals are not used—such as some computer, engineering, and clinical labs—have different PPE requirements. Clarify requirements with the lab PI or director.
• Lab personnel should not wear gloves when handling lab notebooks, pens, phones, computers, etc., to minimize potential for contamination.

Wait, did you say that all lab visitors must wear PPE?

• Yes – that includes photographers, reporters, and university staff. Spills and accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Visitors must wear minimum PPE for their own safety.

What else should I know about portraying lab safety?

• Labs should be clean and orderly.
• There should be no research animals pictured unless you’ve obtained prior permission (see more below).
• Food and drink, including water bottles, are not allowed in the lab.
• Pets of any kind are not allowed in any lab on campus.
• Non‐matriculated minors are not allowed in high hazard labs, Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) labs where research is done with moderate-risk agents, or where animal research is conducted.
• Whenever possible, interviews and photos of lab personnel should be taken outside the lab environment.

What should I know about HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)?

• Do not include patients, research study participants, or their protected health information (PHI) in photos or videos. PHI includes names, emails, phone numbers, genetic information, account numbers, and other identifying information.

Can we photograph patients or people who are participating in research studies?

• If you would like to take photos or videos of patients, notify U of U Health PR at researchcomm@hsc.utah.edu. You will need a signed authorization form.
• If you plan to take photos or videos of research study participants, obtain approval from the study’s PI. The PI should clear the request with the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB). The study participant will need to sign an authorization form. Notify U of U Health PR at reserchcomm@hsc.utah.edu.

Can I photograph research animals?

• You may photograph cell lines and invertebrate animals (e.g. flies, worms) without permission.
• Do not photograph vertebrate research animals (e.g. zebrafish, mice, birds, large mammals) or enter animal facilities unless you have obtained permission ahead of time and are accompanied by research communications staff. Request permissions through researchcomm@hsc.utah.edu.