While the COVID-19 pandemic is still an urgent concern, local conditions in Houston suggest that the Christmas-New Year’s wave has peaked and is in steady decline. Taken together with the promising distribution of vaccine and the continuing low level of campus cases, we are announcing that the university will loosen research restrictions by resuming Research Stage 3 (RS3) practices, as of March 1. A copy of those guidelines is here for your review. Please share the update and guidelines with your lab members. I think we owe a great debt to the continuing commitment of Rice faculty, staff, and students in adhering to the university’s public health strategy for our success. Public health is a team effort and it is clear that our community has taken that to heart throughout these difficult times.