New Policy for Dual Use Research Requires PI Training

On September 24, 2015 the United States Government (USG) Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), http://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Documents/durcpolicy.pdf will become effective. 

The University of Kentucky, as a recipient of Federal research funding, is required to comply with the requirements of this policy. Dual use research is defined by the USG as “research conducted for legitimate purposes that generate knowledge, information, technologies, and/or products that could be utilized for both benevolent and harmful purposes”. Dual use research of concern is a subset of this broader category.  DURC is defined as “life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security”.

As part of UK’s compliance plan with this USG policy, it is required that all researchers complete training on Dual Use Research. This will ensure that researchers understand how to properly identify and report projects that may have Dual Use potential. All Principal Investigators are requested to complete training by the September 24, 2015 policy institution date. Principal Investigators are also strongly encouraged to have their personnel complete the training. Training can be completed in one of two ways:

• Online at http://ehs.uky.edu/classes/classes_biosafety_0001.php#dual_use_research.

• In-person at one of two scheduled training sessions.

• September 21, 2015 at 2pm in MN263

• September 22, 2015 at 9am in NURS502A

The Department of Biological Safety is available to provide support and answer any questions.

Links for additional information: 

Department of Biological Safety:  http://ehs.uky.edu/biosafety/

University of Kentucky DURC Compliance Plan: http://ehs.uky.edu/docs/pdf/bio_dual_use_research.pdf

NIH Office of Biotechnology Affairs Dual Use Information:
http://osp.od.nih.gov/office-biotechnology-activities/biosecurity/dual-use-research-concern