The U.S. Government has established a new policy for the oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) that will take effect on May 6, 2025. This policy is designed to ensure responsible conduct of research and to safeguard public health and national security.
The policy covers research involving DURC and pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential, requiring additional scrutiny to balance scientific advancement with safety concerns.
Key Points of the Policy:
- Grant Submissions: Faculty submitting research grants must conduct an assessment of their research projects concerning DURC and PEPP. Federal funding agencies will need to be notified at the time of submission if the work potentially falls under this policy.
- Currently Funded Projects: Federal funding agencies may request documentation of the assessment of currently funded research under this policy. Any requests from a sponsor related to the DURC/PEPP policy should be sent to biosafety@case.edu.
- Institutional Review Entity (IRE): The CWRU IRE will oversee compliance with the policy. The IRE will work closely with faculty to review research and develop risk mitigation strategies as needed.
The Office of Research and Technology Management is currently working to implement changes to the grant submission form to allow principal investigators (PIs) to provide their assessment under this policy. PIs that currently conduct research with biological materials will receive a request to evaluate and provide an assessment of their ongoing research to our office. Additional details and training information will be coming soon.
Learn more about the CWRU Institutional Review Entity for Dual Use Research of Concern