As part of the campus review and revision process for the UW-Madison Policy Library, both the Institutional Biosafety Committee and the Dual Use Research of Concern policies have undergone separate consolidations.
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Policy Consolidation
The Office of Biological Safety has been working with the Office of Strategic Consulting to consolidate multiple IBC policies (UW-6071 through UW-6092) into a single overarching policy, UW-6102. The IBC approved the consolidation, including some changes to the policy, April 2024. The changes include:
- Minor wording changes have been made throughout to improve readability.
- Definitions have been edited for clarity and consistency.
- The definition of “immediate family member” has been expanded to be consistent with other UW policies.
- Information about conflicts of interest has been moved to the Policy section.
- Risk groups have been combined into a single definition, adopted from the NIH Guidelines Appendix B.
- The Scope section now names affiliate organizations covered by the policy.
- The order of information in the Policy has been reorganized, and a table of contents has been added to improve navigation. Readers can click on the table of contents to be taken directly to a section of interest, and in each section readers can click on “Return to Top” to return to the beginning of the policy
- Processes and procedures have been removed from the policy.
- The Related UW-Madison documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources and External References sections have been updated.
- Specific changes to policy language are:
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- (1.1) Roles and responsibilities of IBC members are adopted from the IBC Charge
- (1.3) Roles and responsibilities of IBC consultants are defined
- (2.2) Language about when a biosafety protocol is required has been added
- (2.2) Exemptions have been clarified
- (3.8) Added that if the IBC Chair is unavailable the BSO has the authority to suspend research before a determination is made by the full IBC to protect safety, health, or the environment
Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Policy Consolidation
The Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research (ICDUR) and DURC compliance specialist have been working with the Office of Strategic Consulting to develop one Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential policy (UW-6104) to replace existing DURC policies (UW-6093 through UW-6099). The DURC subcommittee of the IBC and the Biosecurity Task Force have reviewed the new policy. Changes include:
- Updates as required for implementing the new United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential by May 2025:
- Processes and procedures have been removed from the Policy.
- Specific changes to policy language are:
- Updated definitions to be consistent with the new federal policy.
- Added Category 1 and Category 2 types of research.
Resources
Procedural guidance will be available soon via the revamped DURC webpage.
An updated DURC/PEPP training module will be available via Canvas by May 2025. This training will be required for all personnel listed on a biosafety protocol that includes a Select Agent registered laboratory, BSL-3 laboratories, exempt amounts of Select Agent toxins, or a project deemed DUR, Category 1, or Category 2 research.
Questions? Please reach out to biosafety at biosafety@fpm.wisc.edu or 608-263-2037. We are here to help!
by Christina Pier
Christina Pier is the Select Agent Responsible Official and Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research of Concern. She joined EHS in 2017 and leads the Select Agent and Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Programs.
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