OSTP Issues Updated Policy for Oversight of DURC, Related Studies
Under a new federal Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential, issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on May 7, “scientists who want to carry out experiments will need to run their proposals past their universities or research institutions, which will…determine if the work poses a risk. Potentially dangerous proposals will then be reviewed by government agencies. The most scrutiny will go to experiments that could result in the most dangerous outcomes, such as those tweaking pathogens that could start a pandemic,” The New York Times reported. “The new policy, which applies to research funded by the federal government, strengthens the government’s oversight by replacing a short list of dangerous pathogens with broad categories into which more pathogens might fall.”
The policy, which takes effect in a year, was accompanied by an 85-page implementation guide. “This new U.S. government-wide policy, which combines the current dual use research of concern and enhanced potential pandemic pathogen oversight frameworks, expands the scope of research requiring additional scrutiny and strengthens our partnership with institutions to ensure robust review and oversight.,” NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli said in a statement. “NIH intends to work closely with the biomedical research community as we move towards the policy’s year effective date and encourages the biomedical research community to review the helpful and extensive guidance developed to assist with implementation.” She added that the agency “is encouraged that responsible science and vigorous oversight can evolve in tandem. This policy ushers in a new era of oversight that will support the nation’s ability to be prepared to counter biological threats, enhance pandemic preparedness, and achieve global health security.”