BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY

ACTIVITIES INVOLVING
RECOMBINANT DNA OR OTHER
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

SECTION I. SCOPE.

This policy applies to all research or teaching activities conducted at the University of Minnesota (University) involving recombinant DNA or other potentially hazardous biological agents.

SECTION II. DEFINITIONS.

Subd. 1. Biological Agent. Biological agent shall mean infectious agents, biologically-derived toxins, and recombinant DNA.

Subd. 2. Institutional Biosafety Committee. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) shall mean the committee appointed by the president or delegate in accordance with National Institutes of Health guidelines and other applicable requirements and policies to review University activities involving recombinant DNA or other biological agents.

Subd. 3. Recombinant DNA. Recombinant DNA shall mean molecules (a) that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell or (b) that result from the replication of those molecules described in (a) or as defined by the National Institutes of Health.

SECTION III. GUIDING PRINCIPLE.

University faculty, staff, and students using potentially hazardous biological agents in research or teaching activities shall perform those activities as safely as possible and in ways that eliminate or reduce potential exposure of personnel, students, animals, and the environment.

SECTION IV. COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS.

Subd. 1. Responsibilities of the IBC. The president or delegate shall ensure that the IBC oversees research and teaching activities involving:

(a) recombinant DNA in compliance with safety requirements established by the National Institutes of Health in the Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, 51 Fed. Reg. 16,958 (1986, and as subsequently revised); and

 

(b) other potentially hazardous biological agents in compliance with safety requirements established by the Centers for Disease Control/National Institutes of Health in the manual Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (4th edition May 1999 and subsequent editions).

Subd. 2. Compliance with University Policies. The president or delegate shall maintain administrative policies and procedures to implement this policy.

SUPERSEDES: HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS CONTROLS (DNA) POLICY DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1977.