Location: Agroecosystems Management Research
Project Number: 5030-31000-007-004-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
To utilize Iowa State University (ISU), Office of Research Ethics, Institutional Biosafety Committee to ensure compliance of USDA-ARS scientists with the National Institute of Health Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) for the safe conduct of research employing recombinant technology, including protecting crops and livestock from pests and disease or improving the quality and safety of agricultural products, and research with biohazardous materials and toxins.
Approach:
USDA-ARS and ISU conduct research that employs recombinant DNA technology, synthetic nucleic acids and other potential biohazards (e.g., infectious agents, oncogenes, zoonotic pathogens, and biological toxins). To avoid conflict, ambiguity, and duplication of efforts regarding biosafety protocols, reviews, and record-keeping, USDA-ARS and ISU desire to operate under a single set of rules/ guidelines that all employees (ARS and ISU) will follow at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Midwest Area, Iowa State University Campus Units locations (Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit (CICGRU), and National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE) Principal Investigators).
