Location: Food Animal Environmental Systems Research
Project Number: 5040-12630-007-032-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
To utilize Institutional Biological Safety Committee of the Western Kentucky University (IBC-WKU) to ensure compliance of USDA-ARS scientists with the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) and National Institute of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research involving bacterial agents non-pathogenic and pathogenic (BMBL Guidelines) and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (NIH Guidelines) and the safe conduct of research encompassing protection of 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 WKU conduct research that employs bacterial agents, 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 WKU desire to operate under a single set of rules/ guidelines that all employees (ARS and WKU) will follow at the Food Animal Environmental Systems Research Unit (FAESRU).
