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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Lexington, Kentucky » Forage-animal Production Research » Research » Research Project #441729

Research Project: Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBC) Agreement - University of Kentucky

Location: Forage-animal Production Research

Project Number: 5042-32630-004-004-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 University of Kentucky (IBC-UK) 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 UK 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 UK desire to operate under a single set of rules/guidelines that all employees (ARS and UK) will follow at the Forage-Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU).