Notice of National Biosafety Stewardship Month & Health and Safety Requirements for NIH Grantees

Notice Number: NOT-OD-15-163
Release Date: Sept. 29, 2015
Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Link: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-163.html

This is the second year that NIH specifically reminds its grantees of:

• meeting applicable federal, state and local health and safety standards; and
• establishing and implementing necessary measures to minimize their employees’ risk of injury or illness in activities related to NIH grants

How can you participate?

• Complete the training necessary to perform your research (e.g. Laboratory Safety Training, Biosafety, Bloodborne Pathogens, and any other required training).
• Ensure that your lab personnel are familiar with the standard operating procedures related specifically to your type of research.
• Understand how and when to report incidents using the Emory University PeopleSoft system.
• Encourage your lab members to be accountable for their safety.
• Register research involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules and any biological agents.
• Determine if your research falls under Dual-Use Research of Concern.
• Review your biosafety protocol approval requirements with your lab personnel (immunization, PPE etc.).
• Ensure that all personnel performing research in the laboratory are included in the Biosafety protocol.

Please contact the Biosafety Office if you have any questions:

Kalpana Rengarajan, PhD, MPH, RBP
Associate Director/Biosafety Officer
Phone: 404-727-8863
Email: krengar@emory.edu

Esmeralda Meyer, MD
Associate Biosafety Officer
Phone: 404-727-8083
Email: evargas@emory.edu

Questions about National Biosafety Stewardship Month or adherence to the NIH Guidelines can be directed to:

NIH Office of Science Policy
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health

Phone: 301-496-9838
Fax: 301-496-9839
Email: SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov

Questions about the NIH Guide Notice or NIH grants requirements:

Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health

Phone: 301-435-0949
Fax: 301-435-3059
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov