Is My Research DURC?

Use the following questions to help determine whether your research falls under the Policy and requires notification to the federal funding agency and the Biosafety Program.

Will the project involve the use of infectious agents or biological toxins that are harmful to humans?

 

  • NO, your research is not DURC

  • YES, please proceed with questions below in BOTH columns

Category 1

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Does your research use any of the agents on this Category 1 Agents and Toxins list?

 

  • NO, your research does not include any Category 1 agents or toxins.

  • YES, please proceed with the below question.

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Will your research result in one or more of the following outcomes?

    • Increased transmissibility
    • Increased virulence
    • Increased stability/dissemination
    • Altered host range
    • Decreased diagnostic detectability
    • Increased resistance to treatments
    • Disrupted pre-existing immunity
    • Enhanced host susceptibility
    • Increased or novel toxicity

  • NO, your research involving a Category 1 agent does not require a DURC review based on the potential outcomes.

  • YES, your research appears to fall within the scope of a Category 1 agent. Contact the Biosafety Program.

 

Category 2

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Does your research use any highly transmissible pathogens capable of causing severe illness e.g. Pandemic Potential Pathogen (PPP); OR a Pathogen with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP), which is a PPP modified to increase transmissibility or virulence; OR an eradicated or extinct PPP that poses a public health threat?

 

  • NO, your research does not include any Category 2 pathogens.

  • YES, please proceed with the below question.

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Will your research reasonably anticipate or result in one or more of the following outcomes?

    • Enhanced transmissibility in humans
    • Enhanced virulence of the pathogen in humans
    • Enhance the immune evasion of the pathogen in humans such as by modifying the pathogen to disrupt the effectiveness of pre-existing immunity via immunization or natural infection
    • Reconstitution of an eradicated or extinct human pathogen

  • NO, your research involving a Category 2 pathogen does not require a DURC review based on the potential outcomes.

  • YES, your research appears to fall within the scope of a Category 2 pathogen. Contact the Biosafety Program.