Author: Joel Gingrich

Second Regional Listening Session on NIH Efforts to Modernize and Strengthen Biosafety Oversight

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NIH held its first listening session in support of its new Biosafety Modernization Initiative on September 30, 2025. This was the first in a planned series focused on helping NIH modernize and strengthen biosafety oversight.

The NIH Videocast for that event is now available and can be accessed at: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=57067. Additionally, stakeholders can embed an NIH Biosafety Widget on their own websites to further encourage comments (more information at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/help-modernize-and-strengthen-the-oversight-of-biosafety/).

Stay tuned for details about next engagements by subscribing to our listserv or checking https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy#tab2/.

Questions may be sent to: [email protected]

If you are not yet a subscriber to this listserv, please sign up here.   

Videocast Available for NIH’s First Biosafety Modernization Initiative Listening Session 

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NIH held its first listening session in support of its new Biosafety Modernization Initiative on September 30, 2025. This was the first in a planned series focused on helping NIH modernize and strengthen biosafety oversight.

The NIH Videocast for that event is now available and can be accessed at: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=57067. Additionally, stakeholders can embed an NIH Biosafety Widget on their own websites to further encourage comments (more information at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/help-modernize-and-strengthen-the-oversight-of-biosafety/).

Stay tuned for details about next engagements by subscribing to our listserv or checking https://osp.od.nih.gov/policies/biosafety-and-biosecurity-policy#tab2/.

Questions may be sent to: [email protected]

If you are not yet a subscriber to this listserv, please sign up here.   

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Transparency 101

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Summer is here!  Like many of you, I have been counting down the days.  In fact, I have been thinking so hard about summer, that I neglected to acknowledge a big milestone.  My last post, in April, was the 100th Under the Poliscope blog! Since we missed the centennial, we are just going to have to celebrate the 101st post (or whatever one calls the 101st of something). 

The beginning of this summer also features some important activities related to biosafety and its oversight.  Right here in our own backyard, Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued a proclamation announcing June 4, 2025, as “Biosafety Day” across the Old Line state.  In addition, NIH has also implemented some transparency enhancements  for biosafety oversight at NIH-supported institutions. 

For those not as familiar with IBCs, these are the committees that are responsible for local biosafety oversight. Over time, IBCs have also taken on increasing responsibility for reviewing a variety of experimentation that involve biological materials. As you might be able to infer, this critical activity demands the highest levels of transparency. 

With that in mind, and the fact that this is blog number 101, I wanted to provide a primer for members of the public on the mechanisms IBCs can utilize to ensure research is conducted safely and transparently.  I hope you find this information helpful!

Resources Referenced

Lyric Jorgenson, PhD
NIH Associate Director for Science Policy
About Lyric
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NIH Seeks Public Input on Responsible Development of Innovative AI Tools

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NIH is committed to advancing novel AI approaches that have the potential to accelerate research and improve the health of the public. As such, NIH is seeking input from the public on how to develop and share new generative AI tools while maintaining the highest privacy protections for biomedical research participants.

Comments on the RFI will be accepted until July 16, 2025, and must be submitted using the form found here.

Questions may be sent to [email protected]

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