The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) was established by NIH in 1974 to provide recommendations to the NIH Director and a public forum for discussion of the scientific, safety, and ethical issues related to basic and clinical research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. In 2019, NIH refocused the RAC into a role closer to its original mandate, which was to follow and provide advice on safety and ethical issues associated with emerging biotechnologies. Today, these emerging areas of research include, but are not restricted to, technologies surrounding advances in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research. To reflect its broader outlook, the committee was renamed the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC). The RAC documents, meeting materials, and webcasts have been archived and remain available on this website.
