On May 6, 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released an expanded and unified Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential.

This new U.S. Government-wide policy, which combines the current dual use research of concern and enhanced potential pandemic pathogen oversight frameworks, expands the scope of research requiring additional scrutiny and strengthens our partnership with institutions to ensure robust review and oversight.

NIH will work closely with the biomedical research community as we move towards the policy’s year effective date. We encourage the biomedical research community to review OSTP’s extensive guidance developed to assist with implementation (https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2024/05/06/united-states-government-policy-for-oversight-of-dual-use-research-of-concern-and-pathogens-with-enhanced-pandemic-potential/.

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, NIH Director, issued a statement upon the Policy’s release which can viewed at: https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-release-usg-policy-oversight-dual-use-research-concern-pathogens-enhanced-pandemic-potential