NIH, Then and Now: Biological Research Safety and Security
Research Development Brown Bag Lunch Webinars
September 18, 2026
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM America/Chicago
Over the past 18 months, the federal framework governing biological research safety and security has undergone substantial transformation. This presentation reviews major developments in U.S. government and National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies, including changes in the oversight of dual-use research of concern (DURC) and enhanced pathogens, Executive Order 14292 on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research, the July 2026 U.S. Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research, and the August 2026 Draft NIH Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards. Collectively, these initiatives represent a transition toward a broader risk-based approach to biological research oversight, expanding the scope of biosafety governance beyond recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid research to encompass a wider range of biological hazards and research activities. The presentation discusses the implications of these changes for institutional accountability, IBC/Institutional Review Entity (IRE) oversight, biological risk assessment, research security and biosecurity and coordination among institutional research oversight functions.
Speaker
Changhwa Hwang – Associate Director, Biological Safety, UIC Environmental Health and Safety
Date posted
Sep 2, 2026
Date updated
Sep 2, 2026