Biological Safety

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) launched the revamped course Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) for Researchers Online! The updated version offers enhanced language, visuals, and interactivity, providing a more engaging and informative learning experience. This updated course reflects the latest best practices and regulatory requirements, ensuring that lab workers, researchers, professors, and students receive the most relevant and valuable training possible.

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) reminds researchers that all research with biohazardous agents at the University of Washington requires review and approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and a Biological Use Authorization (BUA) from EH&S is required.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published revisions to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines). The published changes include specific considerations and requirements for conducting research involving gene drive modified organisms (GDMOs) and stipulates that a minimum of biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) is required for conducting research with GDMOs.