USG Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) & Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP)
UPDATE: The White House issued an executive order on May 5, 2025, directing federal agencies to end funding for “dangerous gain-of-function research” and develop a new oversight policy within 120 days. Such research is defined in Section 8 of the order. The NIH issued an updated notice on May 7, 2025, rescinding their previous DURC-PEPP Policy implementation guidance.
This webpage will be updated as new information becomes available.
If you have questions or concerns related to oversight of your research, please contact the Biosafety Office at IBC@uchc.edu or 860-679-7533.
Starting May 6, 2025, a new federal policy, the Policy for Oversight of DURC & PEPP, will be in place to oversee dual-use research of concern (DURC) and certain research involving pathogens. This policy, known as the USG DURC-PEPP Policy, will apply to all federally funded research and supersede earlier DURC policies, as well as the 2017 Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens Framework (P3CO). However, it does not replace existing federal regulations, such as the Select Agent Regulations, but works in conjunction with them.
The USG DURC-PEPP Policy is designed to strengthen oversight of life sciences research involving biological agents and toxins by:
- Expanding the types of biological research that require extra oversight from the U.S. government.
- Providing a consistent framework for identifying and overseeing research projects, ensuring safety, security, and ethical concerns are addressed.
- Clarifying the responsibilities of principal investigators, research institutions, and federal agencies involved in this research, with a focus on institutional management.
In summary, research that falls under specific categories (Category 1 or 2) is subject to oversight to minimize risks to public health, security, agriculture, and the environment, thereby ensuring that research benefits are achieved without causing harm.
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