The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (Guidelines,) require institutions that receive NIH funding for recombinant DNA (rDNA) research to establish an institutional biosafety committee (IBC) to review and approve rDNA experiments, and to ensure that rDNA research is conducted according to the Guidelines. Three national surveys of IBCs registered with the NIH were conducted in 2002, 2007, and 2010 to assess IBC practices and identify trends over time. The surveys showed that over time IBCs increased compliance with the Guidelines and improved IBC management and staffing levels. The NIH site visit program resulted in enhanced oversight of rDNA research by IBCs that participated in the site visit. The data from the surveyssuggest that many IBCs do a good job of compliance with the intent of the Guidelines while others struggle to meet their obligations in terms of research review, training, and other aspects of Guidelines compliance.
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