Federal Regulations

NIH GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH INVOLVING RECOMBINANT OR SYNTHETIC NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES

An institution must follow the NIH Guidelines if it receives any funding from the NIH for research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Even if only one research project involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules at an institution benefits from NIH support, all such projects conducted at or sponsored by that institution must comply with the NIH Guidelines. Also, adherence to the NIH Guidelines may be a condition of support from other federal agencies, or even private funders of research.

Finally, regardless of NIH funding, institutions may be subject to local ordinances, federal or state regulations, or agency guidelines that require compliance with the NIH Guidelines.

View NIH’s FAQ’s on Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Administration page for additional information.