The University of California Office of the President invites comments on the proposed Presidential Policy on Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential. This policy revises the current UC Dual Use Research of Concern Policy with new and updated provisions, per the White House communication on dual use research issued May 6, 2024. Specifically, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) (USG Policy). 

The proposed UC Presidential Policy will implement the changes made by the new USG Policy, and it includes the following:

• Adoption of the USG Policy for the institutional review and oversight of research with biological agents or toxins categorized as DURC (Category 1) or PEPP (Category 2).
• The expectation that UC Locations review federally and non-federally funded research for DURC and PEPP. However, it allows UC Locations to develop a different oversight framework for non-federally funded research, provided that it is consistent with the principles of the USG Policy.
• A succinct description of the Compliance Responsibilities for Principal Investigators, UC Location Institutional Contacts for Dual Use Research, and Vice Chancellors for Research (and their equivalents at UC ANR and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab).
• A Procedures Section that provides high-level requirements for compliance with the USG Policy.

The proposed revisions are posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu no later than March 13, 2025. Please indicate “DURC-PEPP” in the subject line.