Dual use research of concern
Dual use research of concern (DURC) is a subset of dual use research defined as life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security.
The United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (IODURC) outlines the criteria for what qualifies as Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), listing specific agents and toxins and descriptions of types of experiments, when combined define the parameters for research considered as DURC and subject to oversight under the policy.
It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to identify his or her research involving one or more of the agents or toxins listed in IODURC Section 6.2.1 and notify the IBC of that research to be reviewed for its DURC potential.