{"id":7815,"date":"2025-04-17T14:23:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T18:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/?page_id=7815"},"modified":"2025-06-24T11:08:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:08:00","slug":"durc-and-pepp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/biosafety\/durc-and-pepp\/","title":{"rendered":"DURC and PEPP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP)<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{background:rgba(171,184,195,0.24);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-infobox-textcontent h3.kt-blocks-info-box-title{font-size:17px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:12px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-infobox-textcontent .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:#000000;}.wp-block-kadence-infobox.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{padding-top:12px;padding-right:12px;padding-bottom:12px;padding-left:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box7815_460b94-65 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box7815_460b94-65\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/2025\/06\/24\/biosafety-new-nih-dangerous-gain-of-function-research-requirements-for-notification-suspension-or-termination\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/2025\/06\/24\/biosafety-new-nih-dangerous-gain-of-function-research-requirements-for-notification-suspension-or-termination\/\">New NIH \u201cDangerous Gain-of-Function\u201d Research Requirements<\/a> <\/strong>(6\/24\/2025)<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Please note: the federal government is in the process of revising policy on this topic, and the prior National Institutes of Health (NIH) notice referenced below (<a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/notice-files\/NOT-OD-25-061.html\">NOT-OD-25-112 [external link]<\/a>) is <em>currently rescinded<\/em>, thus the following information may be out of date. The NIH has since issued new requirements for \u201cdangerous gain-of-function research.\u201d Please see the news post linked above for more information.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the University of Maine <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/resource\/ibc-policy\/\">Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules or Infectious Agents (Word)<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{background:rgba(171,184,195,0.24);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-infobox-textcontent h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-infobox-textcontent .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:#000000;}.wp-block-kadence-infobox.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box7815_46b6ff-00\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">&#8220;Dual use research of concern (DURC) and pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP) are types of life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be <strong>reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies<\/strong> <strong>that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat<\/strong> with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops, and other plants, animals, the environment, material, or national security.&#8221;<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is DURC &amp; PEPP research regulated?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the federal level, DURC and PEPP research is regulated by the United States Government (USG) Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) \u2013 also known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/USG-Policy-for-Oversight-of-DURC-and-PEPP.pdf\">DURC\/PEPP Policy (PDF) (external link)<\/a> \u2013 released May 6, 2024, effective as of May 6, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued its own implementation guidance for the USG DURC\/PEPP Policy as of January 10, 2025, applicable to all NIH-funded research, etc.: <a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/notice-files\/NOT-OD-25-061.html\">NOT-OD-25-061 (external link)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the University of Maine, all researchers are required to comply with the <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/resource\/ibc-policy\/\">Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules or Infectious Agents (Word)<\/a>. Section X of this policy specifically addresses research involving DURC and PEPP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Countries of Concern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>U.S. Government (USG) agencies (including the National Institutes of Health [NIH]) will <em>not <\/em>fund Category 1 or Category 2 research (as described in the USG DURC\/PEPP Policy) in select \u201ccountries of concern,\u201d as identified by the USG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This list of countries is subject to change at the discretion of the USG, so researchers should always consult agency websites and policies to confirm the current list. However, as of the USG DURC\/PEPP Policy release date, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/aspr.hhs.gov\/S3\/Documents\/USG-DURC-PEPP-Implementation-Guidance-May2024-508.pdf\">Implementation Guidance for the USG DURC\/PEPP Policy (PDF) (external link)<\/a>, the identified countries of concern are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>North Korea&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iran<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Russia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China (including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuba<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Syria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Venezuela<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore,<strong> regardless of funding source and country,<\/strong> <strong><em>all researchers<\/em><\/strong> at the University of Maine must consult with the Office of Research Compliance <strong><em>before<\/em> initiating any <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/international-research\/\"><strong>international research<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Online training on DURC is available through the university\u2019s Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) subscription as an optional module within the Biosafety\/Biosecurity course. Please see <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/biosafety\/ibc-training\/\">Training for Biosafety<\/a> for instructions to enroll in CITI courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research (ICDUR)<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;background:#ffffff;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89.wp-block-kadence-infobox{max-width:100%;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container{max-width:100px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic{padding-bottom:100%;width:450px;height:0px;max-width:100%;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-color:#444444;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-infobox-textcontent h4.kt-blocks-info-box-title{font-size:20px;line-height:25px;font-family:'Roboto Slab';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 h4.kt-blocks-info-box-title{min-height:0px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-infobox-textcontent .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:#535353;}.wp-block-kadence-infobox.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-text{font-size:16px;line-height:24px;font-style:normal;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box5952_f33500-89 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;font-size:16px;line-height:22px;font-style:normal;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box5952_f33500-89\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left kb-info-box-vertical-media-align-top\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-intrisic kt-info-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew Holmes Headshot Photo\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" class=\"kt-info-box-image wp-image-3820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136.jpg 450w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-317x317.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-423x423.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/445\/2021\/09\/1516857495136-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,450px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h4 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Andrew Holmes, Ph.D.<\/h4><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Institutional Biosafety Officer<br \/><a href=\"mailto:andrew.p.holmes@maine.edu\">andrew.p.holmes@maine.edu<\/a><br \/>207.581.3827<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) Definition According to the University of Maine Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules or Infectious Agents (Word): How is DURC &amp; PEPP research regulated? At the federal level, DURC and PEPP research is regulated by the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1621,"featured_media":0,"parent":6450,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7815","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"cdoiron","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/author\/cdoiron\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1621"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7815"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8069,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7815\/revisions\/8069"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research-compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}