Posted September 3, 2026 by Office of Research and Innovation
UNL scientists who are engaged in life sciences research should be aware of new and proposed federal policies that may impact their work.
U.S. Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research
Announced July 20, the U.S. Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research will prohibit dangerous gain-of-function research, known as DGOF. The policy, which can be read in full, applies to all life sciences research (i.e., in vivo, in vitro and in silico). Institutions that receive federal funding for life science research must identify, review and halt any projects that meet the definition of DGOF. It also prohibits research involving countries or entities of concern. A summary of the policy is available from the Council on Government Relations.
The policy requires principal investigators who are seeking federal funding to confirm that their grant proposals do not include DGOF activities, and if research with the biological agent could potentially result in one or more of the prohibited outcomes listed, a risk- benefit analysis is required with the grant proposal and will be reviewed by a third-party review body. The institution also bears the responsibility for certifying that the grant proposals do not include DGOF research or international research of concern, research involving countries or entities of concern or countries with inadequate oversight.
Federal agencies are tasked with issuing additional guidance on implementation of the policy by Nov. 17. Full implementation must occur at UNL by Jan. 17, 2027.
The UNL Office of Research Compliance, Integrity and Security, the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Biosafety Office and the Animal Care Program are collaborating to implement this policy.
National Institutes of Health Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards
On Aug. 19, the National Institutes of Health introduced a draft version of a biosafety policy that would cover all biomedical research that occurs in laboratory settings and involves biohazards.
The proposed policy would expand the scope of NIH oversight by including research that involves any biohazards, defined as research involving known or potential risk to human health and any of the following:
- Wild-type biological agents (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites) that cause disease in humans;
- Cells, viruses or organisms, other than plants, that have been genetically modified;
- Toxins, prions and other self-aggregating proteins; or
- Cells or organisms, other than plants, containing 1, 2 or 3 above.
If adopted, the new policy would replace the current NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) that restrict oversight to recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules.
In 2025, NIH launched a process to update the agency’s biosafety framework to ensure that oversight keeps pace with evolving risks. The proposed policy aims to strengthen the role of Institutional Biosafety Committees and reinforce consistency with Institutional Review Boards and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees.
NIH is accepting public comments on the proposal through Oct. 19.
