Case Western Reserve University established an Institutional Review Entity (IRE) to evaluate potential Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) sponsored by CWRU and conducted by faculty members or students on campus.
DURC is life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products or technologies that could directly be 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. Among the 15 agents and toxins used in research that may require review by the IRE Committee are Botulinum neurotoxin, Avian influenza virus and Bacillius anthracis.
Effective Sept. 24, the United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern required institutions receiving federal funding to have a review process in place for the oversight of potential dual use research of concern. The United States Government’s oversight of DURC is aimed at preserving the benefits of life sciences research while minimizing the risk of misuse of the knowledge, information, products or technologies provided by such research.
Learn more about the DURC IRE review process at CWRU by visiting case.edu/research/faculty-staff/compliance/ire-durc/.