Office of Research Services

The Radiation Safety Committee:​​

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• Ensures the safe use of all radioactive materials and sources of ionizing radiation throughout NIH and those NIH-occupied buildings included within the NIH Radiation Safety Program, for the Director, NIH
  
• Provides technical advice, assistance, and management-level support to the Radiation Safety Officer in implementing the Radiation Safety Program and the NIH program for maintaining radiation exposures to employees, patients, and research subjects as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)​
  
• Reviews the Radiation Safety Program at least annually to determine that all activities involving radioactive materials and sources of radiation are being conducted safely and in accordance with applicable Federal regulations and NIH radiation safety policies
  
• Reviews the qualifications of licensed physicians and grants approval for the use of radioactive materials in human subjects. If a Committee member is an investigator who may participate in the research being proposed in an application to the Committee, he or she shall abstain from voting on the approval or disapproval of the application
  
• Performs functions of the Radioactive Drug Research Committee in accordance with applicable regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, PHS, DHHS
  
• Reviews and approves a subset of clinical research studies involving exposure of human subjects to ionizing radiation.  Criteria for protocols requiring RSC review are delineated in RSC policies and procedures.  Note: the review and approval of clinical research studies does not constitute official business of the RSC
  
• The Radiation Safety Officer acts for the Director, NIH, in all matters relating to Federal or State radioactive material or radiation source licensing, with the concurrence of the RSC and the NIH Executive Management
  
• Establishes and revises radiation safety policies, consulting with the Office of the Director through the Management Representative on issues that require involvement of executive management, e.g., in cases when there is significant potential for impact on the NIH mission
  
• Establishes working groups and appoints ad hoc members to the Committee, as the Committee deems necessary