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Research Surety and Biorisk Management Branch (RSBMB)

About RSBMB

RSBMB promotes biological safety at the NIH through a broad range of support services, consultation and assistance. We provide training support to help supervisors fulfill the necessary training requirements. Training classes that address the recognition and control of common biological, chemical and physical hazards found in NIH laboratories, as well as safe work practices with human and nonhuman primate retroviruses and other bloodborne pathogens, are routinely presented.

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Biological Materials Transfer - QPSO

​Research materials shipped domestically and internationally are subject to a number of Federal, State and Local regulations. If these regulations are not followed, the shipment will be delayed, returned to the sender or destroyed, and the individual shipper cited for non-compliance and subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.



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Biological and Pathogen Registrations

​All Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to submit registrations describing their biological research projects for review and approval by the NIH Institutional Biosafety Committee. Furthermore, PIs are primarily responsible for ensuring all associated researchers are aware of the potential risks associated with the described research.
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Electronic Registration System (E​RS)​​​​
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Biosurety Program Information

​The NIH Biological Surety Program is established to ensure that work pertaining to high risk infectious disease research is performed in the safest and most responsible manner possible by a trained, responsible, and reliable workforce.


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Registration Reference Sheet

A visual guide to assist in determining what needs to be registered and/or sent to the Institutional Biosafety Committee for review. 
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Select Agent Program (SAP)

The Select Agent Program (SAP) at the NIH manages a range of functions to facilitate research with select agents. It registers participants in the SAP and provides initial and annual SAP training as well as any additional training needed related to a specific agent/toxin or biohazard level.
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Contact Your BSO

​Four IBCs operate at NIH, where Bethesda and Rocky Mountain Laboratories' committees are supported directly by DS.

Bethesda BSO Team Email: nihbso@mail.nih.gov


Site IBCBSOBSO EmailSystem
Bethesda
(and surrounding campus areas)

Dr. Rick Baumann
baumannrg@od.nih.gov
https://ers.ors.nih.gov/
Rocky Mountain Laboratories Dr. Becky Anderson rebecca.anderson@nih.gov https://ers.ors.nih.gov/
NIEHS-RTPMr. Chris McGee christopher.mcgee@nih.gov https://ehsartp.niehs.nih.gov/EHSA/
NCI-FrederickMs. Theresa Bell belltd@mail.nih.gov https://elements.nih.gov/Elements/
RSBMB Services

​The NIH Biosafety Office, managed through the Division of Safety (DS), provides comprehensive biological safety, consultation, and regulatory compliance services for research laboratories.

Exempt Select Toxin Program

​The NIH Exempt Select Toxin Program outlines requirements for possession, use, and transfer of exempt quantities of CDC Select Toxins. Federal regulations (42 CFR 73) allow each Principal Investigator (PI) to possess up to a specified amount of toxin and remain exempt from registration with the CDC Federal Select Agent Program.

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BSL 3 / 4 Support and Training

​RSBMB supports Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) high-containment facilities through comprehensive oversight, specialized biosafety training, safety audits, incident investigations and specialized medical and security protocols.


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Polio Containment Program

The Polio Containment Program is established to prevent the re-introduction of polio through destruction, inactivation, or transfer of wildtype polio or polio potentially infectious material.


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RSBMB Resources
Biological Materials Shipping
Biological and Pathogen Registrations
Biosurety Program
Select Agent Program