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Office of Research Services

Serving the NIH Community

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Our Mission

To lead a successful radiation safety program that balances regulatory compliance with support to researchers and clinicians who utilize radiation sources and radioactive material in advancement of the NIH mission 

A Positively-Charged Leader in Radiation Safety



​The Division of Radiation Safety (DRS) provides radiation safety guidance, regulatory compliance, and risk management for biomedical and clinical research efforts at the National ​​Institutes of Health (NIH)​.​

We are a diverse team of radiation safety health physicists providing comprehensive services and oversight that protects NIH employees and visitors – as well as our local and global communities – from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation​.

The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)​ is responsible for institutional oversight of the NIH Radiation Safety Program. Reporting to the Director of NIH, the RSC ensures the safe use of radioactive materials and all sources of ionizing radiatio​n throughout the NIH and NIH-occupied buildings included in the Radiation Safety Program.

​The Division of Radiation ​Safety facilitates the safe use of ionizing radiation. Researchers seeking informatio​n on non-ionizing radiation should contact the Division of Occupation​al Health and Safety.​


Our Services

Analytical Lab service

Health Physicist Consultations

Health Physicists (HP) are the primary resource for all radiation safety needs at the NIH.​

Emergency Response Service

Radiation Safety Training

​DRS offers specific training for those who interact with radioactive material and/or ionizing radiation-emitting devices in their work at the NIH.

Bioassay Service

Exposure Monitoring

​DRS monitors and evaluates radiation doses to ensure radiation exposures to researchers, clinicians, general staff, and NIH visitors are as low as reasonably achievable.

Rad Mat’l Shipping Receiving Storage

Radioactive Materials Receipt & Storage

​DRS oversees the receipt and processing of all​ radioactive materials at the NIH to ensure all packages are handled expeditiously and according to DRS radiation safety protocols.

Organization

​​​​The Division of Radiation Safety is a component of the Office of the Director, operating within the Office of Research Services (ORS)​.

​​​DRS Organization Chart​​