The NIH Office of Science Policy recently released an update to their Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules that will come into effect September 30th. The updates include new regulations on “gene drive” modified organisms (GDMOs), in which genetically modified organisms pass on their modification at a rate greater than standard Mendelian inheritance. The inherent potential of gene drive research has been covered widely by the media, as it is a technique easily applied to insects such as mosquitos and holds promise for eradicating insect-borne diseases such as malaria. Another model organism amenable to gene drive research is drosophila. The new regulations indicate research with GDMOs must be reviewed by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) prior to initiation and will require a minimum of ABSL2 containment. For any research groups considering gene drive research, it is critical to obtain IBC review prior to initiating the work. Please reach out to the Biosafety Office with any questions.

For more information, visit the IBC website or email us.