- Protective eyewear is required in all BSL2 spaces by the IBC. The IBC requires research groups to follow the guidance put forth in the CDC’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) for all work under IBC purview. In particular, the BMBL recommends protective eyewear for personnel who perform procedures that may generate splashes or sprays of microorganisms or hazardous materials. In May 2024, the IBC expanded this guidance from the BMBL, formally creating a requirement for the use of protective eyewear for all personnel working within BSL-2 lab spaces or conducting BSL-2 research. This policy ensures consistent protection against infectious agents and rDNA hazards and reduces the risk of eye injuries at Stanford University.
- Executive Order updates Dual-Use Research of Concern directives. In May 2025, an Executive Order was issued regarding updates to previous legislation on Dual Use Research of Concern, or DURC. As additional federal directives are updated, Stanford will continue to (a) update our outreach to labs, and (b) monitor whether any work on campus potentially falls under DURC oversight.
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Welcome to Biosafety and Biosecurity!
Biosafety is a combination of safety practices, procedures, and precautions that are appropriate for work with biological materials, with the goal of keeping individuals, the environment, and the broader community safe.
Biosecurity, similarly, is a combination of safety practices, procedures and precautions that are meant to protect against unintentional or intentional loss, misuse, or abuse of biological materials in order to prevent negative impacts to human health, agriculture, and the environment.
The Biosafety and Biosecurity Program is responsible for broadly overseeing work with biological materials and recombinant DNA (rDNA) that is done on Stanford campus or by Stanford personnel. Much of this is done in conjunction with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), which is specifically charged by the Vice Provost and Dean of Research with oversight of Risk Group 2 and higher infectious agents and all non-exempt rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid (sNA) work.
If you would like to reach out to Biosafety and Biosecurity, please email us at biosafety@lists.stanford.edu.
