Association of American Universities  1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20005  (202) 408-7500 Council on Governmental Relations  1200 New York Ave., NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20005  (202) 289-6655 AAU Association of American Universities COGR Council on Governmental Relations April 23, 2013 Dr.

A report on dual use research review and oversight, Bridging Science and Security for Biological Research: A Discussion about Dual Use Research Review and Oversight at Research Institutions. This report describes best practices and lessons learned of existing, voluntary dual use review and oversight programs. The report lists outstanding challenges and policy solutions for review and oversight of dual use life sciences research.

The Association of American Universities (AAU) and Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)  provide input on the Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Our members are committed to strengthening our nation’s biosecurity and protecting our country against potential biological threats. AAU and APLU support the Select Agent Program’s goal of overseeing the possession and use of potentially harmful pathogens and toxins as part of the government’s effort to prevent and respond to bioterrorism.

 In response to a request for comments, the Council on Governmental Relations and the Association of American Universities urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to construct a tiered list of select agents and toxins that reflects the relative bioterrorism risk of each agent and toxin.

Competing Responsibilities?: Addressing the Security Risks of Biological Research in Academia Report of a meeting on January 20-21, 2010 Prepared by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in conjunction with the Association of American Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universit

Dear Secretaries Veneman and Thompson: We represent the presidents, chancellors, and deans, as well as senior administrators, of America’s leading public and private universities and academic medical centers. We are writing to express our grave concern about the possible suspension of research involving select agents due to the inability of the federal agencies involved to “promptly” conduct statutorily required background checks.

Dear Ms. Thomas: We represent the presidents and chancellors, as well as senior administrators, of America’s leading public and private universities, and are writing to comment on the Interim Final Rule on Possession, use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins, 67 FR 76886. Many of our member universities perform research utilizing hazardous biological agents and toxins designated as "select agents" under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations. Accordingly, we have carefully reviewed the interim final rules published by both agencies in the December 13, 2002 Federal Register.

In recent years, concern has increased regarding use of biologic materials as agents of terrorism, but these same agents are often necessary tools in clinical and research microbiology laboratories. Traditional biosafety guidelines for laboratories have emphasized use of optimal work practices, appropriate containment equipment, well-designed facilities, and administrative controls to minimize risk of worker injury and to ensure safeguards against laboratory contamination.

Recommendations for Listing Dangerous Biological Agents and Toxins and for Establishing Standards and Procedures Governing Their Possession and Use INTRODUCTION This paper presents a discussion and recommendations on the recently enacted Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002..

September 16, 2002 Comments on Select Agents Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Infectious Diseases Select Agent Transfer Program 1600 Clifton Road, N.E. Mail Stop E-79 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 I am writing to submit comments on the revisions to the list of select agents and toxins found in 42..

Dear Secretary Thompson, The Association of American Universities represents 61 leading public and private research universities in the US, many of which perform research utilizing hazardous agents and toxins, which are designated as "select agents" under existing CDC regulations. Accordingly, we have an interest in the new Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-188), which requires these regulations to be modified..