The purpose of this site is to provide a simplified roadmap through the procedures required at Arkansas State for conducting research that utilizes recombinant DNA technology. Such guidance is needed because of a growing array of guidelines and regulations from a number of Federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as State agencies. These guidelines are not a substitute for specific federal or state guidelines; rather they are to help you determine whether you are doing recombinant DNA research that is subject to oversight of any type and has to be registered or approved.

The approval process for research involving recombinant DNA at Arkansas State is being changed from a project registration to a program approval to simplify the process and reduced the amount of duplicate paperwork. These guidelines describe the steps you need to take, both for the completion of forms and review of laboratory practices, in order to be in compliance with the various Federal, State and University regulations.

At Arkansas State, the IBC has assumed the responsibilities mandated by the NIH to review and oversee experiments to assure compliance as outlined in the "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules". In addition, the IBC fulfills the university's responsibility for oversight of biotechnology research involving planned introductions of genetically modified life forms into the environment that are subject to Federal regulations and provides requested information.