The goal of the University of Rhode Island Biosafety Program is to promote safety and minimize the risks of performing biological research to URI staff and students, the community, and the environment by providing scientific review and oversight of biological research.

Biological Research is defined as any laboratory research activity involving:

• Recombinant DNA (rDNA),
• Biological agents (i.e., viable infectious microorganisms – including prions – regardless of their pathogenicity to humans)
• Human or nonhuman primate materials ( (e.g., blood, unfixed tissue, cell lines)
• Biological toxins subject to the National Select Agents Registry Program managed by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA).

Policies and Procedures

• Biosafety Manual
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix A – Exposure Control Plan for Researchers
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix B – Standard and Special Microbiological Practices SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix C – Safe Use of Biosafety Cabinets SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix D – Safe Use of Centrifuges SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix E – Avoiding the Production of Biological Aerosols SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix F – Transporting Biohazardous Materials SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix G – Sharps Handling and Disposal SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix H – Managing Regulated Medical Waste
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix I – Disinfectants for Biohazardous Materials SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix J – Biohazard Spill Management Plan SOP
• Biosafety Manual – Appendix K – Centrifuge Safety Poster

• Biosafety SOPs
• Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Biosafety Training
• URI Laboratory Waste Guidebook
• Safe Handling and Disposal of Antineoplastic and Other Drugs
• Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS) Guidance

Forms

• *NEW*Biohazardous Waste Pickup Request
• 2025 Biowaste Pickup Schedule
• Field Research Safety Plan (template)
• Incident Reporting Form

Resources

• American Biological Safety Association (ABSA)
• ABSA Membership – Student Memberships are $25
• ABSA Mentoring Program
• NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules
• ABSA Lab-Acquired Infection (LAI) Database 
• CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 6th Edition
• CDC Guidelines for Safety Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories
• URI CITI Guidance: Training 
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
• Pathogen Safety Data Sheets
• CDC Biological Risk Assessment
• Working Safely in a Biosafety Cabinet (LBNL Video)