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announcement

Important Note: The United States Government (USG) Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research was released on July 28, 2026. The policy defines areas of life sciences research that pose the greatest risk as well as proposes new enhanced review and reporting requirements for investigators and institutions conducting this type of research.

Please note that the eCOMS protocols and COMS Policies will be updated to adhere to these new requirements. More information will be provided soon. Please contact your Institutional Biosafety Officer or the COMS Office with any questions.

Harvard University
Committee on Microbiological Safety
Committee on Microbiological Safety
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COMS Policies

COMS is responsible for reviewing all research projects at Harvard and its Affiliated Institutions involving specific materials, COMS-Regulated Materials (“CRM”), as defined in the Policy Introduction. For research that falls under the purview of the NIH Guidelines, COMS reviews all projects conducted at or sponsored by COMS. 

Policies guiding all COMS regulated projects: 

  • Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
  • COMS Introduction Policy
  • COMS Policy on Recommended Containment Levels for Adenoviral Vectors in Laboratory Rats, Laboratory Mice and Laboratory Rabbits
  • COMS Policy on Recommended Containment Levels for use of Retroviral Vectors in Laboratory Rats, Laboratory Mice and Laboratory Rabbits
  • Biosafety Level 2+ Policy
  • Clinical Trials Policy
  • COMS Incident Reporting Policy
  • COMS Inspection Policy
  • Lentiviral Vector Policy
  • Liquid Waste Policy
  • Minutes Policy
  • Minutes Redaction Policy
  • Protocol Review Policy
  • Sharps Policy
  • Solid Waste Policy
  • COMS Training Policy
  • Validation and Use of Attenuated Organisms Policy

Appendices

  1. Biosafety Level 1 Practices
  2. Biosafety Level 2 Practices
  3. Biosafety Level 2+ Practices
  4. Biosafety Level 2 Additional Stipulations 
Committee on Microbiological Safety
email COMS@hms.harvard.edu
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