Which types of incidents must NIH OSP be notified about?

The NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) must be notified about personal injuries involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) materials because such incidents pose significant safety concerns and regulatory implications. The involvement of rDNA materials indicates a potential risk for exposure to genetically engineered organisms, which could have specific health, environmental, and ethical ramifications. Reporting such incidents helps ensure that appropriate measures are taken to evaluate the risks, improve safety protocols, and comply with federal regulations governing biohazards and genetic research.

While other types of incidents, like laboratory mishaps and environmental contamination, are also important, they may be addressed by different safety or regulatory bodies within the institution or organization, depending on the situation. Personal injuries specifically involving rDNA have direct implications related to the NIH's oversight of genetic research, making it critical for such incidents to be reported to the NIH OSP for proper assessment and response.