OF
RECORD
Protocol for the
Use of Vaccinia Virus in Research
The Penn policy
on the use of vaccinia virus in research follows national
guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). The policy was revised in March
2003 to reflect recent changes in CDC vaccination guidelines.
It was approved by the University Institutional Biosafety
Committee (IBC) and is administered by the Office of
Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS). Principal
Investigators (PI's) must obtain written EHRS approval
to use vaccinia virus.
The recommendations
for vaccinia immunization differ depending upon the strain
of vaccinia virus that will be used in the individual
laboratory. While immunization is not a prerequisite
for working with vaccinia virus at the University, counseling
about vaccination is. If a laboratory uses certain specified
strains of vaccinia, all lab staff who directly handle
cultures or infected animals must receive mandatory confidential
counseling and (if it is medically appropriate) be offered
Vaccinia (Smallpox) vaccine by Occupational Medicine
prior to initiating work with vaccinia virus. EHRS
approval will be contingent on verification that the
PI and all lab staff have been counseled by Occupational
Medicine.
For a complete
copy of the Penn's vaccinia protocol, consult the EHRS
web site, www.ehrs.upenn.edu/protocols/vaccinia.html, or
call EHRS at (215) 898-4453.
--Dr. Neal Nathanson,
Vice Provost for Research
--Matthew D. Finucane,
Director,
Environmental Health & Radiation Safety
--Dr. Charles
E. Benson, Chair,
Institutional Biosafety Committee
Policy
on People Not Affiliated with the
University of Pennsylvania Who Work in
University Laboratories
Faculty and staff
who are coordinating summer programs and internships
for non-affiliates must adhere to the following policy:
Non-affiliates
are those people that are not University of Pennsylvania
students, faculty or staff. All non-affiliates working
in University laboratories must have proper training
in biological and chemical safety prior to participating
in University sponsored programs or activities.
To provide for
the safety of individuals and to ensure compliancse with
applicable regulations, the University has established
the following guidelines:
1. All non-affiliated
individuals who work in laboratories must attend
mandatory training programs on biological and
chemical safety offered by EHRS. For information on the
scheduling of these programs, check the EHRS web site (www.ehrs.upenn.edu) or
call (215) 898-4453.
2. Individuals
who work in laboratories must be participating
in officially sponsored University educational programs
or activities. Such programs or activities must be approved
by the Dean of the sponsoring School. EHRS should be
consulted to review approved programs to ensure relevant
safety issues have been addressed.
3. The Principal
Investigator is responsible for assuring that all non-affiliates
working in his/her laboratory are appropriately trained
and supervised.
-- Matthew Finucane,
Director
Environmental Health & Radiation Safety
-- Ronald Jasner, Associate Director
Risk Management