Program Overview

BSAA Members’ Brainstorming session to discuss the Draft Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards. During this Brown Bag Session, we will be providing an overview of the new policy provided below. In addition, we will gather members’ questions as we prepare for a webinar that BSAA plans to hold on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

NIH Releases Draft Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards for Public Comment

  Today, NIH has issued a request for public comments on its Draft Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards (Biosafety Policy).

In September 2025, NIH announced its intention to strengthen and modernize biosafety oversight. Since then, NIH has extensively engaged stakeholders to inform the development of a new oversight paradigm better calibrated to risk.  

NIH invites stakeholders to provide feedback on the Draft Biosafety Policy as well as the associated Draft Incident Reporting Template, and Draft Meeting Minutes Template. Comments must be submitted though the online portal found at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/comment-form-draft-nih-biosafety-policy-for-research-involving-biohazards and will be accepted until October 19, 2026.

To further assist stakeholders in interpreting the Draft Biosafety Policy, NIH has also developed a summary table of proposed changes. 

Questions may be sent to SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov.  

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Interactive Discussion Format

✔ Brief policy overview to set context

✔ Real-time Q&A and peer exchange

✔ Opportunity to compare institutional approaches

✔ Open dialogue on challenges, gray areas, and best practices

Who Should Attend

1. Biosafety Officers and Biosafety Professionals
2. IBC Administrators and Members
3. Research Compliance Professionals
4. Anyone responsible for reviewing or reporting unanticipated research outcomes

Key Takeaway

If an unanticipated outcome occurred in your program today—would you recognize it, and would you know what to do next?

Standing BSAA Faculty

Bill Greer

Assistant Vice President for Research, University of Michigan

Bill Greer is a nationally recognized leader in research compliance with more than 35 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and nonprofit professional organizations. At the University of Michigan, he oversees institutional programs for animal care and use, biosafety, laboratory safety, controlled substances, and emerging autonomous systems.

Bill began his career in industry as a production manager and safety director at Intervet (formerly Tri Bio Laboratories) before transitioning to higher education, where he has held senior roles including Associate Director for Research Compliance, IACUC Vice-Chair, and Biosafety Committee Chair at The Pennsylvania State University. He earned his degree in Microbiology from The Pennsylvania State University.

In 2005, Bill founded the Research Administrators’ Best Practice Meetings, creating a nationally respected forum for research oversight professionals to address real-world programmatic challenges. He continues to facilitate multiple Best Practice Meetings annually focused on biosafety and animal care and use programs.

Bill also chaired the founding committee of the IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) in 2010 and continues to serve as its president and board chair. Since 2007, he has served as an ad hoc consultant to AAALAC International, conducting institutional program reviews and assessments. A frequent speaker and educator, Bill regularly presents at PRIM&R, AALAS, BTAA, C3, and BSAA-sponsored programs, supporting both IBC and IACUC administrative communities nationwide.

Jonah Lee, PhD

Senior Associate Director, University of Michigan

Dr. Jonah Lee brings deep scientific expertise and administrative leadership to biosafety and animal research oversight, with a strong focus on enhancing researcher experience while maintaining regulatory rigor. In his role at the University of Michigan, he provides thought leadership, program oversight, and process optimization across the Animal Care & Use Program.

Working closely with research administration and academic leadership, Dr. Lee leads the strategic development of research engagement infrastructure and institutional support resources. His background in biomedical sciences includes extensive research in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, with a focus on aging skeletal muscles.

Dr. Lee completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Muscle Biology at the University of Kentucky and has led federally funded research involving both small and large animal models across multiple departments. His combined experience as a scientist and administrator brings a practical, researcher-informed perspective to biosafety and compliance discussions.

Andrew Maksymowych, PhD

Associate Director, Biosafety Programs, University of Pennsylvania

Andrew Maksymowych has more than three decades of experience in research, teaching, and biosafety oversight. Since 2006, he has served at the University of Pennsylvania as Associate Director for Biological Safety Programs, Institutional Biosafety Officer, IBC Administrator, and Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research.

Andrew serves on multiple institutional advisory committees, including the Vice Provost for Research Human Research Advisory Committee, the Human Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee, and the Cadaver and Body Parts Oversight Committee. He holds a B.S. and M.S. from Villanova University and a PhD in Biochemistry from Bryn Mawr College.

Prior to Penn, Andrew held a faculty appointment at Thomas Jefferson University, where his research focused on protein structure-function relationships, including neurotoxins affecting the human nervous system - most notably botulinum neurotoxins. An active BSAA contributor since attending his first Best Practice Meeting in 2015, Andrew remains deeply engaged in advancing biosafety education and professional collaboration.

Raymond F. Scheetz, MS, RBP

Institutional Biosafety Officer & Compliance Manager, Penn State College of Medicine

Ray Scheetz serves as Institutional Biosafety Officer and Compliance Manager at the Penn State College of Medicine within the Research Quality Assurance Office. He oversees all aspects of biosafety compliance, including protocol reviews, biosafety training, annual laboratory surveys, emergency response coordination, and equipment and asset management.

Ray is an active member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Research Mission Team, and institutional research emergency task forces. In addition to his institutional role, he serves as a biosafety consultant for Clinical Biosafety Services (CBS) / Shield Consulting.

Previously, Ray spent 25 years as a Laboratory Manager in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Penn State College of Medicine, where he managed a BSL-3 facility and supported complex infectious disease research programs. His extensive operational experience provides a grounded, practical perspective on biosafety program implementation.