Life sciences pertains to living organisms (e.g., microbes, human beings, animals, and plants) and their products, including all disciplines and methodologies of biology such as aerobiology, agricultural science, plant science, animal science, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, microbiology, synthetic biology, virology, molecular biology, environmental science, public health, modeling, engineering of living systems, and all applications of the biological sciences. The term is meant to encompass the diverse approaches to understanding life at the level of ecosystems, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, and molecules.

Dual Use Research is research conducted for legitimate purposes that can be utilized for both benevolent and harmful purposes.

Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) is a subset of dual use research defined as life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security. Activities constituting DURC will comply with University policy 5-708, Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC).

Institutional Review Entity (IRE) is a committee established by the institution as described in the USG Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern and empowered to execute the requirements of this Policy.

High-Consequence Agents or Toxins defined by USG Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern as Avian influenza virus (highly pathogenic), Bacillus anthracis, Botulinum neurotoxin, Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Ebola virus, Foot-and-mouth disease virus, Francisella tularensis, Marburg virus, Reconstructed 1918 Influenza virus, Rinderpest virus, Toxin-producing strains of Clostridium botulinum, Variola major virus, Variola minor virus, Yersinia pestis.  Identified Agents or Toxins must be evaluated for potential DURC.

Institutional Official (IO) is the individual who, as a representative of senior administration, bears ultimate responsibility for the DURC program and is responsible for resource planning and ensuring alignment of program goals with the President's mission. The IO is the Vice President for Research.

Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research (ICDUR) is the individual designated by the IO to serve as an institutional point of contact for questions regarding compliance with and implementation of the requirements for the oversight of DURC as well as the liaison (as necessary) between the institution and the relevant USG funding agency.  The ICDUR is the Director of Regulatory Services.