45 
evaluation of the potential biohazards and the containment conditions they 
will use for the proposed projects. 
The peer group reviewing the scientific merit of a research proposal 
for the agency will then make an independent evaluation of the potential 
biohazards and determine whether the proposed containment conditions 
provide the appropriate safeguards, using the guidelines given here as 
their basic reference. If the review group concludes that the safeguards 
are appropriate, the grant would be processed on the basis of scientific 
merit in the usual fashion. 
If there is some question concerning the adequacy of the contain- 
ment capability that cannot be resolved at this level, then the matter 
may be referred to an appropriate committee. 
In those cases where the investigator wishes to initiate or signi- 
ficantly change research on recombinant DNAs under existing grants, the 
agency can, without peer review, make the decision to endorse this 
initiation or change. However, if there is some question regarding the 
adequacy of the containment capability that cannot be resolved at this 
level, the matter should be referred to the initial review group. 
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