Radiation Safety Index Page > Radioactive Material Authorizations

A Principal Investigator (P.I.) who plans to possess or use radioactive materials in any form at Brown University must complete an Application for Authorization to possess and use Radioactive Materials (RSO-1). The P.I. should refer to the Radiation Safety Manual to complete this application. The Authorization specifies the radioactive materials the PI is permitted to use, the authorized chemical and physical form for those radioisotopes, the possession limits for each isotope, the authorized location of isotope use, and the authorized experimental protocol(s). Each RSO-1 is issued for a four-year term and must be renewed prior to its expiration. The application and approval process are described below:

Initial Application :: Renewal or Amendment Applications :: Authorization Process :: Cancellation

Initial Application [return to the top]

The first time that a Principal Investigator applies for radioactive material authorization at Brown University, he or she must submit an Application for Authorization to use Radioactive Material (RSO-1). The PI is encouraged to contact the Radiation Safety Officer with any questions concerning completing the forms. The PI should be aware that the entire authorization review and approval process may take as long as 3-4 weeks and may take longer for non-routine proposals, although the RSO may grant a 30-day temporary authorization under certain conditions.

Renewal or Amendment Applications [return to the top]

An Authorized User with a current authorization who wants to become authorized for additional radioisotopes shall submit an amendment to the authorization. An Authorized User shall apply for an amendment to his or her authorization under any of the following circumstances:

• To add or delete an authorized location for radioisotope use
• To increase or decrease the authorized possession limit
• To amend the authorized chemical or physical form
• To amend the authorized experimental protocol or to add a new experimental protocol
• To amend the experimental protocol to allow the in vivo or in vitro use of radioactivity in animals

An Authorized User who wishes to renew his/her authorization shall submit an Application for Renewal. However, the amount of paperwork is not as extensive as the original application. He or she must submit an Application for Renewal of/Amendment to the Authorization (RSO-2).

Authorization Process [return to the top]

1. When a Principal Investigator applies for radioisotope authorization, he or she must submit a copy of the RSO-1 forms described above for the Initial Application. The PI may use one application form for all the radioisotopes of interest. The PI is encouraged to contact the RSO with any questions concerning completing the forms.
2. The PI must sign the forms and mail them back through campus mail to the RSO. The forms can be submitted for initial review, but a hard copy of the signature page should be submitted.
3. After the RSO receives the forms, the RSO will review the application and will contact the PI to review the application and to review the requirements of the Brown University radiation safety program. The PI must complete the Brown University radiation safety training program at the earliest possible opportunity, even though the PI may have attended radiation safety training at other institutions and may be an experienced radioisotope user.
4. After the review is completed, the RSO will pass the application on to the Radiation Safety Committee, along with the RSO's recommendations regarding approval or disapproval of the application. Once it receives the application, the Committee will review the application and to act on the application at the next scheduled meeting.( Committee meetings are held quarterly).
5. The PI should be aware that the entire authorization review and approval process may take as long as 3-4 weeks and may take longer for non-routine proposals.
6. After the RSO receives notice that the application has been approved, a written notification will be sent to the PI that the application has been approved. As part of this notification, the PI is provided with a copy of a RSO-1 that specifies the radioisotopes that may be used, the possession limits that apply to each radioisotope, the location(s) in which radioisotope use may occur and any conditions that have been imposed on the PI's use of radioactive materials. Radioactive materials may not be ordered until the formal RSO-1 has been issued although the RSO can grant temporary approval.
7. Authorizations are issued for four-year periods and must be renewed at the end of the authorization period.

Canceling an Authorization [return to the top]

An Authorized User who does not plan to use radioactive materials under an authorization any longer or who plans to leave Brown University must submit a letter stating that the PI wishes to cancel his or her authorization. Before submitting the application, the Authorized User must either make arrangements to dispose of all radioactive materials as waste or must make arrangements to transfer the materials to another Authorized User.