Several years ago, Kansas University engineering professor Rick Hale was approached by Raytheon Aircraft Co. to complete research on one of its airplanes.

Because the research involved what Raytheon officials considered sensitive trade secrets they didn’t want picked up by Boeing or other competitors, Hale wouldn’t have been able to publish the findings of the study, as is customary among scientists.

Under KU policy, the restrictions meant Hale wasn’t allowed to do the research.

That might not be the case much longer. A proposed change in research policy would open the door for KU faculty to conduct more sensitive research that can be kept under wraps for longer periods of time.

“It’s a balancing act,” Hale said. “It’s up to the individual (researcher) to make the case, on a case-by-case basis, to have the option to do what can be more cutting-edge research.”

For years, KU’s rules kept researchers from accepting projects with results they weren’t allowed to publish in scientific journals for more than three years. Projects with restrictions of less than three years had to be approved by the Classified Research Subcommittee, a division of University Governance.

The new policy would allow scientists to pursue projects that have indefinite publishing restrictions. The committee would still review and approve the research.

Hale, who helped draft the new policy, said the change would bring KU up to standards already in place at many other universities. In some cases, he said, research can be published while withholding sensitive details as a compromise.

The new policy has been approved by the Faculty Council. It now is being reviewed by the entire faculty for comment.

Hale said restricted research had grown more important after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Before the attacks, for example, there were about 40 substances listed as restricted on the federal government’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations list, which contains substances that could be used as biological agents against the United States and often have strict publication restrictions. Now, that list has about 140 substances.

That’s one of the main reasons David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, said he supported the changes.

“The world has changed so much in the past years with homeland security,” Shulenburger said. “This recognizes that new environment and specifies the conditions under which we can do things that can’t be immediately published.”

The new policy wouldn’t allow KU researchers to work on top-secret government projects. It also continues to specifically outlaw research that would be used to develop materials or weapons used to kill or harm humans.

Dan Spencer, an associate professor of business, chairs the University Governance Research Committee. He wasn’t sure how much additional research the policy would bring to the university.

“I’d suspect there are some dollars out there, but they aren’t large,” he said.

Spencer said he was convinced the proper checks were in place to make sure the restricted research was appropriate for campus.

“There certainly is in existence this committee that ensures the researcher and any of the agreements or sources of funding meet the guidelines,” he said.