Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

About

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) ensures compliance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. This faculty-led committee provides oversight and guidance for research involving recombinant material and genome editing technologies, as well as research involving potentially hazardous biological agents that require special containment.

The IBC is responsible for ensuring that research using these materials is conducted in a manner that protects the researchers, laboratory workers, human research subjects, the public, and the environment. The IBC is authorized to inspect research facilities, approve research practices and procedures, and take actions, such as enforcement of cessation of research activities, in the event of an unsafe workplace situation. In addition to oversight of rsNA research, the IBC also oversees research involving Select Agents and all work requiring BSL-3 and/or ABSL-3 containment. IBC members are appointed by the Vice Provost for Research.