Guidelines regarding research involving biohazards

Research Involving Biohazards

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has established an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) whose responsibilities need not be restricted to recombinant DNA and shall meet the requirements as outlined in Section IV-B-2 of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines.

A. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) represents a committee that meets the requirements for membership specified by the NIH and reviews, approves, and oversees projects in accordance with the responsibilities defined by the NIH. The IBC shall be established by the institution and represent a collective expertise and experience in recombinant DNA research experiments and potential risk to public health or the environment.

B. On behalf of the institution, the IBC is responsible for reviewing for compliance with the NIH Guidelines for research with pathogens and recombinant DNA research. This review shall include an independent assessment of the containment levels required by these Guidelines for the proposed research, an assessment of the procedures, the practices, and of the training and expertise of personnel. The IBC will notify the Principal Investigator (PI) and University Public Safety (UPS) of the results of its review. The IBC will also be responsible for setting containment levels as specified by NIH Guidelines and direct UPS to periodically review laboratory conditions where recombinant DNA or other biohazardous research is being conducted to ensure that the requirements of the Guidelines are being fulfilled.

C. The IBC will collaborate with the UPS official and report to the Office of Recombinant DNA Activities at the NIH any significant problems with or violations of the Guidelines and any significant research-related accidents or illness unless the IBC determines that the PI has already done so.

D. The IBC may not authorize initiation of experiments not explicitly covered by the Guidelines until the NIH (with the advice of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee of the NIH, when required) establishes the containment required.

E. The IBC may be involved in performing such other functions as may be delegated to the IBC under personnel descriptions.