Biosafety
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) must review and approve all research and teaching projects involving hazardous biological materials, including:
- Recombinant DNA (as defined by the NIH Guidelines and including transgenic animals and plants)
- Select Agents (defined by 42 CFR Part 73, 9 CFR Part 121 and 7 CFR Part 331)
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All RG-2 or greater human or zoonotic pathogens
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Animal pathogens that cause diseases reportable to the State Veterinarian & Plant pathogens that are not indigenous to the state of Georgia
It must also review and approve any diagnostic testing that involves the propagation of RG3 pathogens or Select Agents and Toxins. This review ensures that work is conducted in a manner that does not pose significant risk to the health and safety of laboratory workers, the public, or the environment, and to ensure compliance with applicable external regulations and University of Georgia policies.
Contents:
Biosafety Protocol Submissions
IBC Meetings and Proposal Submission Deadlines
IBC Meeting Schedule
IBC Members
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Training
Resources
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Have some questions? Please review these helpful documents when filling out the IBC Protocal Submission Form:
Biosafety Protocol Submissions
- PI submits IBC Protocol Review Form to Office of Biosafety for review. Protocols must be submitted for full committee review no later than one month prior to the scheduled meeting date. Protocols received after that date will be put on the agenda for the following month’s meeting (see IBC meeting schedule below).
- Criteria for Full Committee review: Work involves a Select Agent or toxin, BSL3 or 4 agent, rDNA, or transgenic plants/animals.
- Criteria for Sub-Committee review: Work involves BSL2 human. pathogens, or state or USDA reportable pathogens (animal or plant).
- IBC coordinator conducts Primary Review of protocol. May request protocol modifications from PI.
- PI modifies and re-submits to IBC coordinator.
- Full Committee review or Sub-Committee reviews protocol. Committee can choose to:
- Approve protocol – IBC coordinator will issue authorization.
- Conditionally approve protocol – IBC coordinator will issue a conditional approval (e.g., no work can begin until appropriate federal permits are in place).
- Table protocol – IBC coordinator will contact PI for additional info requested by the committee for approval; to be resubmitted for review at the next convened IBC meeting.
- Protocol is not approved – IBC coordinator will inform PI that protocol has not been approved.
- IBC coordinator generates authorization form:
- Authorization is filed with Office of Biosafety
- Authorization notification goes to Sponsored Programs
- Authorization notification goes to Animal Care
- Authorization notification goes to PI and co-PIs
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- IBC Administrator sends Annual Renewal/Modification request to PI at least one month prior to authorization expiration date.
- PI submits IBC Protocol Renewal and Modification Form to IBC Administrator.
- If no or minor changes, renewal is automatically approved.
- Authorization is filed with Office of Biosafety
- Authorization notification goes to Sponsored Programs
- Authorization notification goes to Animal Care
- Authorization notification goes to PI and co-PIs
- If significant changes, PI submits new IBC Protocol Review Form to IBC Coordinator (see 1 above).
IBC Meetings and Proposal Submission Deadlines
IBC Meetings are held at noon to 2:00 pm on the fourth Thursday of every month in room 124, Tucker Hall unless noted otherwise. Protocols must be submitted for full review by the first Thursday of the month prior to the scheduled meeting date. Protocols received after that date will be put on the agenda for the following month’s meeting.
IBC Meeting Schedule
| Submission Date for Full Committee Review | Meeting Date |
|---|---|
| 6/06/2024 | 6/27/2024 |
| 7/03/2024 | 7/25/2024 |
| 8/01/2024 | 8/22/2024 |
| 8/29/2024 | 9/19/2024 |
| 10/03/2024 | 10/24/2024 |
| November | No meeting |
| 11/07/2024 | 12/05/2024 |
IBC Members
| Name of IBC Member or Code | Degree/Credentials | Position Title | NIH policy Membership Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Eric Lafontaine | PhD | Professor-Infectious Disease | IBC Chair |
| 02 | DVM, DACLAM | Director-Research Compliance | DVM-Alternate |
| 03 | BS | Research Professional | Lab Tech Staff |
| 04 | PhD | Professor-Infectious Diseases | Scientist |
| 05 | PhD | Associate Professor- Microbiology | Scientist |
| 06 | PhD | Associate Professor-Food Science and Technology | Scientist |
| 07 | DVM, BSc, PhD | Associate Professor- Vet Teaching Hospital- Director Infection Control | Scientist |
| 08 | DVM, PhD | Professor-Population Health- Director URAR | DVM |
| 9. Patrick Stockton | MS, RBP | Director of Biosafety | Biosafety Officer/RO |
| 10 | PhD | Professor-Population Health | Scientist |
| 11 | PhD | Associate Professor-Plant Pathology | Scientist |
| 12 | MS | Director-Research Safety | Nonscientist |
| 13 | BS | Retired-Aerospace Engineer | Nonaffiliated Community Member |
| 14. Andrea Ferrero-Perez | BS | Biosafety Manager | Ex-Officio- IBC Coordinator |
| 15. Manley Kiser | MS | Associate Biosafety Officer | Biosafety-Alternate |
| 16 | PhD | Professor- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Scientist-Alternate |
| 17 | PhD | Professor-Population Health | Scientist |
| 18 | BS | Retired-Research Professional | Nonaffiliate Community Member |
| 19 | DVM, PhD | Clinical Veterinarian- Assistant Director | DVM-Alternate |
| 20 | PhD | Associate Professor – Infectious Diseases | Scientist - Alternate |
| 21 | PhD | Professor -Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - CCRC | Scientist - Alternate |
| 22 | BS | Research Occupational Health Nurse – Office of | Safety Nurse |
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Training
Irrespective of funding resources, all research or teaching projects at the University of Georgia that involve the use of recombinant DNA techniques must be reported to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for review and approval. In order to full-fill this federally mandated requirement, researchers must understand which classification of recombinant DNA use covers their work according to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines).
While conducting research subject to the NIH Guidelines, the PI must:
- Determine the need for IBC review before modifying recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research already approved by the IBC.
- Submit any subsequent changes (e.g., changes in the source of DNA or host-vector system) to the IBC for review and approval or disapproval.
- Remain in communication with the IBC throughout the duration of the project.
- Report any significant problems pertaining to the operation and implementation of containment practices and procedures, violations of the NIH Guidelines, or any significant research-related accidents and illnesses to the IBC, NIH OBA, and, as applicable, the Biological Safety Officer, Greenhouse or Animal Facility Director, and other appropriate authorities.
To assist researchers with the understanding of these guidelines and to establish effective reporting to the IBC, the Office of Biosafety has provided the following overview documents for training purposes. These overview documents, provided by the NIH, some of which have been modified by the UGA Biosafety Officer, will aid in better understanding the responsibilities and scope associated with the NIH Guidelines.
- NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules
- NIH Recombinant Guidelines Training for Researchers
- FAQs about incidents involving rDNA reportable to the Office of Biosafety (Note: the reporting of incidents to the NIH OBA should only occur through the Office of Biosafety and the IBC)
- Dual Use Research of Concern (training)