Institutional Biosafety Committee

Overview

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is a University-wide group Committee responsible for reviewing and approving recombinant DNA research and biohazard research projects. The IBC has overall oversight responsibility for the Biosafety Program at Boston University and Boston Medical Center. The committee sets containment levels in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also periodically reviews previously approved research projects for changes which would necessitate increasing or decreasing the Biological Safety Levels. Once a project has been approved, an approval letter is sent to the principal investigator; this letter lists the project’s IBC approval number(s), containment levels set by the IBC, project titles, and any additional requirements.

Specifically, the IBC evaluates research projects that use recombinant DNA, agents that are infectious to humans, animals and plants, other potentially infectious materials, select agents and biological toxins, human materials including blood, cells, unfixed human tissues and other body fluids, xenotransplant and gene transfer clinical studies. The IBC coordinates its application procedures with two other offices, Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) and the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS), in order to ensure that research personnel have adequate occupational health monitoring, training on safe work practices, exposure control emergencies and use of personal protective equipment. The IBC carries out these functions pursuant to requirements set forth by federal, state, and local agencies as well as Boston University.

In consultation with provosts and deans at both the medical campus and the Charles River campus, as well the BMC leadership, the Associate Vice President of Research Compliance appoints various committee members. These programs are guided and regulated by the federal Office of Biotechnology Activities, CDC guidelines entitled Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), federal Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) and the City of Boston Public Health Commission.

The IBC is composed of faculty investigators from both campuses with expertise in recombinant DNA and biohazards research, as well as non-scientist and community members, and a Biosafety Officer. In conjunction with the Office of Environmental Health & Safety and the Research Occupational Health Program, the IBC oversees the Biosafety Program for laboratory research with recombinant DNA and biohazards on the Charles River Campus and at the Boston University Medical Center. This includes the review and approval of all new research involving recombinant DNA and biohazards; continued review of approved research projects; review of laboratory inspection reports; investigation of complaints and concerns, and review of training and a medical surveillance programs. The Director of Environmental Health and Safety is the Responsible Official under the University’s registration with the CDC/ USDA Select Agents Program . The University’s Select Agents Program manages the permitting, inventory, security, facility containment and safety operations of all “select agents” at Boston University in accordance with federal and local regulations.

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