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About the Institutional Biosafety Committee

Last updated on February 18, 2025 3 min read Institutional Biosafety Committee - About the Institutional Biosafety Committee

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is an institutional committee created under the NIH guidelines to review research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and biohazardous materials.

Overview of Responsibilities

The IBC is responsible for overall oversight of the Biosafety Program at BU and Boston Medical Center. It carries out these functions pursuant to requirements set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the City of Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and Boston University.

It is the responsibility of the Institutional Biosafety Committee to:

  • Review technical and safety-related aspects of the use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, infectious agents and any other biohazardous agents;
  • Develop and maintain a safety and operations manual for use of etiologic and other potentially biohazardous agents;
  • Certify that facilities, procedures, and practices have been reviewed and approved;
  • Promulgate a Biosafety program in conjunction with the Director of Research Safety that satisfies federal, state, and local laws and regulations;
  • Limit, suspend or revoke an investigator’s authority to use biohazardous materials if such use presents a hazard to individuals or violates health and safety codes;
  • Implement the provisions of the use of Department of Health and Human Services Select Agents and Toxins;
  • Perform other duties to fulfill its charge, as may be required by the AVP-RC
View Charter

Dual Use Research of Concern Committee (DURCCom)

The Dual Use Research of Concern Committee (DURCCom) is Boston University’s Institutional Review Entity (IRE) and is responsible for institutional oversight of research that may be categorized as:

  • Life sciences research to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies, but could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security (Category 1).
  • Research that can reasonably anticipated to result in the development, use or transfer of pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP) may also pose a significant threat to public health through the potential accidental or deliberate introduction of a PEPP into a human population (Category 2).

The U.S. Government provides policies and guidelines that mandate federal, as well institutional oversight of such research activities. Research proposals falling into the categories described above are reviewed by the DURCCom subcommittee prior to their approval. Details of the policies and procedures of this subcommittee can be found here (download).

Human Gene Therapy Subcommittee

The Human Gene Therapy (HGT) subcommittee is responsible for the oversight and review of IBC applications involving the deliberate introduction of recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids into human subjects in order to protect research personnel, the BU community, and prevent environmental exposure to engineered genetic materials. HGT research oversight is required by NIH as described in Section III.C.1 in NIH Guidelines for Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acids.

Laboratory Acquired Infection Subcommittee

The Laboratory Acquired Infection (LAI) subcommittee is responsible for reviewing literature on all infectious agents and identifying pathogens that are being used for research purposes at BU, but may have the potential to cause serious infection in researchers or other laboratory-associated personnel in the laboratory setting. The LAI subcommittee meets annually to review and update current LAI list in Boston University. In addition, the LAI will advise and collaborate on recommendations with other standing committees and BU departments, including but not limited to: Research and Occupational Health (ROHP), the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).

Boston University Research Compliance
Institutional Biosafety Committee
85 East Newton Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02118

Phone: 617-358-7883
Fax: 617-358-7888
Email: IBC@bu.edu

IBC Staff

 

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