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

Subcommittees

  • Human Gene Therapy Committee
  • Laboratory Acquired Infection Advisory Committee

Contact Us

Boston University Research Compliance
Institutional Biosafety Committee
85 East Newton Street, M-419
Boston, MA 02118

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

IBC Staff

 

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