IBC Policies and Resources
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is an institutional committee created under the NIH Guidelines to review research involving recombinant DNA and synthetic nucleic acid research. The IBC also reviews all research involving biohazardous materials and has overall oversight and responsibility for the Biosafety program at BU and BMC. Please note that if you are performing […]
IBC Meeting Information and Review Process
Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines IBC meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in attending an IBC meeting, please contact IBC@bu.edu. IBC Meeting Minutes The minutes for the last three (3) years are continuously updated below. Prior to the three years posted, additional minutes may be requested by contacting the IBC office […]
IBC Approval and Submissions
All investigators planning to work on recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules or with any biohazardous materials must submit their research proposal to the IBC for review. The work may only be initiated after receiving approval from the IBC. Any subsequent changes to the proposal must be pre-approved by the IBC in the form of […]
IBC Meeting Minutes
Minutes Minutes from the BU Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) meetings are provided below. 2026 No January 2026 Meeting February 2026 Meeting Minutes March 2026 Meeting Minutes 2025 January 2025 Meeting Minutes February 2025 Meeting Minutes March 2025 Meeting Minutes April 2025 Meeting Minutes May 2025 Meeting Minutes June 2025 Meeting Minutes July 2025 Meeting Minutes […]
IBC Training and Other Requirements
Training is a critical component of any integrated biological safety program. Training is intended to provide the understanding, technical knowledge, and tools that the trainee can use to improve his or her daily laboratory safety practices. Biosafety training is required for all laboratory workers (faculty, staff, students, and visiting scientists) at BU and BMC in […]
Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Policy
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 […]
Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)
Although biological research produces useful knowledge for health, and in creating beneficial products and technologies, some research may present biosafety and biosecurity risks or provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be misapplied to do harm with no, or only minor, modification to pose a significant threat with potential consequences to public health and […]
Comprehensive Risk-Based Laboratory Inspection Program
Prepared by: Environmental Health & Safety 1. Introduction Academic research and teaching laboratories at Boston University (BU) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) use a variety of hazardous materials (e.g., chemical, biological, radiological), perform procedures with potential risks, use laboratory equipment (e.g., centrifuges, x-rays, lasers) that pose potential hazards, or pose risks of fire and life […]
Institutional Biosafety Committee Charter
Approved May 17, 2022 Scope of Committee Oversight The Institutional Biosafety Committee’s (IBC) scope extends to BU and Boston Medical Center (BMC) and to all laboratories affiliated with, served by, owned, or controlled by BU. Committee Responsibilities The IBC is an institutional committee created under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines to review research involving recombinant […]