Institutional Biosafety Committee
An Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is required at institutions that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research involving recombinant DNA molecules. All recombinant DNA research at University of Florida (UF), regardless of funding source, must be conducted in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules and must be registered with the UF IBC. The UF IBC also reviews and approves registrations for the possession and use of BSL-3 pathogens and USDA/HHS Select Agents.
The IBC works in conjunction with the University of Florida Biological Safety Office to establish, monitor, and enforce policies or procedures for work with biohazardous materials. The IBC is authorized to inspect research facilities; register, review, and approve research protocols; and to take actions to enforce safe research practices or halt research activities in the event of unsafe practices that endanger worker, community, or environmental health.
The IBC meets every month, currently on the third Wednesday of the month, for review and approval of protocols and to discuss other business relevant to the charter of the IBC.
Committee Charter
To ensure that all recombinant DNA research conducted at the University of Florida or sponsored by the University of Florida is conducted in compliance with the National Institutes of Health Recombinant DNA Guidelines, and to review and approve research that is in conformity with the Guidelines;
To ensure that research protocols involving BSL3 agents and USDA/HHS Select Agents, including but not limited to recombinant DNA, are reviewed and found to comply with all national, state, and local requirements;
To interpret guidelines and/or regulations pertaining to biological materials, and provide technical assistance to the University of Florida (UF) Biological Safety Office and University Community on these matters, such as the safe handling, transport, use, and disposal of biological materials, including recombinant DNA molecules.
Membership
Membership consists of two community members (non-UF), a non-doctoral member, the University Biosafety Officer, and other members with expertise in biosafety, plant science, animal science, virology, bacteriology, pathology, and (human) gene therapy.
Procedure for IBC Protocol Registration and Review
- Principal Investigators must submit a registration form [LINK HERE] for all protocols requiring IBC review to the Biological Safety Office in accordance with this schedule.
- After initial review of the protocols by the Biological Safety Office staff, investigators may be asked to modify or correct protocols. All modifications and corrections must be submitted to the Safety Office prior to the IBC meeting.
- Experiments involving deliberate transfer of rDNA into human subjects must also be reviewed by the NIH OBA (Appendix M of the NIH Guidelines) and a University of Florida IRB.
- If UF has an INSTITUTIONAL conflict of interest, such as owning the technology, the Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) can be the IRB of record, but the UF IRB must be allowed to comment prior to submission to the WIRB; the WIRB will take those comments into consideration.
- Transfer of rDNA into human subjects studies also require the submission of:
a study protocol
informed consent
investigator brochure
copies of relevant RAC correspondence
- Experiments involving any animal work must also be approved by the University of Florida IACUC. IACUC protocols will not receive final approval until Biological Safety Office and/or IBC approval is obtained. Biological Safety Office staff advise the IACUC staff of approved, denied, or tabled projects.
- Experiments involving any Select Agents as defined by the USDA or CDC must be registered by the CDC or USDA. These protocols must be submitted to the Biological Safety Office to begin the CDC/USDA registration process and have approval from the IBC.