Biosafety

Don't forget about export controls when doing international shipments.

Recent times where things went wrong

Department of Commerce Fines Princeton University $54,000 (pdf) for shipping internationally various strains and recombinants of animal pathogens from the United States to various overseas research institutions without the required export licenses.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for reviewing all University research and teaching activities involving the use of biohazards, recombinant DNA molecules, select agents, or bloodborne pathogens whether the activities are carried out on campus or off campus (usually under other Institutional Biosafety Committees).

The IBC will review and authorize for 3 years, research involving: human pathogens; human blood, body fluids, or tissues; animal pathogens; plant pathogens; biological toxins; infected animals or tissues (including field work), recombinant DNA, or Select Agents & Toxins. Most biological research requires IBC authorization prior to initiation. The IBC committee roster and meeting minutes can be found here.

In addition the IBC provides oversight for biological agents which might fall under the Dual Use Research of Concern.

All questions and inquiries can be made at James Kovacs (jkovacs2@uccs.edu) or Cynthia Norton (cnorton@uccs.edu) at 719-255-3212.

IBC Application

When to Use

Required for all IBC applications

Revision Date

December 2022

IBC Application (MS word document)

Attachment II-A Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules

When to Use

Use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (e.g., Use of GFP inserts)
GeneTherapy/Vaccine Experiment/Use of Human Research Participant

Revision Date

Oct 2020

IBC Attachment II-A (MS word document)

Attachment II-B Biohazardous Agents and Toxins

When to Use

Use of biohazardous agents and Toxins (except those listed below)>
Use of infected or potentially infected cell lines , tissue or bodily fluids (except those listed below), primary cells>
Use of animal cell lines, infected or potentially infected tissue or bodily fluids

Those items not requiring use of this form

Use of human blood or blood products like serum, plasma or cell preparation or other bodily fluids (i.e. urine) which are not known or anticipated to be infected

Revision Date

July 2017

IBC Attachment II-B (MS word document)

Attachment II-C Plants

When to Use

Use of transgenic and/or pathogenic plants

Revision Date

Oct 2020

Attachement II-C (MS Word Document)

Attachment II - Worksheet 1 - Recombinant DNA Experiments Questionnaire

When to Use

Use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (e.g., Use of GFP inserts)

Revision Date

April 2024

IBC Attachment II Worksheet 1 (MS word document)

Attachment II - Worksheet 2 - Animal Experiment Questionnaire

When to Use

If your research involves animals and use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (e.g., Use of GFP inserts) or

If your research involves of CDC/USDA Select Agents/Toxins and use of laboratory animal subjects with Biological Agents/Cells/Materials

Revision Date

Oct 2020

IBC Attachment II Worksheet 2 (MS word document)

Biosafety Application Addendum Form

When to Use

The Addendum form can be used for less significant updates, such as those involving changes in personnel, or locations.

Revision Date

Oct 2020

IBC Biosafety Application Addendum Form (MS word document)

IBC Biosafety Annual Update Form

When to Use

Annual confirmation of continued research and personnel updates

Revision Date

Oct 2020

IBC Biosafety Annual Update Form (MS word document)

Biosafety Resources

IBC Biosafety Training
All Principal Investigators, staff and students involved in Biosafety related activities are required to be trained - go here to find out more
Risk Group Database