Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is a federally mandated university committee responsible for reviewing research activities utilizing recombinant DNA (rDNA) and biohazardous materials to ensure that UTRGV principal investigators and lab personnel are adequately trained and utilize best practices when employing biological agents in research. At UTRGV the IBC also reviews research activities utilizing potentially hazardous biological agents.

All research by UTRGV investigators that involves the following biological agents, regardless of funding source, must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety (IBC) prior to initiation of work:

• Recombinant DNA is defined in the NIH Guidelines as; (1) nucleic acid molecules that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell, and (2) DNA molecules that result from the replication of these molecules.
• Hazardous Biological Agents (HBA’s) these include infectious organisms classified as BSL-2 or above agents by the NIH (CDC) such as pathogenic bacteria, protozoans, fungi, viruses, etc., including attenuated lab & vaccine strains. Human and other vertebrate biological products (cells, fluids, etc.), applicable primary and immortal cell lines, organotypic and tissue cultures involved in research that require universal precautions are also included.

The IBC reports to the National Institutes of Health Office of Biotechnology Activities (NIH-OBA), serves in an advisory and consultative capacity to UTRGV’s President and Senior Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, and New Program Development, works with the Environmental, Health, Safety and Risk Management (EHSRM) Office in matters pertaining to biological hazards. UTRGV’s IBC reviews, approves/disapproves or forwards applications for rDNA work to the NIH, advises on the safe handling, transport, shipment, storage, and disposal of potentially hazardous biological agents involved in research; may review plans for areas designated to be constructed or remodeled for biohazardous work, monitors adherence to best practices for research with biohazardous agents and facilities designed for use with such agents.

Next IBC Meeting:

Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 

Time: 1:00 p.m - 3:30 p.m*

Location:

UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization in Weslaco
307 E. Railroad St.
Weslaco, TX 78596
Room #117

Protocol Submission Deadline: February 7, 2025

IBC Resources

• Do I need an IBC Protocol?
• Laboratory Biosafety Checklist
• Immunization/Surveillance Schedule
• IBC Training Guide
• HBA Training Guide
• Training Addendum
• CITI Training
• EHSRM Training
• IBC Policies and Procedures
• NIH Office of Science Policy

tick@lab Training Resources

• tick@lab IBC-HBA for Amendments-Adding Personnel 2024
• tick@lab IBC-HBA for Training-Committee Members 2024
• tick@lab IBC-HBA for New Protocol Submission 2024 V.2
• tick@lab IBC-HBA for Annual Review Submissions 2024
• tick@lab IBC-HBA for Amendments 2024 V2
• tick@lab IBC-HBA for De-novo 2024