Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
The UTHSC Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for reviewing research activities utilizing recombinant DNA (rDNA) and other biohazardous materials to ensure that UTHSC principal investigators and lab personnel utilize appropriate best practices when performing this type of work. All research by UTHSC investigators that utilizes rDNA, as defined in the NIH Guidelines, must be registered with the UTHSC IBC according to policies established by the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA).
What is rDNA?
The NIH Guidelines, initially published in 1976, were the first documents to formulate the concept of an IBC as the responsible entity for biosafety issues stemming from rDNA research. Per the NIH Guidelines, rDNA is defined as:
(1) 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.
Although the use of non-replicating synthetic nucleic acids, such as siRNA, would not be included in this definition and are considered Exempt by the NIH Guidelines, research utilizing these materials must still be registered with the IBC.
What are biohazardous materials?
Biohazardous materials include all infectious agents or biologically derived infectious materials that present either a risk or a potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment. The risk can be direct through infection or indirect through damage to the environment. Biohazardous materials include certain types of recombinant DNA; organisms that are infectious in humans, animals or plants (e.g. parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi, prions, etc.); and biologically active agents (i.e. toxins, allergens, venoms) that may cause disease in other living organisms or cause significant impact to the environment or community. Biological materials you may not consider to be biohazardous may still be regulated as biohazardous materials.
ABOUT
The UTHSC IBC is composed of faculty and a minimum of two community members. The faculty members have expertise in the use of the biological materials currently on this campus. The IBC community members represent the community interest in protecting the environment of our university. The role of the IBC has expanded over time, and the committee reviews rDNA research and other forms of research that entail biohazardous risks.
If you have expertise in biosafety, rDNA or infectious agents and would like to serve on the IBC, please contact the UTHSC IBC office.
Do I need IBC approval for my rDNA studies if I have funding from another agency other
than the NIH?
Yes. NIH policies require that all work carried on at an institution that receives
any NIH funding must be approved by the IBC. If you do not apply for and receive approval,
then the NIH funding of all investigators on our campus may be withheld.
How do I register my research involving rDNA?
Step by step instructions to register for IBC approval to conduct rDNA research are
available on the Steps to Submit IBC Protocols webpage.
IBC CHAIR
Mark A. Miller, PhD
mamiller@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.6752
IBC COORDINATOR
John Denton
ibc@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901.448.2164
MEMBERS
Timothy Barton
Vickie Baselski, PhD
Zheng Fan, PhD
David Hamilton, DVM
Jeannie Johnson
Kui Li, PhD
Glen Palmer, PhD
Kaushik Parthasarathi, PhD
Brandt Pence, PhD
Lawrence Pfeffer, PhD
Marko Radic, PhD
Radhakrishna Rao, PhD
Ramesh Ray, PhD
Jennifer Tate, PhD
Thirumalini Vaithianathan, PhD
Bayly Wheeler, PhD
Evelyn Wright-Lewis
Meeting Schedule
IBC meetings are scheduled for the first Friday of every month at 3:00pm, unless there is a holiday that conflicts with the meeting.
Protocol Submission Deadlines
The deadline for initial protocol submission is the 2nd Friday of the month. The deadline for revised protocols after they have been pre-reviewed and revised is the 4th Friday of the month.
BOARD MEMBERS
RESOURCES
Researchers
Getting a UT NetID if you don't have one
All key study personnel (KSP) associated with the project must have a UT NetID (username) and password to access and use iMedRIS (our electronic system). If any KSP associated with your project do not have a UT and iMedRIS account, you will not be able to add them to your project. If you have a UTHSC email account, then you have a UT NetID! Unsure of your status or forgot your password? Call the HELP desk: 901.448.2222.
Non-UTHSC users: a UT faculty/staff member on your study team will have to sponsor you into the UT system. Review instructions to request a sponsored NetID.
Note: Once you receive your UT NetID and password and your iMedRIS account has been set up, all iMedRIS/IBC correspondence will be sent automatically to your new UT email account. Contact the HELP Desk (901.448.2222) to have your new UT email forwarded to another email account.
Setting up iMedRIS access:
Once you have a UT NetID and password, you can log into iMedRIS; however, you will not have full access needed to begin an application.
To obtain full iMedRIS access:
- Log into iMedRIS with your UT NetID and password.
- Click the "Logout" button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. NOTE: Logging in and out of iMedRIS will automatically alert the Electronic Research Administration to set up your account.
- All iMedRIS/IBC correspondence will be sent automatically to your UT email. Contact the HELP Desk (901.448.2222) to have your new UT email forwarded to another email account.
The Office of Research Safety Affairs certifies biosafety cabinets (BSCs) and provides BSC services. FULL DETAILS>>
Instructions and information:
Correspondence
Downtime
Form Descriptions
IBC Classification Cheat Sheet
Incident Report
Investigator/Coordinator Guide
Personnel Change
Submission Response
Termination
Third Year Renewal Form
Turning off Pop-Up Blockers
Updated/Amendment Form
Annual Renewal Instructions
Training Videos:
Training
Be aware that biosafety cabinets must be certified on an annual basis. UTHSC provides BSC certification free of charge to UTHSC investigators (see link below)
Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Requests
Containment practices SOPs
Transport of potentially hazardous biological materials
Safety Labels
Safety Posters