IBC Membership Institutional Biosafety Committee

Review recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research and research with Risk Group 2 (RG2) or higher infectious agents to ensure compliance with the NIH Guidelines, UK policies, and other federal, state, and local regulations regarding biological safety. Reviews must include:

• Independent assessment of the containment levels required by NIH and other appropriate guidelines for the proposed research;
• Assessment of the facilities, procedures, practices, and training and expertise of personnel involved in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and biohazardous materials research; and
• Ensuring compliance with all surveillance, data reporting, reporting of significant incidents, problems, and violations, and adverse event reporting requirement required by the NIH and other appropriate guidelines. Establish and implement policies that provide for the safe conduct of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or biohazardous materials and ensure compliance with the NIH Guidelines. 

To ensure the competence necessary to review and approve research with recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or other biohazardous materials, the UK IBC must include:

• Persons with expertise in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules technology, biological safety, and physical containment;
• Or have available as consultants persons knowledgeable in institutional commitments and policies, applicable law, standard of professional conduct and practice, community attitudes, and the environment; and
• At least one member representing the laboratory technical staff.

• No fewer than six (6) members selected such that they collectively have experience and expertise in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules technology and biohazardous materials, the capability to assess the safety of work with these materials, and the ability to identify potential risks to public health and the environment.
• At least two (2) members shall not be affiliated with the Institution (apart from their membership on the UK IBC).
• At least one (1) individual with expertise in plant, plant pathogen, or plant pest containment principles.
• At least one (1) individual with expertise in animal containment principles.
• Chairperson(s) shall be a tenured member of the University of Kentucky faculty.
• Two (2) Ex-Officio Members - UK Biological Safety Officer and a veterinarian of the University of Kentucky Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR).

NO IBC member may be involved (except to provide information as requested by the IBC) in the review or approval of a project in which he/she has been or expects to be engaged or has a direct financial interest. It is each IBC members responsibility to disclose any conflict of interest when conducting IBC reviews and to excuse themselves from deliberations and voting. 

ALL IBC members must complete the UK IBC Member Conflict of Interest statement.

In the course of IBC reviews, members may be privy to confidential business information (CBI) or other sensitive information. All IBC members are required to agree to and sign a confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement. This agreement shall be in effect the entire term of the IBC member's tenure on the committee plus an additional two years. 

All IBC members must complete the UK IBC Member Confidentiality Agreement Form.

All IBC members are required to complete IBC Member Training annually. IBC Member Training module is available online HERE or available in-person upon request. IBC Member Training covers the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules and other relevant regulations, UK IBC policies and procedures, and IBC protocol review. 

Mini-training sessions are conducted during scheduled IBC meetings as needed.