TAMU-CC Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Purpose or Function: The TAMU-CC Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for ensuring safeguards in human health and the environment by maintaining adherence to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) and the Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th ed. It is the policy of the university that all research, clinical, and teaching activities involving biohazardous materials be conducted in a safe manner to protect the greater community at large, as well as the academic community. The IBC has the authority to approve, disapprove, monitor, and require modifications in all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified by both the federal regulations and institutional policy.

The TAMU-CC IBC is charged with the following responsibilities:

• Review and approval of ALL research proposals that include biological agents and recombinant DNA;
• Approval of safety practices;
• Setting biosafety containment levels (Section III-D-2-b, III-D-5; NIH Guidelines);
• Conducting periodic review to ensure compliance – lab inspections are conducted on an annual basis;
• Overseeing biosafety training practices;
• Reporting significant problems or violations of the NIH Guidelines; and
• Performing other functions as deemed necessary by the institution (Section IV-B-2; NIH Guidelines).

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi is registered with the National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy. For those that are interested or need to view the registration, it can be located on NIH’s website.

Membership:

• At least five (5) members whose collective experience and expertise in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule technology can assess the safety of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule research and to identify any potential risk to public health or the environment. NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-2-a-(1)-(2);
• At least two members from the surrounding community not affiliated with TAMU-CC (apart from their membership on the IBC) who represent the interest of the surrounding community with respect to health and protection of the environment (e.g., officials of state or local public health or environmental protection agencies, members of other local governmental bodies, or persons active in medical, occupational health, or environmental concerns in the community);
• At least one expert in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid technology (When conducting or sponsoring research with recombinant or synthetic nucledic acid molecules);
• At least one expert in biological safety and physical containment. NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-2-a-(2);
• At least one expert in select agents and toxins (use, storage, transfer, and disposal);
• At least one expert in plant, plant pathogen, or plant pest containment principles (when experiments subject to Appendix P, Physical and Biological Containment for Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecule Research Involving Plants). NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-1-d; NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-4;
• At least one expert in animal containment principles (when experiments subject to Appendix Q, Physical and Biological Containment for Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecule Research Involving Animals). NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-1-e; NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-5; and
• Biosafety Officer if the institution conducts research at BL3, BL4, or conducts Large Scale research (defined as research in which a single containment vessel has greater than 10 liters). NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-1-c; NIH Guidelines Section IV-B-3.
• IBC member candidates will be recruited based on the recommendations of the Institutional Official, Deans, IBC members and their colleagues or by self-nomination. IBC staff will on board IBC member candidates.
• An IBC member candidate will be presented to the Institutional Official for final approval of appointment. The member’s term expiration date is three (3) years from the Term Start Date. Members are evaluated annually.

Chair: Appointed by the Institutional Official

Responsible University Official: Institutional Official; Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation