Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) are the cornerstone of institutional oversight of recombinant DNA research.  The following information and resources are provided to help IBCs perform this critical role, as well as to inform others about the roles and responsibilities of these important committees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meetings and Conferences

OBA News Listserv

Questions?

Links of Interest to IBCs

• Key Definitions and Acronyms
• NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
• IBC Roles and Responsibilities  
  • Preparation of, and Access to, Minutes (May 14, 2004)
  • Further Guidance on Preparation of Minutes (Feb. 23, 2007)
• Committee Membership
• Submitting Committee Information to the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities
• Incident Reports
• Major Actions - Genetic Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Traits

Meetings and Conferences

• Upcoming Workshops and Training Sessions - OBA conducts workshops, training sessions, and presentations throughout the year. Come back frequently to this site for the lastest information on upcoming events.
  
  
• Past Workshops and Training Sessions - Those interested in developing training materials to educate investigators and IBC members and staff about responsibilities and requirements under the NIH Guidelines are encouraged to review the materials available below from previous conferences. All NIH OBA-developed slides and materials may be downloaded and used institutionally without first seeking permission. However, permission should be sought from the orginators of any non-OBA materials before being used in other contexts.
  
  
  • The NIH System of Oversight of Human Gene Transfer Research: Optimizing Science, Safety and Ethics, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gene Therapy, Seattle, Washington, May 30, 2007
    • Slide presentations
      
      
  • "IBC Basics: An Introduction to the NIH Guidelines and the Oversight of Recombinant DNA Research," Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, San Diego, California, March 12, 2005
  • NIH OBA presentations
    • Introduction to the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities
    • The NIH Guidelines and IBC Responsibilities
    • The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee
      
      
  • "Safety Considerations in Recombinant DNA Research with Pathogenic Viruses" National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, September 21-22, 2004
    • Resource Web site (slide presentations, video, FAQs, links to resources)
      
      
  • "The Future Face of IBCs: Evolving Roles and Responsibilities, Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities" Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, San Diego, California. Training session for new IBC members and staff, February 20, 2003; main conference event,  February 21-22, 2003
    • Slide presentations and video 
      
      
  • "IBCs in a Changing Research Landscape: A Policy Conference"  National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, December 7-8, 2001
    • Report, slide presentations, and video 
      
      

OBA_NEWS Listserv

• Subscribe now!  Subscribe or browse archives for updates on current initiatives, policies, and news from the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA).

Questions?

• If you have questions about OBA's activities, interpretations of the NIH Guidelines, upcoming meetings, or related matters, do not hesitate to contact OBA staff by email at oba@od.nih.gov, or by phone at 301-496-9838.

Links of Interest to IBCs

• American Biological Safety Association
  • Biosafety Discussion List
• American Society for Microbiology
• American Society of Gene Therapy
• Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
• Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs
• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC and NIH)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Select Agent Program
• Department of Health and Human Services
  • Secretary's Advisory Committee on Xenotransplantation (DHHS)
  • Office of Human Research Protections (DHHS)
• Federal Register On-line
• National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity (NSABB)
• National Institutes of Health
  • Office of Biotechnology Activities (Home page)
    • Biosafety Considerations for Research with Lentiviral Vectors
    • Human Gene Transfer Protocol List (OBA)
    • NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
    • Safety Considerations in Recombinant DNA Research with Pathogenic Viruses
  • Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH)
• Risk Group Classification for Infectious Agents (ABSA)
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

(To report broken links, please send an email to OBA at oba@od.nih.gov)