Institutional Biosafety Committee

University of Akron Institutional Biosafety Committee

The University of Akron Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) reviews research with and educational use of biological agents.  Its mission is to ensure appropriate biosafety procedures are in place when use of biological agents occurs. The IBC is also established in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules ("NIH Guidelines").

Policy and Procedure

The Office of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (EOHS) oversees safety practices with biological agents. The Office of Research Administration (ORA) collaborates with EOHS when that work involves the use of recombinant DNA. Oversight is provided through the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

The following links provide the university policy and procedure for work with biological agents

BIOSAFETY RESOURCES

  • The BMBL is a tool for assessing biosafety risk and containment and mitigation practices. It is a best practice manual
  • The BMBL

  • The American Society For Microbiology provides guidelines for biosafety training in teaching labs.
  • These guidelines provide a consistent approach to safe work with microorganisms in teaching labs. These guidelines are for work with just BSL-1 and BSL-2 organisms.
  • ASM Guidelines for Teaching Labs

  • The LBM is a another useful tool for assessing biosafety risk and containment and mitigation practices.
  • The LBM

  • This list is maintained by the CDC, USDA, and HHS. Work with these agents or toxins requires review by the full IBC. Further, there are export-control restrictions in working with these agents or toxins, in addition to heightened containment practices.
  • Select Agents and Toxins List
  • Some agents or toxins on this list are excluded from theheightened practices, though not from the export-controls, when small quantities are utilized. Excluded agents and toxins
  • The Federal Select Agent program provides additional guidance on work with these agents and toxins. Guidance on the regulation of select agent and toxin nucleic acids

  • Dual use agents are those that are known to post a significant threat to public health, agricultural crops and plants, animals, the environment, or national security, if used inappropriately. Work with these agents requires full IBC review.
  • Dual Use Research of Concern

  • The Risk Group Database is provided by the American Biological Safety Association. It provides a mechanism to access a summary of risk classifications from the resources listed above and from other resources.
  • Risk Group Database

  • The LAI is a searchable database describing the various lab acquired infections, which may occur from work with certain biological agents. It may be useful for understanding how to prevent such infections, and ensuring safe biological containment, PPE, and mitigation practices.
  • LAI Database

  • The Ohio EPA regulates the generation, treatment, transportation, and disposal of infectious waste.
  • The University of Akron EOHS department maintains the appropriate permits for generation, treatment, transportation, and disposal of infectious waste.
  • Ohio EPA Infectious Waste
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