Institutional Biosafety Committee

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) at Pennington Biomedical Research Center plays a vital role in ensuring that research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids is conducted safely, ethically, and in compliance with federal guidelines. As part of a national framework established by the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines), IBCs are critical to the oversight of modern biomedical research.

Since the NIH Guidelines were first issued in 1976, the scope and responsibilities of IBCs have broadened significantly, adapting to encompass emerging technologies and new areas of biosafety concern. Today, IBCs nationwide help ensure that research involving recombinant DNA, synthetic nucleic acids, and other potentially hazardous biological agents adheres to the highest standards of biosafety and biosecurity.

At Pennington Biomedical, the IBC is responsible for reviewing and overseeing research protocols that involve:

  • Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules,
  • Biohazardous agents, and
  • Other materials posing potential biological risk.

As part of its mandate, the IBC evaluates research protocols for compliance with the NIH Guidelines, focusing on key elements such as:

  • Appropriate containment levels (see NIH Guidelines Appendices B, G, I, K, L, and M for details),
  • Research facilities and physical infrastructure,
  • Institutional biosafety procedures and practices, and
  • The training and qualifications of research personnel.

In addition to protocol review, the IBC is responsible for:

  • Notifying investigators of IBC approval and any necessary conditions,
  • Setting or adjusting containment levels as needed for ongoing experiments,
  • Ensuring contingency plans are in place for accidental spills or personnel exposure,
  • Reporting significant problems, protocol violations, or research-related accidents to the NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) and institutional officials as required.

The IBC's work is integral to the safe advancement of biomedical research at Pennington Biomedical, helping protect researchers, the public, and the environment, while supporting scientific innovation.