Research Activities that include recombinant DNA, infectious agents or Select Agents and Toxins (IBC)

Services We Provide

• Answer Biosafety research questions
• Provide approvals for protocols that include recombinant DNA, infectious agents or Select Agents & Toxin activities
• Provide assistance with Job Hazard Analyses, Biosafety Risk Assessments, and Biosafety Manual development
• Provide written determination upon request for activities that do not require IBC oversight, e.g.:
  • No recombinant DNA, infectious agent or Select Agents or Toxins involved in the research
  • By policy USDA deregulated transgenic item field plantings do not require IRB oversight (VP for Research Memo dated June 24, 2009). Written determination not required.
  • Activities that require OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen oversight only due to the POTENTIAL presence of a blood borne pathogen. Oversight for these activities is provided through EH&S for the University of Idaho, e.g.:
    • Blood draws from healthy human subjects, or undiagnosed individuals.
    • Work with established cell lines provided these are classified as Risk Group 1 agents and do not include other infectious agents, recombinant DNA (such as transgenic cell lines) or Select Agent & Toxins activities
  • Work with biologically derived chemicals only that are not included on the Select Agents & Toxins list or are kept at levels below the regulated amounts. EH&S provides Laboratory Safety Plans to include Chemical Hygiene Plans for these activities. Written determination required only for work with toxins listed on the Select Agent and Toxins list.
• Provide facility reviews
• Provide Biosafety and Select Agent Training
• Provide an anonymous reporting mechanism for research assurance concerns