IBC Membership
Committee Membership
Federal Regulations ( NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, April 2002) require that membership of the IBC include at a minimum, five members, who collectively have experience in general issues of laboratory biosafety, use of infectious materials, and expertise in recombinant DNA technology and the capability to assess the safety of recombinant DNA research and identify any potential risk to public health or the environment. The membership is composed of: at least one faculty member with expertise in plant, plant pathogen, or plant pest containment principles; one faculty member with expertise in animal containment principles, gene therapy in animals, viral pathogens and vectors, microbial pathogens, biotoxins and biotechnology; a Biological Safety Officer is mandatory when research is conducted at BL3, BL4, or Large Scale (greater than 10 liters); one member of the laboratory technical staff must serve on the committee; and two members not affiliated with the institution (apart from their membership on the committee).
Because Cornell is a large institution, additional members are included to provide adequate representation of the diverse research community. In order to ensure that the committee has expertise required to review and approve the wide range of research activities, the membership includes and has available, consultant persons knowledgeable in institutional commitments and policies, applicable law, standards of professional conduct and practice, community attitudes, and the environment. The membership of the IBC at Cornell is comprised of twelve to eighteen voting members. The current IBC membership includes the following:
- Professor Craig Altier, Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences
- Scott Butler, Research Support Specialist, Clinical Sciences
- Frank Cantone, Ph.D., Biological Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety
- Professor Walter DeJong, Plant Breeding and Genetics
- Professor Susheng Gan, Plant Molecular Biology & Horticulture
- Paul Jennette, Biosafety Engineer, CVM Biosafety Program
- Professor Stephan Menne, Clinical Sciences
- Christy Michaels, Non-affiliated member*
- Professor John Parker, Baker Institute for Animal Health
- Professor Keith Perry, Plant Pathology
- Professor Andrea Quaroni, Biomedical Sciences
- Cathy Moseley, Non-affiliated member*
- Professor Christine Smart, Plant Pathology
- Professor David Soderlund, Entomology and Food Sciences & Technology
- Professor Gary Whittaker, Microbiology & Immunology
* The nonaffiliated members represent general community interests including issues involving health and welfare of individuals involved in research and any environmental impact on the surrounding community. These members are not otherwise affiliated with the university, nor have an immediate family member who is affiliated with the university.
Members are appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Dean of Faculty in consultation with the Vice Provost for Research. Membership terms vary from one to three years (except for the Biosafety Officer who is ex officio with voting privileges). The committee chair is appointed from the faculty membership and will serve for a term of one to three years.