Cornell University Office of Research Integrity and Assurance

IBC - Committee Responsibilities

Federal Guidelines, established by the National Institute of Health, require that institutions conducting or sponsoring research using recombinant DNA materials covered by the NIH Guidelines, be responsible for ensuring that the research is conducted in full conformity with the provisions of the NIH Guidelines. In order to fulfill this responsibility Cornell University has established an Institutional Biosafety Committee, charged with oversight responsibilities for all research related activities involving recombinant DNA materials and/or biohazardous materials.

To meet the institutional responsibilities involving rDNA and biohazardous materials, the Institutional Biosafety Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving University research and teaching activities conducted by faculty, staff, students, and/or visiting scientists on Cornell property, and/or under the control of Cornell faculty, staff or students, that involve the use of biohazardous materials including regulated animal and plant pathogens, biological toxins, and recombinant DNA molecules. The IBC's primary objective is to ensure that such activities meet standards of good biological safety practice, emphasizing protection of personnel, the general public, and the environment. To meet this goal, the IBC imposes requirements for safe laboratory practices; reviews and approves policies, procedures, programs and facilities pursuant to the safe use of biological agents, other biological materials, and toxins.

The IBC oversight function also includes:

1. Review and approval of the research activity performed by individual researchers, on a regular and continuing basis.
2. Independently assess the containment levels of the work, as required by the NIH Guidelines, for all experiments, including those involving whole plants and/or animals, cell cultures, tissues, human-derived materials, biological toxins, infectious agents, and regulated pathogens & pests.
3. Assess the facilities, procedures, practices, and training and expertise of personnel involved with biohazardous research.
4. Lower the containment levels for certain experiments in which DNA from Risk Group 2, 3, or 4 or Restricted Agents is cloned into nonpathogenic prokaryotic or lower eukaryotic host-vector systems.
5. Perform periodic reviews and/or require modifications of recombinant DNA and/or biohazardous research and research facilities at Cornell to ensure compliance with the NIH Guidelines and other government regulations.
6. Notify the Principal Investigator of the results of the IBC's review and approval.
7. Adopt emergency plans covering accidental spills and personnel contamination resulting from recombinant DNA research.
8. Report significant problems with or violations of the NIH Guidelines and any significant research related accidents or illnesses to ORIA and the appropriate institutional official and when necessary to NIH/OBA.
9. In cooperation with ORIA, suspend or terminate approval of research that is not being conducted in accordance with the IBC's requirements.