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UTEP IBC Handbook

Introduction
Statement of Purpose
UTEP IBC Composition
Roles and Responsibilities
IBC Policies and Procedures
Submission Types
Review Types, Processes, and Timeline
Protocol Termination
Protocol Deviations and Allegations of Non-Compliance

Introduction

 

As of now, research activities reviewed by the UTEP Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), regardless of the PI’s funding source(s), include the following:

  • Creation and use of rDNA or SNAMs.
  • Work with all RG2/BSL2 Agents or higher agents, all human, animal, and plant pathogens, and non-indigenous plant pathogens or pests
  • Work with biological samples (e.g., animal tissues, fluids, etc.) known or highly suspected to be contaminated with RG2/BSL2 or higher agents.
  • Work with non-human primate and human derived materials, including work with human embryonic, fetal, pluripotent, and neural stem cells.
  • Work with arthropods.
  • Any work with transgenic plants or non-rodent transgenic animals, including purchase of non-rodent transgenic animals.
  • Work with acute biological toxins (LD50 ≤ 100 µg/kg body weight), select agents/toxins, or export-controlled toxins

At UTEP, biological research is conducted following federal and state regulations and standards. These include:

  • NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines version April 2024)
  • NIH Office of Scientific Policy · Institutional Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
  • Guidelines for Working Safely with Human Cell Lines
  • OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards
  • CDC Biosafety and Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL 6th edition)
  • American Committee of Medical Entomology; American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Arthropod Containment Guidelines, Version 3.2)
  • Select Agents and Select Agent Toxins
  • Guidance on the Inventory of Select Agents and Toxins (7 CFR Part 331, 9 CFR Part 121, 42 CFR Part 73)

According to the NIH Guidelines, research institutions receiving NIH funding must establish an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The IBC and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) will collaborate closely to review protocols and procedures submitted by the Principal Investigators (PI), NIH-funded or not. The IBC review and approval results are conveyed to the PI. Additionally, the IBC can sanction new or substantially revised Biosafety policies or plans submitted by Facility Directors, the Biological Safety Officer (BSO), or the IBC Office. This document outlines the responsibilities and procedures IBC uses to implement, promote, and manage safe, ethical biological research activities at UTEP. On the IBC website (https://www.utep.edu/orsp/institutional-biosafety/), the PIs will find helpful resources to assist them in understanding and complying with biosafety and compliance requirements.