Purpose

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) at UNT Denton is established as required by the NIH Guidelines and provides local review and oversight of nearly all forms of research utilizing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and other biohazardous materials in laboratory and teaching labs

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is administratively supported by the IBC Program staff.

The UNT IBC currently oversees:
•    Recombinant DNA and synthetic nucleic acid molecules
•    Infectious agents (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites, viruses, prions etc.)
•    All human and non-human primate derived materials)
•    Transgenic animals, invertebrates, and/or plants
•    All animal-derived materials 
•    Biologically derived toxins
•    Federally regulated Select Agents 
•    Dual Use Research of Concern potential
•    Gene transfer
•    Synthetic biology
*This list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of research materials that fall under the purview of IBC please contact the Biosafety Officer or the IBC Chair.

Objectives:

This review ensures that work is conducted in a manner that does not pose significant risk to the health and safety of research faculty, staff, students, the public, or the environment. It also ensures compliance with applicable local, state, federal and UNT regulations.

Experiments involving these activities cannot be started without prior protocol review and approval by the IBC.  The IBC drafts campus biosafety policies and procedures, and reviews individual research protocols for biosafety concerns. The IBC oversees and reviews research protocols involved in both teaching and research, regardless of the funding source(s). In areas of overlap, it coordinates with the IACUC when animals are used, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) when human subjects are involved, and the Radiation Safety Committee when applicable. The full IBC meets monthly for discussion and voting.

Contact:

Contact the IBC at: IBCprogram@unt.edu

Biosafety Officer: Dr. Veena Naik: veena.naik@unt.edu