VEHS > resources > committees > institutional biosafety

An Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is required at institutions that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research involving recombinant DNA molecules. All recombinant DNA research at Vanderbilt, regardless of funding source, must be conducted in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/guidelines.html) and must be registered with the Vanderbilt IBC.

The Vanderbilt IBC is further charged with reviewing and approving research conducted with microorganisms pathogenic to humans, plants, or animals. This review is conducted pursuant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/NIH publication, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (currently in 5th edition, February 2007; http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl5/bmbl5toc.htm).

The Vanderbilt IBC will also provide guidance to the Vanderbilt research community regarding proper acquisition, handling, transfer, and disposal of potentially hazardous or regulated biological materials.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) meets on the second Monday of each month. In order for your BioWISE registry to be reviewed, it must be submitted to the Biosafety Section of VEHS no later than two weeks prior to that meeting. Registries will be reviewed in the order that they are received. Failure to respond to pre-review inquiries or to provide complete information can also delay the review.

Faculty (voting)
Mark Denison (Chair)	Pediatric Infectious Disease
Timothy Blackwell	Pulmonary
Douglas Kernodle	Infectious Diseases
Andrzej Krezel	Biological Sciences
Srinivas Kumar	Hematology/Oncology
David Wright	Chemistry
Administrative (voting)
LouAnn Burnett	Biosafety Officer, VEHS
Jeanne Wallace	Asst. Vice Chancellor of Research, Division of Animal Care
Cara Sutcliffe	Manager, Center for Human Genetics Research
Charles Stratton	Director of Clinical Pathology
Valerie Thayer	Nurse, Occupational Health Clinic
Non-institutional Members (voting)
Burt Bogitsch	Retired (Vanderbilt University)
Bob Loedding	Retired (Ingram Barge)
Ex Officio (non-voting)
Kim DiGiandomenico	VEHS Safety Officer, Biosafety
Marisa Knights	VEHS Safety Officer, Animal Care
Bettye Ridley	VEHS Sr. Safety Officer, Biosafety
Maria Garner	Office of the General Counsel
Robert Wheaton	Director, VEHS
John Manning	VUMC Office of Research

The Institutional Biosafety Committee is charged to consider policies and procedures pertaining to the safe handling, transport, use, and disposal of biological materials, including recombinant DNA molecules, and to recommend the adoption of appropriate new or revised policies to the University administration through Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety; to review for compliance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules all recombinant DNA research and to approve research that is in conformity with the Guidelines; to register and review research utilizing Risk Group 2 or higher biological agents and to approve research that contains adequate safeguards to protect the health and safety of the laboratory personnel, students, staff, and visitors; to interpret guidelines and/or regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and others pertaining to biological materials, and to provide technical assistance to the Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety on these matters; to review proposed or enacted legislation impacting the Vanderbilt community and to inform Departments, Schools, and Colleges of this legislation and its potential implications; in conjunction with Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety, assist Colleges, Schools, and Departments with safety committees or programs related to the safe handling, transport, use, and disposal of biological materials; and to render advice in consideration for space and facilities for research involving biological materials, including recombinant DNA molecules.