Institutional Biosafety Committee
Procedures for studies involving biological materials
All research and teaching activities at Indiana University involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, and some non-recombinant biological materials, must go through a review process before work can begin.
IU’s Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) and the IU Environmental Health and Safety Office's Biological Safety Program review each protocol to ensure research is conducted with attention to the safety of laboratory personnel, the environment in which the research is conducted, and the community at large.
What needs to be reviewed by the IBC?
Principal investigators are responsible for submitting protocol applications in advance of any research or teaching activity that includes, but is not limited to:
- All use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, regardless of Biosafety Level (subject to the NIH Guidelines)
- Viral vectors or plasmid vectors
- Transgenic/Knock-in/Knock-Out animals (see OBA Transgenic Animal FAQs)
- Genetically modified plants
- Transfer of rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules into human participants
- Transactive or infectious proteins
- Use of the following non-recombinant biological materials requires biosafety level 2 or higher containment:
- Infectious agents
- Prion proteins
- Biohazards (e.g.: human or non-human primate tissues or fluids)
- Select agents or toxins
If your research or teaching activities involve any of the above, you must submit an Institutional Biosafety Committee protocol.
Learn about the review processAbout the committees
Two Institutional Biosafety Committees are responsible for reviewing all protocols, inspecting biological laboratory spaces, and overseeing training and educational programs at IU to ensure the safe use of biological materials.
Bloomington
The Bloomington Institutional Biosafety Committee oversees research and teaching activities involving recombinant DNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and biological materials occurring on the Bloomington campus, as well as the Kokomo, Southeast, East, and South Bend (non-School of Medicine only) campuses.
Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Institutional Biosafety Committee oversees research and teaching activities involving recombinant DNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and biological materials occurring on the Indianapolis campus, as well as the Northwest and South Bend School of Medicine campuses.
About IBC Kuali Protocols
In 2022 the IU IBCs retired the use of the paper protocol submission form and implemented a cloud-based electronic system for protocol submission, review, and approval called Kuali Protocols IBC. Kuali Protocols is also used by the IRB and will soon be adopted by the IACUC.
Need to update your IBC protocol or ready to submit a new protocol?
FAQs
The Kuali Protocol (KP IBC) system calculates the annual renewal date based on the month and day of the original protocol approval. The system will continue to send expiration reminders until the annual renewal submission is approved.
The new system features a user interface that only presents relevant questions based on the user's type of research. This built-in smart logic captures experimental details succinctly and concisely. The system improves the experience of managing protocol reviews, retaining protocol records, and amending and renewing protocols. Researchers will always have access within the system to the approved copy of their protocols and can submit updates for review at the click of a button.
Upon logging into Kuali Protocols you will be taken to the Manage Protocols screen. On this screen you will see a list of all Kuali Protocols you are personnel on. This list will include IRB and IBC protocols.
If you would like to only see IBC protocols, you can use the Advanced Filter feature and set your Filter Rules to Where - Type - is equal to - IBC. The same feature can be used to filter for only IRB studies by replacing IBC with IRB in the Advanced Filter.
General information about the types of host cells/cell lines, tissues, blood/blood products, and viral vectors should be included in the Biological Materials section. Cell lines, tissues, blood/blood products, or fluids for a single species should be entered as one row in the Biological Materials list. For example, if a researcher is using both HeLa cells and HEK293 cells, they should list “Human Cells” as one row. If a researcher is using both human blood and tissue, they should add an entry for “Human blood or blood derivatives” and a separate entry for “Human tissue.” The researcher may describe the individual lines or specifics about materials in the Research Description.
Each strain of microorganisms, bacteria, viral vector particles, or virus must be listed in an individual row in the Biological Materials list. There is a link in the first question in the Biological Material(s) section that can be used to see a full list of biological materials that can be entered in the table.
Contact the Institutional Biosafety Committee
The Indiana University Research Safety Office provides support to all IU campuses. Contact the Research Safety Office at IBC@iu.edu or 812-855-0656. You may also schedule a virtual meeting with a member of the Research Safety Office.