If you are using recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, regardless of required biosafety containment level, for research or teaching purposes at Indiana University, you are required to submit an Institutional Biosafety Committee protocol for review. If you are using non-recombinant biological materials that require biosafety level 2 or higher* containment for research or teaching purposes at IU, you are also required to submit a protocol for review.
*To initiate research that requires BL-3 containment at IUI, a BL-3 IBC sub-committee must first review and approve a research proposal before an IBC or IACUC BL-3 protocol can be reviewed and approved. For more information regarding the review and approval process for the use of materials that require BL-3 containment and access to the BL-3 facility at IUI, please email IBC@iu.edu. Please note, there is currently no BL-3 facility at IU Bloomington or any of the regional campuses.
A protocol is a detailed set of activities for the project you’re proposing, supported by evidence from other research and from preliminary investigations. A complete protocol must be submitted to, reviewed by, and in most cases, approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee before work can begin.