IBC - Principal Investigator (PI) Policy
About This Policy
- Effective date:
- 05/05/2009
- Last updated:
- 03/19/2024
- Policy Contact:
Research Safety Office
ibc@iu.edu
1.0 - Scope
All personnel conducting research involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, biohazardous materials, or activities that present a biological safety risk should adhere to this policy. Also, all personnel conducting teaching activities involving rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or biohazardous materials at biosafety level 2 or higher. This includes researchers on all Indiana University campuses and Indiana University-affiliated researchers at the Roudebush VA Medical Center.
3.0 - Procedures
Responsibilities and requirements for Principal investigators (PI) on protocols:
- The PI is responsible for registering their recombinant DNA (rDNA) or synthetic nucleic acid molecule(s) and/or biohazardous work with the IBC.
- The PI assures that all individuals involved in the registered research have completed all required training prior to participating in any research.
- The PI will maintain complete, up to date and accessible records that are required by IBC policy and regulations.
- It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure all research complies with all applicable state and federal laws governing rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or biohazardous work.
Titles that may serve as PI on an IBC protocol:
- Professor with an official faculty position
- Lecturers
- Emeritus Professors
- Various clinical Professors
- Various Scholars/Scientists or
- Additional titles if given PI status by the Office of Vice President for Research for the purpose of obtaining external grant support
Student directed research:
The IBC recognizes that a primary mission of a Research 1 University is the training and education of researchers in the pre- and post-doctoral graduate ranks. These individuals may design and execute research programs that require the use of rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or biohazardous materials. This research can be supported by fellowships and grants that target graduate student and post-doctoral fellows. The IBC further recognizes that individuals in the graduate and post-doctoral positions are competent to independently design, perform and take some of the responsibilities in a proposed research project. However, the IBC does not believe that members of the graduate and postdoctoral community can assume full responsibility for a given research project. Furthermore, the IBC does not feel that is appropriate for graduate and post-doctoral fellows to accept all consequences and sanctions resulting from the non-compliant use of rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and/or biohazardous materials. As such, members of the graduate and post-doctoral fellow communities must seek support of one of the above listed members of the Indiana University faculty to submit a protocol. In this situation, the faculty member will be assigned as the PI and the graduate student or post-doctoral fellow will be considered a co-investigator. Communication regarding the IBC protocol in question will include both the PI, co-investigator and anyone else who has full access permissions to the protocol in Kuali Protocols IBC. It is recommended that the PI should be the student’s thesis/dissertation advisor or direct supervisor. If the PI on a given protocol is no longer affiliated with Indiana University, the co-investigator must identify another PI to take over said research in order to continue active research.
All titles listed below can assume the co-investigator role:
- Graduate Students
- Post-doctoral fellow
- Visiting Scientist, or
- Research Associate