Biosafety and related training is required for anyone associated with work in biological laboratories, for both research and teaching purposes. The training ensures that you are trained in basic biological safety principles and that you are aware of the federal guidelines and institutional policies before beginning work in labs at Indiana University.

Your protocol submission to the Institutional Biosafety Committee will not be considered complete or ready for approval until all training requirements have been satisfied. Requirements vary by the types of biohazardous materials involved in a protocol. All required courses are offered online, and some are offered in a classroom setting.

1. Biological Safety Training: 
   • Biosafety Training  is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol and is required only once, pending any significant changes to the biological safety program or institutional policies.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
2. NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines (“NIH Guidelines Training”): 
   • NIH Guidelines training is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol and is required every 5 years.
   • Any institution that receives any funding from the NIH must adhere to the NIH Guidelines.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training: 
   • If an IBC protocol involves work with any human or non-human primate blood, fluids, cells, or tissues, Bloodborne Pathogens training is required by all personnel on that protocol. Bloodborne Pathogens training is required annually.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). 
4. Disposable Dust/N95 Respiratory Protection Training and In-Person Fitting (“N95 Online Training & In-person Fitting”): 
   • N95 training and fit testing is required when the IBC risk assessment determines that an N95 is required for personnel working with infectious agents outside of a biosafety cabinet. Both the online training and in-person fitting are required annually.
   • All personnel required to use respiratory protection must have an in-person respirator fitting. After completing the online training and quiz, please email Michelle Whited, at mawhited@iupui.edu  (IUPUI), or, email Lewis Mason and Seth Wagner, at lewmason@indiana.edu; wagner23@indiana.edu (IUB) to schedule the N95 respirator fitting. Prior to performing the fit testing, personnel must submit a Respirator User Survey for medical clearance through IU Health.
   • This training is available through the Environmental Health & Safety Online Training website. (Scroll down the page to “Disposable Dust/N95 Respiratory Protection Training” and click the “+” to expand the section. Click on the red Course Name button for the course you need to complete.
5. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC):
   • DURC training is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol that involves work with any of the Dual Use agents listed in the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern or any other non-attenuated agent or toxin. This list is also found in Section VI, Question 1 of the IBC Protocol Form. DURC training is required annually.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). Additional training may be required depending on the nature of the work being conducted in your lab.

For assistance accessing any of the courses listed above, please contact IBC@iu.edu.