Institutional Biosafety Committee

Overview

We provide institutional review, guidance and oversight of biological research to protect the NU community. 

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for the review, approval, enforcement and monitoring of research and teaching activities involving biological material and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. The IBC is a NU faculty-led committee with experts in infectious disease, recombinant materials, human gene therapy, animal containment, occupational health, public health, and biosafety. The IBC reviews biological research registrations in accordance with the NIH Guidelines, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston Public Health Commission, Burlington Board of Health, and the Northeastern University Biosafety Manual.

The IBC reviews, approves, and provides oversight for research and teaching activities with biological materials including:

Recombinant (rDNA) and synthetic nucleic acid molecules
Infectious agents or microorganisms (bacteria, virus, fungi, yeast, parasites, prions) that can cause disease in healthy humans and/or significant environmental or agricultural impacts
Human and non-human primate materials (blood, cells, tissues, fluids, and secretions that are potentially infectious)
Select agents and biological toxins
Genetically-modified animals or whole plants
Other regulated biological materials such as federal, state, other permitted materials or as designated by university

Research using these materials and as outlined in the Northeastern University Biosafety Manual and IBC Charter fall under IBC oversight and cannot commence without IBC approval. Submit a biological research registration through BioRAFT or contact biosafety@northeastern.edu for more information.

Email: biosafety@northeastern.edu
Phone: 617.373.2769

Office of Academic and Research Safety/OARS
320 Renaissance Park
1135 Tremont Street