University Standing Committees

INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE (SPECIAL PURPOSE)
**Committee temporarily inactive

The Institutional Biosafety Committee should be composed of no fewer than five (5) members so selected that they collectively have experience and expertise in recombinant DNA technology and the capability to assess the safety of recombinant DNA research and to identify any potential risk to public health or the environment. At least two members shall not be affiliated with the institution; at least one individual must have expertise in plant, plant pathogen or plant pest containment principles and one scientist with expertise in animal containment principles. All committee appointments, except student appointments, will be three (3) year terms. The Research Compliance Officer should serve as ex-officio. The committee should be empowered to request outside consultants as the need arises. If a fee is involved in a consultant's appearance before the committee, the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies should approve the payment of such fee. The committee reports to the Vice Provost for Research.

Charge
The Institutional Biosafety Committee establishes policy and provides surveillance and oversight to all uses of biological materials, including but not limited to recombinant DNA, hazardous etiological agents and the Select Agents Program as defined by the Centers for Disease Control. The committee is responsible, under Federal and State regulations and guidelines and University Policy, for establishing and implementing a biosafety program that provides for:

a. oversight of recombinant DNA research;
b. the safe use, acquisition and transportation of human, animal or plant pathogens; and
c. the safe acquisition and use of biological toxins (botulinum toxin, aflatoxin, cholera toxin, etc) which are known to produce deleterious manifestations in humans.

It is also responsible for the review of research and teaching activities involving potential exposure to human, animal or plant pathogens and biological toxins.

Members
Bruce Cahoon, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009
Mary Ferone, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009
Amy Jetton, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009
Anthony Newsome, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009
Rebecca Seipelt, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009
Steve Wright, Basic & Applied, Biology, 2006-2009

Non-Affiliated Members:
David Weaver
Tim Hooker

Leigh Gostowski, Compliance Officer, Ex-Officio

Institutional Official
Michael Allen, Vice Provost for Research

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