GWU has established an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to review research for certain agents to ensure safety in biological laboratories.  The NIH publication “Guidelines for rDNA” requires IBC review for many types of rDNA work and the CDC publication “BMBL” encourages IBC review for infectious agents also.  The GWU IBC reviews all work with the following agents:

• Pathogens – Any agent that can cause disease in health human adults (BSL2)
• Recombinant DNA - : molecules that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell, and the molecules that result from the replication of those cells
• Select Agents - Pathogens or toxins deemed by the CDC or US department of agriculture to pose a high risk to human, animal or plant health and could be utilized for terrorist activity (see list)

If your work, regardless of funding, meets the above criteria, you must submit your work for IBC review.  The following items should be submitted:

1. IBC registration form – This is a form fill-able document which includes: identification and use of agents, risk assessment and assignment of containment.  The IBC registration form guide should be used to help you fill out the form correctly and avoid delays in approval.
2. A statement of the specific aims of the research
3. Research design and methods – This document must also address (it can be an addendum) any hazards with the work such as protective equipment, safety practices, BSC use, disinfection, waste removal, etc.

# 2 and 3 above are sections in a standard NIH grant

Please send these items to adye2@gwu.edu to be reviewed at an upcoming IBC meeting.  Submitters are always welcome to come to the meetings to explain their research and aid the IBC with the review.  For more information on the IBC and the review process see appendix A of the biosafety manual.