About the Institutional Biosafety Committee

Providing oversight to protect WSU researchers

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) oversees the safe use and handling of potentially biohazardous materials on the WSU campus. It advises the University community on matters related to such materials.

The IBC is charged with protecting WSU faculty, staff, students, and visitors during research-related activities. It has the authority and obligation to approve good research and stop any activity that the committee believes to be unsafe.

Membership

Members are appointed by the WSU president. The committee has no less than 5 members. Their varying backgrounds enable the committee to completely and adequately review WSU research, teaching, diagnostic, and extension activities involving potentially biohazardous materials and r/sNA.

Activities

When reviewing proposals for work with potentially biohazardous materials, the IBC verifies that appropriate precautionary measures are in place. These may include sufficient containment facilities, work practices, and training.

The IBC maintains a database that helps officials monitor track what agents are used where.

Mission

The IBC was established to comply with National Institute of Health guidelines.

IBC Manual

The WSU Institutional Biosafety Committee Manual (pdf) details the policies and regulations governing research with biological materials and the requirements for submitting research proposals for review by the WSU IBC.

Pre-IBC committee

This group consists of the IBC coordinator and biosafety officer, along with any available committee members. It meets 2 weeks before the scheduled monthly IBC meeting to review all Biosafety Approval Forms (BAFs), biosafety manuals (BSM), and facility reviews. It ensures that all documents are completed prior to the committee meeting. Committee members may contact investigators to request additional information.