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Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The UT Health Science Center Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) reviews research involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) and other biohazardous materials to ensure principal investigators and lab personnel use best practices. 

Research by UT Health Science Center investigators using rDNA, as defined in the NIH Guidelines, must be registered with the UT Health Science Center IBC per NIH policy.

 

What is rDNA?

NIH Guidelines initially published in 1976 established the IBC as the responsible entity for biosafety issues stemming from rDNA research. Per the NIH Guidelines, rDNA is defined as:

(1) molecules constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell, and

(2) DNA molecules that result from the replication of these molecules.

Non-replicating synthetic nucleic acids, such as siRNA, are not be included in this definition and are considered exempt by the NIH guidelines, but research utilizing these materials must still be registered with the IBC.

What are biohazardous materials?

Biohazardous materials include infectious agents or biologically derived infectious materials presenting a risk/potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment. The risk can be direct through infection or indirect through environmental damage. Biohazardous materials include certain types of recombinant DNA; organisms infectious in humans, animals or plants (e.g. parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi, prions, etc.); and biologically active agents (i.e. toxins, allergens, venoms) that may cause disease or significantly impact the environment or community. Biological materials you may not consider to be biohazardous may still be regulated as biohazardous materials.

What is DURC?

Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) refers to life sciences research that could generate knowledge, information, products, or technologies that, if misused, could lead to serious threats to public health, agriculture, animals, the environment, materials, or national security. The U.S. Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern aims to ensure the benefits of life sciences research are maintained while reducing the risk posed by misuse of research findings.

Researchers at the UT Health Science Center need to understand and follow regulatory and institutional requirements for DURC. This 8-minute NIH video is a helpful introduction to understand dual-use life sciences research. 

READ UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER'S FULL DURC GUIDELINES>>

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Last Published: Jan 21, 2025