Southern Illinois University at Carbondale recognizes the need to protect faculty, staff, students and guests from incidents involving hazardous biological materials. To accomplish this, the University will conform to the most recent versions of applicable federal and state guidelines in letter and spirit with respect to acceptable standards for individuals conducting research and educational activities with hazardous biological materials. Current copies of safety standards are available from the Dean of the Graduate School and the Biological Safety Officer (BSO).

Biological Materials: These shall include living organisms, products produced by such organisms, organic chemicals produced to mimic activity/actions of such products, and recombinant DNA molecules.

Hazardous Materials: Any biological materials which present a risk to the well-being of humans, animals, or plants either directly or indirectly.

1. The IBC shall be comprised of at least ten faculty/staff members representing various areas of expertise (e.g., microbiology, chemistry and biochemistry, zoology, plant biology, veterinary medicine, medicine) appropriate to the duties and responsibilities of the IBC, two members from the community at large, and the BSO.
2. Members of the IBC and its chair shall be appointed by and report to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, or the designee of that office. Except for the BSO, terms of appointment shall be staggered and last for three years. Thus, three or four new members will be added to the IBC in any given year.
3. The IBC shall have three principal functions:
   1. Dean of the Graduate School, and Graduate Council on the development and implementation of policies for the safe conduct of research involving potentially hazardous biological materials and any research involving recombinant DNA. The Graduate Council will then be responsible for approving such policies.
   2. Review, approve and oversee all projects involving potentially hazardous biological materials or recombinant DNA through review of each researcher's Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MUA).
   3. If proposed projects or activities involving potentially hazardous biological materials or recombinant DNA are not approved by the IBC, all activities shall immediately cease pending appeal. The researcher(s), BSO, and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost will be advised of such action by the IBC Chair.

1. The BSO shall be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost and shall function as a primary agent of the IBC in the daily and routine administration of the biological safety program. Specifically, the BSO shall monitor and enforce compliance with the safety guidelines established by the IBC. As a voting member of the IBC, the BSO shall report to the IBC Chair as well as to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs And Provost.
2. The BSO shall have responsibility for making periodic, unannounced inspections of all facilities using biological materials considered hazardous under existing University standards. The BSO shall also have the responsibility to inspect and regulate facilities not currently registered with the IBC if sufficient cause for such action is deemed warranted by the BSO and/or the IBC.
3. Any actions taken by or recommendations made by the BSO shall be fully complied with pending review by the IBC.

1. Inform the IBC Chair if such deficiencies are not corrected promptly.
2. If necessary, the BSO has authority to order immediate shutdown or cessation of work in any facility where it is evident that health hazards exist to the extent that continued operation would result in violation of University-adopted biosafety standards.

The Chairperson of the IBC shall report the violation to the IBC at its next regular meeting, or call a special meeting to review the violation if urgency makes it necessary. The IBC, after consideration, may:

1. Recommend mandatory remedial action to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs And Provost. Failure to comply may result in withdrawal of IBC approval of the existing project/activities.
2. Withdraw or rescind approval of the project. In the event the IBC takes such action, the project may no longer be conducted at the University until such time as corrections are made to qualify the project for reinstatement.

IBC decisions may be appealed to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost. Appeals must be submitted in writing with necessary supporting documentation to the IBC Chair who shall forward the appeal to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost.

1. The principle investigator shall be responsible to submit an MUA (see appendix) to the BSO who will forward it to the IBC for review.
2. The methods section must provide enough detail for the IBC to evaluate biological hazard risk and judge if adequate safeguards are incorporated in the experimental design. Properties of the biological material(s) used must be fully described. If a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is available for the substance, a copy must be attached to the MUA.
3. All personnel involved in the experimental work must receive training regarding biological safety practices and procedures. The principal investigator is responsible for ensuring that this training is conducted and for providing the BSO with training verification.
4. An approved MUA is valid for a period of three years. Researchers wishing to continue work under an old MUA must notify the BSO who will forward it to the IBC for review.