Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged with the responsibility for review, approval and surveillance of all research protocols at The University of Southern Mississippi involving the use of biohazardous materials including recombinant DNA, agents infectious to humans, animals or plants, and other genetically altered organisms and agents. 

The purpose of the IBC is to:

Any research or testing activity that involves the use of potentially hazardous agents (biological, chemical or rDNA) or the construction or use of genetically engineered organisms requires review by the IBC beforebeginning the project. Complete the Biosafety Review Checklist to to determine whether IBC approval is warranted.

Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) were established under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules to provide local review and oversight of nearly all forms of research utilizing recombinant DNA.  Over time, many institutions have chosen to assign their IBCs the responsibility of reviewing a variety of experimentation that involves biological materials (e.g., infectious agents) and other potentially hazardous agents (e.g., carcinogens). This additional responsibility is assigned entirely at the discretion of the institution.