Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Protecting the Fitchburg State Community and the Environment from Biologically Hazardous Materials

In compliance with federal laws and regulations, we have established an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for the review and oversight of research protocols and teaching activities involving the use of the following:

  • Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
  • Microbes
  • Biological toxins
  • Plant and animal tissues, including human and nonhuman primate materials

All research involving the use of aforementioned materials conducted by our faculty, staff, or students, or sponsored, in part or in whole, by Fitchburg State must be reviewed and approved prior to the start of the project. Protocols must be conducted in full compliance with biosafety policies and procedures.

Prior to Registering a Protocol

Prior to completing an IBC Registration form (MS Word), please review our Biosafety Manual (PDF).

Please note that many protocols do not require review by the IBC and will be administratively approved by the IBC Chair. Some protocols will be reviewed by the IBC Chair and given initial approval so that work may be started, pending review by the full IBC. Other protocols will require full review by the IBC before work may be started on the project. For more information, please contact the IBC Chair.

IBC Training Requirements

All investigators submitting new or renewal proposals to the IBC will be required to demonstrate completion of the CITI collaborative training modules within the past 36 months. These modules include Responsible Conduct in Research and IBC specific modules. For more information on the CITI program and applicable training modules that may be required, please see the information below or contact the IBC chair or the CITI Program campus administrator, Dr. Margaret Hoey.

Material Transfer, Research Intent and Intellectual Property Agreements

Investigators who require institutional approval of Material Transfer, Research Intent or Intellectual Property Agreements should fill out, print, and sign these agreements. Please provide paper copies of the signed agreements to the Dean of Health and Natural Sciences (Dr. Jannette McMenamy, Interim Dean, School of Business and Technology ex-officio member of the IBC), who will arrange institutional approval.

Procedure for Registration/Approval of Protocols

All new IBC registrations are due seven calendar days before the next scheduled IBC meeting in order to ​be reviewed at the upcoming meeting. Registrations received within seven calendar days of the next scheduled IBC meeting will be reviewed at the following subsequently scheduled IBC meeting date.

Download and complete the IBC Registration form (MS Word) and follow the instructions provided on the form.

Please note that some items on the form have a box for you to enter information. Only the material that appears in the box will print. Therefore, if the amount of information exceeds the size of the box, enter “See attached” in the box and attach the material at the end the form. Consult with the IBC chair for any questions regarding filling out the forms.

Next, obtain approval from your department chair. Scan all pages to PDF, including the signature page signed by both you and your department chair, and submit these via email to the IBC chair. You should retain in your records the hard copy of the signed proposal for the full duration of any approved protocol.

Approval for protocols is valid for a three-year time period. Re-registration for ongoing protocols will need to occur after that time.

Exposure Control Plan

This plan eliminates or minimizes occupational exposure and risk of developing infectious diseases associated with blood and other bodily fluids.

The Exposure Control Plan (PDF) identifies the following:

  • Those individuals who will face potential exposure
  • Types of blood borne diseases and their mode of transmission
  • Methods of implementation
  • Occupation-specific controls
  • Exposure incident and emergency procedures
  • Training
  • Recordkeeping

Committee Membership

All IBC meetings are open meetings and may be attended by all members of the Fitchburg State community.

The IBC Chair will notify you as to whether your protocol can be administratively approved, or if it will need full IBC review. If so, you will need to attend the IBC meeting to answer questions or address concerns raised by the committee members.

Meeting minutes are available upon request.

Contacting the IBC

A main goal of the Institutional Biosafety Committee is to facilitate the registration process. Please contact the committee through the IBC chair at any time for assistance with any protocol.