IBC Frequently Asked Questions

1. What type of research requires the Institutional Biosafety Committee approval?
2. Where do I find biosafety protocol forms?
3. Who can be a Principal Investigator (PI) on an IBC protocol?
4. Where can I find help with completing the protocol forms?
5. Where is the IBC Office located? 
6. What are biohazardous materials?
7. How do I determine what Risk group and/or Biosafety level my research is?
8. What is the length of approval for biosafety protocols?
9. What do I do if I change my research after my protocol is approved?
10. Are there biohazardous training materials available to me?

1. What type of research requires the Institutional Biosafety Committee approval?

Research at the University of Chicago involving the use of biohazardous materials, including recombinant DNA, agents infectious to humans, animals or plants, and other genetically altered organisms and agents.
2. Where do I find biosafety protocol forms?

http://ors.bsd.uchicago.edu/ibc/index3.html?content=forms/index.html.
3. Who can be a Principal Investigator (PI) on an IBC protocol?

A principal investigator is a member of the academic staff or faculty who bears responsibility for the intellectual leadership of a project. The principal investigator accepts overall responsibility for directing the research; the financial oversight of the award's funding, as well as compliance with relevant University policies and sponsor terms and conditions of award. For more information see the University Research Administration's guideline.
4. Where can I find help with completing the protocol forms?

You can call the IBC Administrators: 
Pamela Postlethwait at 773-834-5850

Lorinda Baker at 773-834-427

5. Where is the IBC Office located?

5751 S. Woodlawn Avenue, McGiffert Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 218.
6. What are biohazardous materials?

For information, refer to this: Defining Biohazardous Materials
7. How do I determine what Risk group and/or Biosafety level my research is?

Refer to Determining Risk Group and Determining Biosafety Level.
8. What is the length of approval for biosafety protocols?

IBC Protocols are approved for five years, but must be updated and reviewed annually through the annual surveys.  Changes in the protocol must be made through submitting an amendment. 
9. What do I do if I change my research after my protocol is approved?

An amendment must be submitted for review by the IBC prior to any change in research being conducted. This includes change in staff.
10. Are there biohazardous training materials available to me?

There are training videos on reserve at the Crerar Circulation desk or in our office, 5751 S. Woodlawn Avenue, McGiffert Hall, Room 218.

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