The University of Mississippi Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) oversees compliance with university, local, state, and federal regulations governing biological safety and security, in compliance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules.
The IBC is a standing committee responsible for reviewing all proposed University research and teaching activities involving biological agents conducted by faculty, staff, students and/or visiting scientists, and ensuring that they are aware of the responsibility to register the use of biological agents or activities as described in the IBC Requirements and Procedures.
The IBC’s objective is to ensure that activities involving biological agents meet the standards of good biological safety practice emphasizing protection of personnel, the public, and the environment. To this end, the IBC shall assist Principal Investigators in meeting their responsibilities, impose requirements, review and approve policies, proposals, procedures, programs, and facilities pursuant to the safe and legally compliant use of biological agents.
The IBC has the authority and obligation to approve research involving biological agents and halt any activity deemed to be unsafe by the committee.
Membership
Members are appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development. The committee meets the NIH requirements for membership and has no less than 5 members with varying backgrounds to enable the committee to completely and adequately review UM research activities involving potentially biohazardous materials.
Current members include: Foster Logan, MS (Chair); Patrick Curtis, PhD; Harry Fyke, DVM; Prabin Tamang, PhD; Kristin Sparks, BSN; Eden Tanner, PhD; Katie Heath, MS; Cammi Thornton, BS (Research Compliance Specialist); Mandy King, MS (ex officio)
Activities
When reviewing proposals for work with potentially biohazardous materials, the IBC takes steps to verify that appropriate precautionary measures are in place. These may include sufficient containment facilities, work practices, and training.