Compliance

Biosafety and Biohazards

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Other Biohazard Controls

IBC Charter

The presence of an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) that complies with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines indicates that CSUMB adheres to high standards of safety while engaged in biological materials related research and coursework. The NIH require a founding document (charter) detailing the responsibilities of the CSUMB IBC and researchers. The charter provides the current policies and procedures that ensure research and academic activities involving biological materials are conducted in a manner that is safe for staff, students, research subjects, general public and the environment. 

IBC Charter 

NIH Guidelines

The NIH Guidelines provide scientifically based practices for the safe construct and handling of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, and cells, organisms and viruses containing them. The NIH Guidelines also include information on biosafety and biocontainment requirements for human subjects, animals, plants and insects participating or used in research involving recombinant/synthetic organisms. The NIH Guidelines address the responsibilities of institutions, investigators, and Institutional Biosafety Committees for biosafety oversight. Compliance with the NIH Guidelines is a condition for grants from the National Institutes of Health and certain other Federal agencies.

NIH Guidelines

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories is a guidance document developed by the CDC and the NIH.  The BMBL provides guidance on protecting laboratory workers and the public from exposure to infectious biological materials and regulated biological toxins that pose various levels of risk to human health, and the containment of biological hazards within the laboratory. The BMBL is considered the code of practice, authoritative reference, and de facto standard of operations for U.S. laboratory biosafety and biocontainment principles, practices, and procedures. Adhering to the BMBL is a requirement for certain research grants related to the US Department of Human Health and Services.

BMBL

 

IBC Membership 2022-2023

Core Committee Members (subject expertise)

Cheryl Logan: Chair (CSUMB Faculty: Marine molecular biology)

Denise Lopez (Tulare County: Public Health Laboratory Manager)

Zurine DeMiguel (CSUMB Faculty: Psychology, Neuroscience)

JP Dundore-Arias (CSUMB Faculty: Plant pathology)

Mitch Reid (CSUMB Staff: Environmental Health and Safety Specialist)

Two Community Members (with IBC and lab safety expertise)

Karen Tuttle (Monterey Bay Aquarium: Applied Water Science Laboratory Manager)

Daniel Hasegawa (US Department of Agriculture: Research Entomologist)

Ex-officio Members

Amy Thomas (CSUMB Director of Environmental Health and Safety & Risk Management)

Doug Smith (CSUMB Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Research)

 

Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies and Research for further information about this policy.

  • University Risk Management collaborates with the IBC to manage and control biohazardous waste at CSUMB at large through Academic Environmental Health & Safety. Your research will likely involve interaction with URM/AEHS staff if your activity involves IBC oversight.

    Get to know what URM/AEHS staff do and how they can help you at: https://csumb.edu/aehs/

  • Chemical and Lab Safety is currently supported by Health & Safety, via Campus Police. Health & Safety works with the Academic Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (see Biosafety & Biohazards) to promote the safe and compliant use of chemicals on campus.

    Contact Chemical & Lab Safety