Charge

The committee reports to the Vice President of Research and provides direction for the following:

• Responsible for policies and procedures relating to potentially pathogenic microorganisms and implementation of biological safety programs for Texas Tech University.
• Ensuring Texas Tech University's compliance with NIH guidelines and assess the safety of recombinant DNA research experiments and any potential risk to public health or the environment.
• To certify investigators, their laboratories and their programs for work with:
  • Recombinant and/or synthetic nucleic acid activities; and/or
    Materials potentially infectious to humans, plants or other animals; and/or
  • arthropods that serve as vectors of disease to human, plants, or other animals; and/or
  • The use of potentially infectious human and/or non-human primate materials (e.g., unfixed tissues, cell lines, and body fluids/excretions/secretions); and/or
  • The use of animal cell lines that pose a danger to humans and/or those immortalized by means that render them dangerous to humans; and/or
  • Any Select Agent as listed in 7 CFR 331, 9 CFR 121, and 42 CFR 73.
• To produce and update the University Biological Safety Manual and oversee its implementation in the research laboratories and studios of Texas Tech University.
• To review and recommend to Environmental Health & Safety the need for general and specific training programs for research, studio and teaching activities dealing with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and recombinant DNA, and to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of such training programs.

The Department of Environmental Health & Safety helps coordinate the committee and helps develop and implement the biological safety programs of the IBC.

Committee Composition

Chair

Designated by the Vice President of Research on recommendation from the Assistant Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety.

Membership

As required by the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (Sec IV-B-2), the IBC shall be comprised of no fewer than 5 members so that they collectively have the experience and expertise in recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule technology, the capability to assess the safety of this and other research per their charge, and to identify any potential risk to public health or the environment. 

At least 2 members must not be affiliated with the institution and who represent the interest of the surrounding community with respect to health and protection of the environment.

Texas Tech University OP 74.05 further describes the content of the IBC to include the following:

• A member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee;
• At least two citizens of the Lubbock community;
• At least three faculty members from TTU with expertise in biohazards;
• One member from laboratory technical staff;
• The Assistant Vice President for Research (Environmental Health and Safety) and/or a designated representative; and 
• The University Biological Safety Officer.

Ex Officio (without vote) members include the Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health & Safety and the Associate Vice President for Research for Responsible Research.

The term of membership for full members are staggered three-year cycles.

2020-2021 Membership Roster

Chair

Dr. Hong Zhang - Molecular Plant Biologist, Biology

Associate Chair

Dr. Cynthia Reinoso Webb M(ASCP) - Microbiologist, Immunologist & Biosafety  Specialist, Environmental Toxicology

Term Expires August 31, 2021

Dr. Breanna Harris - Endocrinologist, Biological Sciences
Dr. Jyotsna Sharma - Plant Fungal Biologist, Plant and Soil Sciences
Mrs. Andrea Krieg - Staff, Animal and Food Sciences
Mr. Gary Henniger - Community Member
Mr. Shane Scoggin – Staff, Nutritional Sciences

Terms Expire August 31, 2022

Dr. Kay Millerick - Environmental Microbiologist, Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering
Dr. Cynthia Reinoso Webb ASCP(M) - Microbiologist & Immunologist, Environmental Toxicology
Dr. Huazhong Shi - Plant Biologist, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Terms Expire August 31, 2023

Dr. Benildo de los Reyes - Plant Geneticist, Plant & Soil Science
Dr. Vinicius Machado - Veterinarian, Veterinary Sciences
Mr. Neil Weems - Community Member
Dr. Hong Zhang - Molecular Plant Biologist, Biology

University Veterinarian

Dr. Tiffanie Brooks - University Veterinarian, Animal Care Services

Biological Safety Officer

Mrs. Rebecca Maloney, University Biological Safety Officer, Environmental Health & Safety

Ex Officio Members

Dr. Alice Young, Associate Vice President of Research, Office of the Vice President of Research - RO

Mr. Matt Roe, Administrative Representative, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety - ARO

Meeting Frequency

The IBC generally meets quarterly. 

For the date and time of the next scheduled meeting, please contact the IBC.

IBC Resources

IBC Application

IBC Protocol Annual Update

Biosafety Information

Lab Tools, Templates & Posters

University Laboratory Safety Manual

Have a question or concern for the IBC?

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