The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for overseeing research involving potentially biohazardous materials. They have been charged with protecting faculty, staff, students, research participants, visitors, the general public and the environment from exposures (or potential exposures) to biological hazards. Furthermore, the committee will ensure that all research activity involving biohazardous materials and the facilities used to undertake such activity are in compliance with federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines.
Useful Links
IBC Members
Dr. Nicholas Burgis - IBC Chair, Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Jackie Coomes - IBC member, Interim Vice Provost
Dr. Jeni Walke - IBC Member, Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Jason Ashley - IBC Member, Associate Professor of Biology
John Shields - IBC Member, Biological Safety Officer
Buck Somes - External IBC Member, CEO GenPrime
Lindsay Matern - External IBC Member, Head Microbiologist Selkirk Labs
Alex Steiner - External IBC Member, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Research Subject to IBC Oversight
Research involving any of the following is subject to IBC notification and may require IBC approval before the project can begin:
- Recombinant DNA molecules (e.g. plasmids and viral vectors) or synthetic nucleic acids
- Genetically modified organisms (plants, animals, eukaryotes, bacteria, archaea)
- Potentially infectious material
- Biotoxins
- Material from humans or nonhuman primates (e.g. blood, tissues, cell lines)
- Field research involving animals or animal tissues known to be reservoirs of zoonotic disease.
If your research falls into any of these categories, please fill out the IBC Research Submission form.
Please contact Dr. Nicholas Burgis (nburgis@ewu.edu) if you have questions about whether your research is subject to IBC oversight.
Training Requirements
There are training requirements for anyone working with biohazardous materials.
- PIs, EWU staff members, and graduate students must take the CITI training course Training for Investigators, Staff and Students Handling Biohazards.
- Undergraduate students must take the CITI training course Biohazards and Biosafety for Students.
Project Review Process
Projects that meet the criteria are reviewed by a committee member to determine if they require committee notification or full committee review.
Submission forms are distributed to committee members with a note telling them if the project is for notification or review.
- Any committee member can request a full review of a project if they have questions or concerns.
The assigned committee member will contact researchers to let them know if they can begin their project of if it requires committee review.
Research Submission Forms must be turned in at least three weeks before the project is due to start to allow time for review and discussion.
Please use the link below to access the IBC's New Research Submission Form:
Once completed, please email the New Research Form and any supplemental documents to envhea@ewu.edu.
