Biohazards Committee

NOTE:  Any research involving biohazardous materials or recombinant DNA requires completion of an MUA (Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement for Recombinant DNA Experiments) that will be reviewed by the Biohazards Committee.

The Biohazards Committee serves as an advisory body that reports to the vice president for research and graduate studies concerning research on living organisms, including viruses, when a potential hazard to any life form or the environment is posed by such research. The committee collectively is to have experience and expertise in recombinant DNA technology and the capability to assess the safety of recombinant DNA research experiments and any potential risk to public health or the environment.

In accordance with NIH guidelines, the committee consists of four faculty members, nominated by the vice president for research and graduate studies, from biologically oriented disciplines, each of whom is familiar with biohazards and one of whom is considered to be an environmental scientist; one faculty member from law; a physician; a laboratory research person familiar with potentially biohazardous research; two members not associated with UI; safety officer; and (without vote) industrial hygiene specialist. When changes in NIH guidelines require change in committee structure, such changes will become effective when approved by the Committee on Committees. To provide the necessary expertise and continuity of operation, members may serve consecutive three-year terms.