IBC Meetings

Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

IBC meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in attending an IBC meeting, please contact IBC@bu.edu.

IBC Meeting Minutes

The minutes for the last three (3) years are continuously updated below. Prior to the three years posted, additional minutes may be requested by contacting the IBC office at ibc@bu.edu

IBC Review Processes

All IBC applications submitted in RIMS are carefully screened by the administrative staff in the IBC office and are triaged them based on the submission type. New applications and 3-year renewals may take on average 4-6 weeks for approval, whereas approval of other submissions depend on the complexity of the changes requested, but typically takes less time (1-2 weeks approximately).

Protocols are reviewed by one of the four (4) methods described below:

Full Committee Review (FCR)

One primary and one secondary reviewer designated by the IBC office (in consultation with the IBC chair) will review the submission and provide comments and approval recommendation to the IBC at a convened IBC meeting. IBC office will then send the meeting comments to the PI for revision or will approve the protocol if there are no remaining concerns.

Submissions that require FCR include:

• All new protocols involving use of any biohazardous materials including the use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids;
• 3-year renewals determined to have significant changes (see DMR section below for examples of a significant change), as determined by IBC Program staff, IBC Chair, BSO, or upon the recommendation of any IBC member;
• Annual reviews for BSL3 and BSL4 protocols that involve significant procedural changes, changes in biosafety risk assessment, or applicable NIH guidelines;
• Amendments that involve significant procedural changes, changes in biosafety risk assessment, or applicable NIH guidelines;
• When requested by a member of the IBC or referred to the full committee in the process of DMR, or in consultation with the IBC Chair or BSO.

Full Committee Protocol Review Outcomes

The table below summarizes the review outcome and subsequent steps towards approval of a Full Committee Review:

Designated Member Review (DMR)

One primary and one secondary reviewer designated by the IBC office (in consultation with the IBC chair) will review the submission and provide comments and approval recommendation to the IBC within typically within 5-7 business days after the protocol is sent to the reviewers. At times this review may coincide with a convened IBC meeting, but not as a requirement. All IBC members will receive a copy of the submission via email with descriptive information or summary of changes since last review of the particular IBC protocol. Any member may request the IBC office to forward a protocol to the full committee for review. PI communication of review comments and approval decisions are handled similarly for all review processes.

Types of IBC submissions that may be appropriate for review via DMR include:

• 3-Year Renewals with no significant changes or the highest BSL/ABSL is or has been downgraded to be BSL1/ABSL1;
• New protocols involving collection and/or storage of human or non-human primate materials including blood, plasma, serum, body fluids, unfixed tissues, organs, and cells, but not involving rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules;
• New protocols designated BSL1 involving rDNA or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, but considered “exempt” by the NIH Guidelines;
• New protocols utilizing only nanomaterials as potential (unconfirmed) biohazard;
  • Amendments proposing to 1) add new animal or human materials; 2) to add new biological agents that elevate the risk assessment or biosafety level; 3) to add a new viral vector requiring a higher BSL or changes to the existing research objectives).

IBC Chair and Biosafety Officer (BSO) Review (CBR)

Some submissions are reviewed only by the IBC chair and the BSO. The decision of CBR is made by the IBC office in consultation with the IBC chair.

Types of IBC amendment submissions that may be appropriate for review via CBR include those proposing:

• A modification that does not involve any changes to the indicated applicable NIH guidelines in a PI’s current approved IBC protocol, the research objectives, or procedures;
• Addition of inactivated biological samples;
• Amendment to receive an approved biological agent from a new source;
• Addition of a biological agent, clinical sample, or new genetic material that does not change the risk assessment or biosafety level;
• A modification that includes the addition of the same biological agent from another IBC protocol of the same PI;
• A novel procedure that may need further review.

Administrative Review (AR)

Protocol submissions with changes considered administrative are reviewed and approved by the IBC office. Types of IBC amendment submissions that may be appropriate for review via AR may include those proposing:

• Change of PI;
• Changes in personnel, other than the PI;
• Changes in project title or funding source;
• Updates to PIs CV/NIH Biosketch;
• Changes in laboratory locations, provided that EHS concurs with the use of new space for the purposes of the protocol;
• Updates to biological safety cabinet information (i.e., the make, model, serial number, recent certification date) based on confirmation from EHS;
• Updates to IRB and IACUC approval information;
• Correction of grammar or typographical errors;

Summary of Methods of Review

Closing an IBC Protocol

If research under an approved IBC protocol is no longer required, or the PI has left BU,  an IBC protocol closure form must be completed and submitted. This form contains information clarifying appropriate disposal of all biohazardous materials, or their transfer to another approved IBC protocol, and appropriate decontamination of the laboratory space as per EHS’s recommendation. The completed form must be sent to IBC office for verification. Closure form is available here.