University Biosafety Committee Reporting Structure

This memo will serve to advise that administrative oversight and support of the University Biosafety Committee will be provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research, effective immediately.

The University Biosafety Committee (UBC) is responsible for ensuring that research involving recombinant DNA, infectious agents, human blood or blood products, human or private cell lines of other biohazardous materials is conducted in a manner that minimizes risks to laboratory workers, the university community and the community at large from undue exposure or danger. All work involving these agents or materials must be reviewed and approved by the UBC before work can begin. The UBC ensures increasing levels (BSL1-3) of personnel and environmental protection, depending on the specific nature of the biohazard, by providing a combination of engineering controls and dedicated facilities, specialized equipment, management policies, and work practices and procedures.

The attached organization chart describes the reporting structure; Dr. Kenneth M. Tramposch, Associate Vice President for Research, will assume Administrative Responsibility for the University Biosafety Committee and will provide support and oversight. In addition, Dr. Tramposch will coordinate with University News Services any public relation activities concerning biosafety activities in UB facilities.

The University Biosafety Committee structure chaired by Dr. Philip LoVerde is also attached. The UBC will continue to be responsible for reviewing and approving applications (including the standard operating procedures for the specific agents or materials in question) by investigators to conduct biohazardous research. As part of its responsibilities, the UBC will evaluate the real and potential hazards of the proposed research and evaluate the appropriateness of the containment of the biohazards in question by review of facilities, procedures and practices, and training and expertise of personnel involved in biohazardous research.

In its day-to-day operations, Principal Investigators submit applications to the Secretary (Mr. Leonard J Borzynski, OES, 301 Michael Hall, South Campus) of the UBC. The applications are triaged by the Chair of the UBC and those that require BSL-2 or higher containment are reviewed by the UBC. The UBC is guided by the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Research and CDC manual for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. Those applications that are exempt or require BSL-1 level of containment are reviewed by the UBC Chair and the Biosafety Officer.

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