Biological Safety

Individuals working with biohazardous agents are expected to know and understand all relevant safety guidelines. Because the principal investigator is aware of the complexities of the research and its associated hazard, they must adequately inform all who are working in the research laboratory, personally monitor day to day operation of the laboratory, and take all necessary steps for protection of staff, students, and the general public against undesirable consequences of experimental work conducted in their laboratory.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is an ethics review committee required by the NIH. At PSU, the IBC is responsible for reviewing and approving all activities involving recombinant DNA and potentially bio-hazardous materials. The committee assures compliance with regulatory requirements and conformance with best practices.

For more info on the IBC and to obtain copies of all biosafety related materials, please see the Biosafety Program page. All research involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) must be reviewed by the IBC, regardless of funding. For more information on these requirements please see the NIH Guidelines or send an email to
ibc@pdx.edu .

October is Biosafety and Biosecurity Awareness Month

In 2014, the NIH and other Department of Health and Human Services agencies announced National Biosafety Stewardship month as an initiative to promote stewardship of the life sciences and biosafety awareness. National Biosafety Stewardship Month is a period during which institutions are encouraged to reinforce their attention to biosafety policies, practices and procedures. ABSA (The Association of Biosafety and Biosecurity) joined in on this annual awareness event as well, coining the month Biosafety and Biosecurity Awareness Month. To find out more information on what PSU is doing in honor of this occasion, please visit the Biosafety and Biosecurity Month page.