Institutional Biosafety Committee
NYU Langone Health’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for reviewing and overseeing research that involves recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules as well as other potentially biohazardous materials.
Recombinant nucleic acid molecules are defined as genetic material constructed outside of living cells by joining DNA or RNA segments from different sources, while synthetic nucleic acid molecules are those that are chemically or otherwise artificially synthesized. Those recombinant or synthetic molecules are often called recombinant DNA, or rDNA for short.
Biohazardous materials more broadly include microorganisms (like viruses or bacteria), human- or animal-derived materials (like blood or tumor cells), and other biological agents and toxins that may pose risks to health or the environment.
These technologies and materials are central to modern biological and biomedical research. They enable the study of diseases, gene functions and regulation, as well as the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostic tools. Because such work carries specific biosafety considerations, the IBC provides institutional oversight to uphold safe and responsible research practices, protect laboratory personnel and the broader community, and ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and institutional policies.
Responsibilities and Meetings of the IBC
The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules describe the responsibilities of federally-funded US institutions for the oversight of work with rDNA, including in clinical research, through IBC reviews.
At NYU Langone, institutional policies define the responsibilities of the IBC for the oversight of research with biohazardous materials which do not necessarily contain rDNA. This includes without being limited to:
- Review and approval of research protocols
- Risk assessments and biosafety assignments
- Recommendations for occupational health programs
- Training and education
- Collaboration with other oversight bodies (e.g., EH&S, IACUC, IRB, etc.)
- Compliance with US government regulations (e.g., CDC, USDA, OSHA, DoH, etc.)
- Incident responses and disciplinary actions
- Community engagement
IBC meetings are held at least once a month and are open to the public. Effective June 1, 2025, NYU Langone is publicly posting approved meeting minutes from all IBC meetings held on or after this date. Minutes will be posted on this page, promptly following their approval by the IBC and after all appropriate and allowable redactions have been made to protect sensitive or confidential information. IBC meeting minutes will be available on the website for a minimum period of five years from posting, as mandated by the NIH.
For additional information about the IBC or to attend our meetings, please email IBC@NYULangone.org.
For NYU Langone researchers, you can also learn more about our guidelines, resources, submission deadlines and meeting dates on our internal site (Kerberos ID and password required).