Do I need IBC approval?
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay requires all faculty, staff, and students engaging in research related to recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, or other potentially hazardous biologics, to receive IBC training and IBC committee approval of their proposed projects irrespective of the funding source. Due to the nature of many projects falling under IBC review, researchers may be required to submit projects for simultaneous approval by both the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the IBC.
Please click and read through each of these types of research in the table below, and feel free to contact the IBC at
ibc@uwgb.edu with further questions.
Research that Will Most Likely Require IBC Review
In the context of the NIH Guidelines, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids are defined as:(i) molecules that a) are constructed by joining nucleic acid molecules and b) that can replicate in a living cell, i.e., recombinant nucleic acids; (ii) nucleic acid molecules that are chemically or by other means synthesized or amplified, including those that are chemically or otherwise modified but can base pair with naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules, i.e., synthetic nucleic acids, or (iii)molecules that result from the replication of those described in (i) or (ii) above.
Biological toxins are poisonous substances produced by certain microorganisms, animals, and plants.
Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are included in this classification.
Prions are abnormal, pathogenic proteins that are transmissible and are able to induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins called prion proteins that are found most abundantly in the brain.
All cell and organ cultures and materials of animal origin, including those from humans.
Any research involving recombinant DNA introduced into live animals. Research involving recombinant DNA introduced into vertebrate animals will require both IBC and IACUC approval.
Any research involving recombinant DNA introduced into plants. The IBC also oversees research involving soil, seed, plants, plant pathogens or other materials as regulated by state or federal policy or law.
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications.
Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) is life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security.