IBC (Biosafety)

This site has been created to support faculty, students and employees affiliated with OHSU in the conduct of research with recombinant DNA (rDNA) and infectious agents or biologically derived toxins.

The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules defines rDNA as either:

molecules that are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA
molecules that can replicate in a living cell, or molecules that result from the replication of those described in (i) above.

Synthetic DNA segments which are likely to yield a potentially harmful polynucleotide or polypeptide (e.g., a toxin or a pharmacologically active agent) are considered as equivalent to their natural DNA counterpart. If the synthetic DNA segment is not expressed in vivo as a biologically active polynucleotide or polypeptide product, it is exempt from the NIH Guidelines.

Infectious Agents are generally defined as risk group 2 agents and above (agents that can cause disease in healthy adult humans).

Use of Biologically Derived Toxins need only be reviewed by the IBC if the toxin is a select agent, or if the toxin is lethal for vertebrates at an LD50 of less than 100 nanograms per kilogram body weight.