All researchers must receive IBC approval prior to beginning work with any COVID-19 related materials. The IBC has approved a SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Research Guidelines, which define relevant biosafety levels, containment requirements, inactivation information, and points of contact for working with COVID-19 related research materials. For any questions about IBC requirements for COVID-19 related research, please email biosafety@rutgers.edu.

Ronald Hart, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Division of Life Sciences and Center for Collaborative Neuroscience
Chair, Central Standing Committee
rhart@rutgers.edu

Aimee Beaulieu, PhD
Assistant Professor & Chancellor Scholar
Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
New Jersey Medical School
Chair, North Standing Committee
ab1550@njms.rutgers.edu

The committee roster has been approved by the NIH Office of Science Policy and meets the requirements for the IBC composition as outlined in the NIH Guidelines.

IBC Handbook

If you are a Rutgers PI and need a copy of your IBC approval letter for a grant application or award, you can find it in the File Cabinet section of your protocol. Log into the Biosafety Protocols database via MyREHS (myrehs.rutgers.edu), select 'View' to open your protocol, click the “File Cabinet” button, and look for the latest version under “System Files”. You can also find a printable PDF copy of your approved protocol in this same section (choose the latest version number).

Rutgers University maintains two standing Institutional Biosafety Committees, North and Central Committees, which share responsibility for reviewing IBC protocols submitted across the university, regardless of campus affiliation. These committees alternate meeting monthly, with special meetings convened as needed. IBC meetings are held virtually and are only open to members of the IBC, REHS Biosafety staff, and individuals who have received prior approval from an IBC chair to attend.

Note: To be eligible for inclusion on a meeting agenda, protocols must be submitted before the monthly Submission Deadline (see schedule below).

Rutgers University maintains two standing Institutional Biosafety Committees, North and Central Committees, which share responsibility for reviewing IBC protocols submitted across the university, regardless of campus affiliation. These committees alternate meeting monthly and typically meeting minutes are formally approved at the subsequent meeting of the committee to which they pertain. Once approved, minutes are posted and made available in accordance with the NIH Guidelines and under New Jersey public access regulations and institutional policies.