The University of Cincinnati Biosafety Department has two functions, the Biosafety Office and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), which work closely to ensure the safety and health of research staff and compliance with applicable laws.

The Biosafety Office is charged with ensuring compliance with institutional requirements and federal, state and local regulations pertaining to the possession, use, transfer and disposal of biohazardous agents.  The Biosafety Officer (BSO) is responsible for performing risk assessments to identify hazards and to guide Principal Investigators and staff in implementing practices and procedures that will minimize or eliminate risks associated with research involving biohazardous materials.

The IBC is charged by the Senior Vice President and Provost for Health Affairs to review and approve all University research activities involving the use of biohazardous agents and recombinant DNA molecules, as described in the National Institutes for Health “Guidelines for Research Involving the Use of Recombinant DNA Molecules” (NIH Guidelines) and the current edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Biohazards in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories” (the “BMBL” or CDC Guidelines). 

Office of Research Quick Reference Guide