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Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The Nova Southeastern University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for evaluating all research that is conducted with recombinant DNA (rDNA), infectious agents, or biological toxins, human cell lines, non-human primate cell lines, regardless of funding source, in order to oversee the health and safety of employees and the public, and to ensure compliance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines).

The NSU Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) transitioned their forms and process to an electronic submission system called IRBManager™ effective October 1st, 2022. This electronic submission system allows for a more efficient method to submit, review, and approve IBC research submissions.

All individuals involved in biological material research, including investigators (P.I. and Co. P.I.), members of the research team (i.e. research personnel), and IBC members must create an IRBManager™ account. For assistance accessing, submitting and viewing protocols, please refer to our newly created NSU IBC IRBMANAGER™ User Guide.  

Protocols must be received by the the deadline dates listed in the Committee Meeting Dates tab below.   All protocols received after each deadline will be reviewed at the next quarter IBC meeting

Important Resources

Creating an IRBManager™ Account 

NSU IRBManager™ IBC User Guide

NSU IRBManager™ IBC Reviewer User Guide

To be directed to the IRBManager™ website: https://nova.my.irbmanager.com/Login.aspx

To Create and IRBManager™ Account:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Click on "Click here to register".
  3. Enter the requested information into the registration form.
    • NSU researchers need to use their official NSU email address.
    • The study PI may not use personal email account because all official correspondences from the IBC can only be sent to your official NSU email address.
    • For researchers without an NSU email (i.e. a non-NSU student, staff, or faculty), please use an email account for professional correspondence.
  1. Once completed, click "Register".

IMPORTANT NOTE: All NSU students, faculty, and staff must use their official NSU email address when registering for IRBManager™.

Starting a new IBC Initial Submission Form:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Create or log into your IRBManager™ account.
  3. Select either “IBC”,“IRB”, “IBC” or “Show Everything”
  4. Select Home located on the upper left-hand side of screen.
  5. Under the Actions column on the left-hand side of the screen, click IBC Initial Submission Form.
  6. Follow instructions to complete the electronic IBC Initial Submission Form.

Starting an IBC Annual Renewal Form:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Log into your IRBManager™ account.
  3. Select Home located on the upper left-hand side of screen.
  1. Under My IRB Nos. (last section towards the center of the page) select the IRB No. (IBC Number) in which you would like to submit your IBC Annual Renewal Form for.
  2. Click on ‘Start xForm’ located under the Actions column on the left-hand side of the screen.
  3. Select the IBC Annual Renewal Form.
  4. Follow instructions to complete the electronic IBC Annual Renewal Form

Starting an IBC Protocol Closure xForm:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Log into your IRBManager™ account.
  3. Select Home located on the upper left-hand side of screen.
  1. Under My IRB Nos. (last section towards the center of the page) select the IRB No. (IBC Number) in which you would like to submit your IBC Protocol Closure Form for.
  2. Click on "Start xForm" located under the Actions column on the left-hand side of the screen.
  3. Select the IBC Protocol Closure Form.
  4. Follow instructions to complete the electronic IBC Protocol Closure xForm

Starting an IBC Incident Reporting xForm:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Log into your IRBManager™ account.
  3. Select "Home" located on the upper left-hand side of screen.
  4. Under the Actions column on the left-hand side of the screen, click IBC Incident Reporting Form.
  5. Follow instructions to complete the electronic IBC Incident Reporting Form.

Assistance with Issues in IRBManager™

***Do not contact NSU OIIT or IRBManager™ for assistance with IRBManager™***

Please contact the IBC Administration via email at IBC@nova.edu with any questions or issues you have regarding the IRBManager™ electronic submission system.

If possible, please take and send a screen shot of the issue you are having as it will help us to better assist you.

EHS Required Safety Training

Safety training is available on Canvas as self-enrollment.  Students/faculty/staff have access to all the training modules, however are only required or expected to take applicable training courses. Follow the guidance outlined by your program or in the Self Enrollment Instructions to determine which modules are required. Please email EHS@nova.edu with questions pertaining to the required safety training.

 

SOP Template

Each IBC Protocol submission must include an SOP.  Please download the template from this website each time as the template will be updated periodically.

The IBC meets quarterly or as necessary to review and approve all rDNA, non-recombinant infectious agent, and biologically-derived toxin research, including research with select agents, under NSU policy.  

Meeting Date Submission Deadline Date
March 1st, 2024 February 16th, 2024
June 7th, 2024 May 24th, 2024

September 9th, 2024

August 23rd, 2024
December 6th, 2024 November 15th, 2024

IBC meetings are open to the public.  Meetings are held via Zoom and start promptly at 2:00 pm unless otherwise noted.  If you are interested in attending a meeting, please email us at IBC@nova.edu.

The NIH Guidelines require that any significant problems, violations, or any significant research-related accidents and illnesses be reported to the NIH Office of Science Policy (NIH) within 30 days.  Appendix G of the NIH Guidelines specifies certain types of accidents that must be reported on a more expedited basis.  Specifically, Appendix G-II-B-2-k requires that spills and accidents in BL2 laboratories resulting in an overt exposure must be immediately reported to the OSP (as well as the IBC).  In addition, Appendices G-II-C-2-q and G-II-D-2-k  require that spills or accidents occurring in high containment (BL3 or BL4) laboratories resulting in an overt or potential exposure must be immediately reported to OSP (as well as the IBC and BSO).

 

Incidents may also be reported using the electronic form in the IRBManager system.

Starting an IBC Incident Reporting xForm:

  1. Go to: https://nova.my.IRBManager.com/Login.aspx
  2. Log into your IRBManager™ account.
  3. Select "Home" located on the upper left-hand side of screen.
  4. Under the Actions column on the left-hand side of the screen, click IBC Incident Reporting Form.
  5. Follow instructions to complete the electronic IBC Incident Reporting Form.
If you will be buying a biosafety cabinet for your lab, please contact ehs@nova.edu to schedule your inspection and obtain certification for your biosafety cabinet.
If you have any questions regarding biological research and safety or need assistance regarding your protocol submission please contact the committee at ibc@nova.edu.
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