Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP)
Undergraduate Admissions
Contact Us:
- Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
- 800 Linden Street
- Scranton, PA 18510
- The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ
- Phone: 570-941-6353
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
In compliance with federal regulations and guidelines, all research involving possible exposure to infectious agents (i.e., biohazardous materials) and recombinant DNA molecules must be registered with, reviewed and approved by the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
The purpose of The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules is to specify practices for constructing and handling recombinant DNA molecules and organisms and viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules. Revised regulations were issued by the NIH in January 2011. Copies of the federal guidelines are available at the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs - 4th Floor O'Hara Hall.
Meeting Schedule
The IBC meets virtually, as needed. Information on the status of the IBC is submitted annually to the Office of Recombinant DNA Activities, NIH.
Current Members
IBC Committed Members
Academic Year 2024-2025
| Michael Landram, Ph.D., Chair | Health and Human Performance |
| John Arnott, Ph.D.* | Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine |
| Michael Baltrusaitis | Public Safety - Cocciardi & Associates |
| Rev. Timothy Cadigan, S.J., Ph.D. | Biology |
| Ashley Driver, Ph.D. | Biology |
| David Marx, Ph.D. | Associate Provost Academic Affairs |
| Charles Penn* | Sanofi-Pasteur |
| Deborah Wardach | Biology |
| *External Representative |
Biosafety Registration/Review
The Institutional Biosafety Committee Safety Manual lists the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Biosafety policies as approved by the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Faculty Research Committee. It is intended primarily for principal investigators (PIs), but it can also be a useful resource for ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ teaching faculty, staff and students, and any non-ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ personnel who work in campus facilities. These policies are designed: (a) to maintain a safe working environment by protecting persons from exposure to infectious agents and organisms containing recombinant DNA; (b) to prevent environmental contamination; (c) to comply with federal regulations.
It is anticipated that most research conducted at the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will fall into categories which are exempt from review according to the NIH guidelines. However, all biohazardous materials research should be registered with the IBC using the New Investigator Registration Sheet which the committee has developed. One signed hard copy of this completed document should be submitted to the IBC, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, IMBM 200. An electronic version of the document should be sent to Dr. Micahel Landram at michael.landram@scranton.edu.
The Application to use Human Blood, Blood Products, Body Fluids or Tissues in Teaching Laboratory is used to provide the IBC with the information it needs to review and evaluate laboratory exercise, to ensure that the procedures are consistent with ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Biosafety Policy and to ensure that faculty, staff and students are properly trained to work with and/or are protected from exposure to biohazardous materials in the media of human blood, blood products, body fluids or tissues.
The Application to use Biohazardous Material in Teaching Laboratory is used to provide the IBC with the information it needs to review and evaluate exercises, to ensure that the procedures are consistent with the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Biosafety Policy and to ensure that faculty, staff and students are properly trained to work with and/or are protected from exposure to biohazardous materials.
The Application to use Recombinant DNA in Teaching Laboratory is used to provide the IBC with the information it needs to review and evaluate laboratory exercises, to ensure that the procedures are consistent with the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Biosafety Policy and to ensure that faculty, staff and students are properly trained to work with and/or are protected from exposure while experimenting with recombinant DNA.
One signed hard copy of a completed application and an electronic version of the document should be sent to Dr. Michael Landram at michael.landram@scranton.edu.