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Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
W&M's Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is not limited to the narrow regulations on recombinant DNA technology set forth by the NIH. Most universities have mandates to oversee broader biosafety issues, particularly projects pertaining to zoonotic and infectious disease agents, but also those dealing with other biohazardous agents such as algal toxins. In fact, the scope of many IBCs is to oversee any biological agents that can potentially harm humans, the environment or agriculture. For more detailed information, please review the IBC Procedures & Guidances.
Had an incident with your IBC-approved protocol?
File an online Incident Report with the IBC committee.
Quick Start: Managing your IBC protocols
- Log into the compliance management system, SPARCS.
- Select "Products" in the top right hand side of your screen.
- From the drop down, select "Hazard Safety."
- Your next steps might vary on the task you need to complete. Please review the available how-to guides and videos to determine your next steps.
- Please allow four (4) weeks for committee review of the protocol before the anticipated review/expiration date. Often, revisions are required and this will take additional time for the approval process.
No Self-Exemption from Review
William & Mary does not permit PIs to "self-exempt" their research from IBC review. Committee meetings are open to anyone who would like to attend. Learn more about the IBC Committee.
Funding/Grant Applications
PIs who apply for funding for projects must provide protocol number, title and date of approval to their Grant Manager prior to a grant fiscal account being established for use.
PIs who do not submit annual renewals in a timely manner are subject to the fiscal account being frozen until annual review has been approved.