Responsibilities When Using Recombinant DNA Molecules and/or Infectious Agents in Research

Medical University of South Carolina

The NIH/DHHS Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA and recommendations contained in the CDC publication, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, have been adopted by MUSC as the standards for working with recombinant DNA molecules and infectious agents.

Principal Investigator and Staff
Approval and/or notification of the IBC is required prior to initiating or modifying any research project that uses non-exempt DNA molecules or infectious agents. Principal Investigators must register with the Institutional Biosafety Committee all uses of recombinant DNA molecules and infectious agents, except experiments considered exempt by the Guidelines.

Principal investigators are responsible for the conduct of their experiments at the appropriate biosafety level and for informing all personnel of the conditions of this work. Investigators are also responsible for instructing and training staff in the practices and techniques required to ensure safety in the procedures for dealing with accidents.

Any investigator who willfully violates the scope of his or her approval may lose legal protection provided by the University.

Institutional Biosafety Committee
The IBC is comprised of members so selected that they collectively have experience and expertise in: recombinant DNA and infectious agents technology; the capability to assess the safety of the research experiments; and, the capability to assess any potential risk to public health or the environment. The IBC conducts facility inspections in order to assist investigators in maintaining and using safe conditions and procedures in their laboratories.

University Administration
All of the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator listed above are also the responsibilities of the Institution, fulfilled on its behalf by the Principal Investigator. In addition, the Institution is responsible for establishing an IBC and meeting the requirements as stated in NIH guidelines.

For assistance in the preparation of an application for registration with the Institutional Biosafety Committee call the Committee's office at 792-4148.

To report incidents of non-compliance or unauthorized research, call the Office of Research Integrity at 792-4148.

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