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Biosafety
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for the review and approval of all research and academic activities involving recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules; cells, organisms, and viruses containing such molecules; or other potentially hazardous biological agents to ensure that work is conducted in a manner that does not pose significant risk to the health and safety of laboratory workers, the public, or the environment.
1. IBC Submission Determination
Please use this submission determination tool to identify whether your activity requires IBC review, is exempt from IBC registration, or is outside the scope of IBC policy.
2. Trainings
All personnel* listed on an IBC protocol must have the following CSU Learn certifications completed at the time of submission. Protocols submitted without current certifications for all listed personnel may experience delays in review and approval.
- Fundamentals of Biosafety
- Other trainings as applicable, such as Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness
*Students enrolled in a course are excluded from being listed as personnel on a course/teaching protocol. The Instructor of Record is responsible for student safety training and student safety training documentation in a course.
3. IBC Submissions in Cayuse
Use the guidance below for the various submission types.
An initial submission is the first application for IBC review of a new project or activity before initiation.
For teaching, one initial protocol should cover all procedures performed within a course laboratory.
For research, one initial protocol should cover all procedures that are part of a single research lab.
An amendment is a minor or significant change to an approved protocol.
A minor amendment does not materially alter the scope of the work, the agents or materials used, the applicable section of the NIH Guidelines, the approved biosafety level or containment requirements, the risk assessment, or the Committee’s prior determinations. For example, adding research personnel.
A significant amendment may affect the scope of the work, the agents or materials used, the applicable section of the NIH Guidelines, the approved biosafety level or containment requirements, the risk assessment, or the Committee’s prior determinations. Significant amendments must be submitted to the IBC for review and approval before implementation.
Continuing review occurs in year one and two of a three-year approval period. A continuing review is a post-approval monitoring submission made during the active approval period to confirm that the approved work remains current and compliant.
A de novo review is a full new review of an already approved protocol at the end of the three-year approval period. The protocol is reviewed again in full rather than treated as a minor update or post-approval check.
PIs can copy the original protocol to create a de novo submission.
An incident report is a submission describing a significant problem, violation, or research-related accident or illness associated with the approved work. Significant incidents must be reviewed and, when required, reported to NIH OSP within 30 days.
Change the PI
Teaching protocols may require a change to the listed PI on the IBC protocol. Please email the information below to initiate the transfer.
Share a Protocol
If you have a protocol you'd like to share as a template with another PI, we can provide a copy to them upon request.
Information needed:
- Purpose (Change PI or Create Copy)
- IBC Protocol #
- Person receiving the protocol
Committee Information
The IBC was established and appointed in Fall 2025 and is developing the protocol submission and review process. The campus will be notified once submissions are required.
- Fall 2026
- Spring 2027
Minutes will be posted once protocol review begins.
We welcome questions:
| Contact | Role | Questions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Olsan | IBC Chair and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences | IRB oversight and application questions | e.olsan@csus.edu |
| Leah Vargas | IBC and Cayuse Administrator | Cayuse access and navigation, or updates on review timeline | leah.vargas@csus.edu |