Date: May 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Quorum: Met
Call to Order: The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes from April 30, 2026, were approved as written.
Protocols Reviewed
Title: “Novel Coronovirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): animal models and countermeasures development.”
NIH Guidelines: Sections III-D-2a; III-E-1, III-F-8, and Appendix C-II.
Meeting Comments: The research group aims to continue focusing on the characterization of different SARS-CoV-2 strains, improving detection and surveillance methods, and evaluating potential vaccines and therapeutics through both in vitro and in vivo studies. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- Please remove the sentence: “Work with SARS-CoV-2 strains and materials, currently located at the BRI, will be done at the BSL-3 containment according to the BRI-approved SOPs and protocols.” Additionally, please clarify in this section that no experiments are currently planned with the samples stored at the BRI. If future work with these samples is anticipated, please state that an amendment will be submitted to the IBC for review and approval prior to initiating those activities.
- Animal Appendices 1 and 2: Please update the response to either “pending” or with the approved protocol number.
- Please select “Safety glasses” and “Other.” In the follow-up description, clarify that safety glasses are used when there is a potential for splashes.
- Please include that the biohazard waste bags will be surface decontaminated prior to being removed from the laboratory and transported to the autoclave
Title: “Modulating intestinal microbiome to promote microbiota and immune system co-development”
NIH Guidelines: Sections III-E-1 and III-E-4.
Meeting Comments: The research group aims to continue culturing and analyzing bacterial populations important for mouse immune system development using solid and liquid media. Activities include isolation and DNA extraction of mouse microbiota, inoculation of microbiota on Caco-2 cells, and transcriptomic analysis following exposure. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- 30.40.50: Please change this answer to “yes”.
- 40.50.140: Please change this answer to “no”.
Other Business: None.
Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.