Learn about our biosafety practices, procedures and regulations.
UNM’s research biosafety program and purpose is to:
Application Submission Deadline Dates
Quarterly Review Meeting Dates
It is the policy of UNM to adhere to principles of biosafety and biosecurity in all UNM research, regardless of source of funding, so as not to endanger the health and safety of University personnel, students, visitors, the public, or the environment. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged with reviewing and approving proposed research projects conducted by UNM faculty on UNM premises to ensure an assessment of associated risks has been conducted and mitigating engineering administrated, and personal protective equipment is available and will be applied in order to safely conduct the research.
The IBC is composed of scientific, administrative, and community members. The Committee’s composition is based on guidelines outlined in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines). The institution prefers that scientists from each department holding significant amounts of biologically hazardous materials and agents be represented. Memberships are rotated and each member minimally serves a three-year term. The Biohazard Compliance administers the IBC at UNM.
The Biohazard Compliance encourages research faculty to communicate with IBC members or the Biosafety Officer when they are considering research that may require IBC review and approval before implementation.
IBC approval is necessary to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and guidelines concerning research with biological hazards and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Covered biological research will be evaluated for potential adverse effects on employees, the public, and the environment. The review and approval process ensures:
Obtain IBC approval before handling the following biological agents for in vitro or in vivo experiments.
How to apply for IBC approval
Application Submission Deadline Dates
Quarterly Review Meeting Dates
It is the policy of UNM to adhere to principles of biosafety and biosecurity in all UNM research, regardless of source of funding, so as not to endanger the health and safety of University personnel, students, visitors, the public, or the environment. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged with reviewing and approving proposed research projects conducted by UNM faculty on UNM premises to ensure an assessment of associated risks has been conducted and mitigating engineering administrated, and personal protective equipment is available and will be applied in order to safely conduct the research.
The IBC is composed of scientific, administrative, and community members. The Committee’s composition is based on guidelines outlined in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines). The institution prefers that scientists from each department holding significant amounts of biologically hazardous materials and agents be represented. Memberships are rotated and each member minimally serves a three-year term. The Biohazard Compliance administers the IBC at UNM.
The Biohazard Compliance encourages research faculty to communicate with IBC members or the Biosafety Officer when they are considering research that may require IBC review and approval before implementation.
IBC approval is necessary to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and guidelines concerning research with biological hazards and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Covered biological research will be evaluated for potential adverse effects on employees, the public, and the environment. The review and approval process ensures:
Obtain IBC approval before handling the following biological agents for in vitro or in vivo experiments.
How to apply for IBC approval
The UNM BioInventory is used to designate faculty accountability for each biological agent and biological toxin held on UNM properties. All faculty holding biological materials must complete an annual survey listing the types of biological materials they hold. Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance Office) uses this information to populate the Institutional BioInventory Database. The BioInventory Database is used for investigator notifications of regulatory compliance updates, medical surveillance requirements, laboratory door postings, annual reporting of permissible select toxins, and emergency contact information. UNM BioInventory Form
Human Materials: blood, blood components, primary cell lines, established cell lines, body fluids, and unfixed tissues or organs.
Non-Human Primate Materials: blood, blood components, primary cell lines, established cell lines, body fluids, and unfixed tissues or organs.
Animal Materials: blood, blood components, primary cell lines, established cell lines, body fluids, and unfixed tissues or organs.
Plant Materials: Biology Department (baseline data)
Other Biological Agents and Toxins: Bacteria, Fungi, Parasites, Prions, Rickettsia, Virus, Viral Vectors, and Biotoxins
UNM Faculty Member Responsibilities
Annual BioInventory
Faculty members must report biological material holdings annually and respond to survey requests promptly.
Laboratory Space Relocation
Each faculty member must notify Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance) when moving laboratories, acquiring new laboratory space, or changing the location of an agent’s work or storage location.
Acquiring New Biological Agents / Biological Toxins
Each faculty member must notify Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance) when acquiring new biological agents / biotoxins and/or when destroying specific biological agents or biotoxins.
Departing UNM Faculty
All departing faculty must communicate the planned disposition of all research biological agents / biotoxins to Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance). One of the following scenarios must be chosen for each “held” material before departing UNM.
Additional requirements may be mandated to transport biological agents and/or biotoxins off UNM properties. Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance) will assist in determining agent specific requirements after consultation.
Many research laboratories handle materials from humans that could be contaminated with Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP). As in clinical labs, handlers should comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standard [29 CFR 1910.1030].
UNM has expanded the BBP standard requirement to include exposure to the same kinds of materials from non-human primates in the research setting. Collectively these materials are referred to as BBPs. It is each supervising Principal Investigator’s responsibility to ensure employees and students are in compliance with the OSHA BBP standard.
If your laboratory contains materials classified as BBPs, please identify them in your annual UNM BioInventory disclosure, and ensure the following steps are taken:
a Usually this will be personnel working in laboratories at the bench.
b Check HR job description contents. If the description does not contain the appropriate language, inform HR of the requirement.
c The employee must report for medical surveillance if they have not done so already. All paid persons are considered employees and should report to EOHS in the Family Practice Center. All unpaid students should report to Student Health Services on the main campus.
d This requirement may be met by completing the HSC Bloodborne Pathogens training course on Learning Central (Reducing the Risk of Healthcare Associated Infections and Bloodborne Pathogens HSC).
e The supervisor should monitor the employee’s training records on Learning Central.
f Supervisors are required to take the required BBP training annually.
BioInventory Form: The UNM BioInventory Form is used to designate faculty accountability for each research biological agent and biological toxin held on UNM properties.
Biological Shipping Training: Shipping policy training regarding Biological Substance and Related Materials.
Biological Spill Clean-up Procedure for BSL-1 & BSL-2 Labs: The following procedure is used to clean up spills within BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories.
BSC Spill Clean-up Procedure: The following procedure is used to clean-up biological spills within a Biological Safety Cabinet.
IBC Form (application): The IBC Form is used by faculty members to submit research protocols to the Institutional Biosafety Committee. Contact Biosafety (Biohazard Compliance) to obtain a current IBC Form (application).
PSDS Template: Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDSs) are technical documents that describe the hazardous properties of a human pathogen and provide recommendations for work involving these agents in a laboratory setting. Numerous PSDSs may be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment.html. This document serves as a template to develop Pathogen Safety Data Sheets for biological agents.
Sharps Precautions: Laboratory sharps precautions posting
Timothy Muller, MS, CBSP
University biosafety officer
Call: 505-272-5993
Email: tmuller@salud.unm.edu
Virginia Severns, MS, MBA
Biosafety specialist
Call: 505-272-8001
Email: VSeverns@salud.unm.edu
Physical Location:
Fitz Hall B83 / B61G
Mailing Address:
MSC 08 4560
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Call: 505-272-8001
Fax: 505-272-8675