I. Committee Charge
a. The Biosafety Committee is a standing committee established by the Provost to:
- Ensure that all activities involving biohazardous materials are conducted in compliance with federal, state and local regulations and applicable University policies.
- Assist and advise the Yale community on incorporating good biological safety practices into all activities involving biohazardous materials.
- Reduce the risk of potential biohazardous threats to the Yale community, the public and the environment.
b. The Biosafety Committee is vested with the authority to:
- Review and approve practices and procedures regarding research and other activities involving biohazardous materials.
- Direct inspection by the Biological Safety Officer and the Biosafety Office within Environmental Health and Safety of facilities where biohazardous materials are used and/or stored.
- Take appropriate action, including suspending research, in situations that present a risk of harm to life or health and in cases of serious, repeated or continued non-compliance with regulations or IBC safety guidelines.
II. Committee Responsibilities
a. The Biosafety Commitee, Biological Safety Officer and the Biosafety Office develop and implement policies, procedures and guidelines related to the use of biohazardous materials in the conduct of University activities.
b. The Biosafety Committee reviews and monitors all research, teaching and other activities conducted at Yale that involve the use of infectious agents, biological toxins, recombinant DNA and other biohazardous materials.
c. The Biosafety Committee serves as the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) as defined in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules and carries out all functions required by the Guidelines, including reviewing applications for research at Yale involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) to ensure that the research conforms to the NIH Guidelines.
d. The Biosafety Committee, with the support of the Biological Safety Officer and the Biosafety Office, assists Principal Investigators and others in the Yale community in meeting their responsibilities for assessing risks, establishing policies and procedures, training personnel and maintaining facilities and equipment.
e. The Bioafety Committee provides guidance and support to the Biological Safety Officer and the Biosafety Office in carrying out the requirements of the University’s Biosafety program.
f. The Biosafety Committee advises the Provost and other members of the Yale administration on all matters related to the use of biohazardous materials in the conduct of University activities.