Conducting research safely

You must submit a biosafety application for all research, teaching or services that involve the use of biological materials.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), on behalf of Macquarie University, coordinates compliance with the relevant legislation, regulations and standards which relate to work being conducted with:

  • biohazardous materials
  • genetically modified organisms
  • infectious organisms
  • materials requiring quarantine containment.

The IBC reviews the risks associated with this type of work to ensure that it is both compliant and conducted safely.

Relevant legislation, regulations and standards include:

Biosafety applications submitted to the IBC are reviewed via an expedited online review process.

You must submit a biosafety application for all research, teaching or services that involve the use of biological materials. That is, work involving any of the following categories:

  • clinical or diagnostic samples
  • genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
  • handling of animals, their tissues or body products
  • pathogenic organisms
  • SSBAs or materials requiring quarantine containment.

Low-risk projects involving biological material outside of these categories still require submission of an online application, however these are treated as a notification. Examples of low-risk projects may include work involving:

  • insects
  • non-pathogenic microorganisms
  • plant material
  • other biological material or agent unlikely to cause human or animal disease or harm to the environment.

Submit your application via the Forms for Research Applications (FoRA) system. All applications must be approved by the Chief Investigator prior to an IBC submission.

Work must not commence until IBC approval has been granted.

You must also have completed relevant Macquarie University courses, such as:

  • Biosafety Awareness
  • Gene Technology
  • Hazardous Chemicals
  • Laboratory Essentials.

You may require additional approval from the appropriate Human or Animal Ethics Committees prior to commencement of work if you intend to use the following in your research or teaching:

  • animals and their tissue
  • blood or body fluids
  • humans.