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NIH Strengthens Transparency Measures for Institutional Biosafety Committees

Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) serve as a critical linchpin in ensuring the safe and responsible conduct of research.  As such they are essential in building public trust on behalf of the biomedical research enterprise.

Effective June 1, 2025, and as announced on March 28, 2025:

  • The NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) has posted the rosters of all active and registered IBCs via the IBC-Registration Management System. Rosters include contact information for the IBC Chair, Biological Safety Officer, and IBC Contact.
  • Approved meeting minutes from all IBC meetings occurring on, or after, June 1, 2025, must be posted publicly on an institutional website. It is NIH’s expectation that minutes will be posted immediately after approval and once all appropriate and allowable redactions have been made. 

To assist institutions, NIH has revised its FAQs on IBC Meetings and Minutes and has also issued new guidance, IBC Meeting Minutes Template and Points to Consider, to assist IBCs in producing meeting minutes that document fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities.  

Questions may be sent to [email protected]

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