D/6.6 QUT Institute Biosafety Committee

[Print-friendly version]

Related Documents
Modification History

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee is a Vice-Chancellor's committee established in accordance with the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cwth) and QUT’s  Council Procedure 1 (Committees).

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee is accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) for all projects involving dealings with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) (organisms that have been modified by gene technology, or offspring derived from such organisms, or anything declared as a GMO in the Gene Technology Regulations 2001).

Activities involving the use of GMOs must be submitted for the appropriate level of University review, and the applicant must receive notification of approval before the project can be commenced.

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee also has an advisory role to faculties, institutes and the University more broadly in relation to research and teaching activities involving any substance which poses a risk in the form of a disease transmitted by air, tissue or blood and body fluids from human and animal sources. Further details are provided in QUT’s biosafety assurance policy (D/6.4).

Terms of reference

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee reviews and monitors the conduct of activities involving the use of GMOs and/or biosafety materials, and ensures compliance with requirements of State and Federal Gene Technology Regulations and the QUT Code of Conduct for Research, and specifically:

Advisory

• reviews proposals for dealings with genetically modified organisms and, where required, refers activities to the Gene Technology Regulator;
• develops policy relating to dealings with genetically modified organisms for recommendation to University Academic Board through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) and University Research and Innovation Committee;
• advises the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on dealings with genetically modified organisms and biosafety materials, including procedural matters;
• undertakes an advisory role to faculty/institute health and safety committees in relation to research and teaching activities involving any substance which poses a risk in the form of a disease transmitted by air, tissue or blood and body fluids from human and animal sources;
• through the Facilities Management Department stakeholder process, participates in the decision making processes regarding new or redeveloped physical containment areas, both OGTR and non-OGTR, and recommends the certification of OGTR physical containment (PC) facilities to the Gene Technology Regulator;
• participates in the decision making process to award a pathogenic waste contract;
• refers matters to University Human Research Ethics Committee, University Animal Ethics Committee, faculty/institute health and safety committees or QUT Lead Health and Safety Forum as necessary;

Monitoring

• oversees the conduct of activities granted approval until their completion, to ensure continued compliance with relevant requirements, and may withdraw approval when necessary;
• conducts annual inspections of OGTR certified physical containment (PC) facilities and practices;
• monitors annual inspection reports of non-OGTR physical containment facilities, as conducted by faculty/institute health and safety committees, and conducts random reviews as appropriate;
• monitors the annual report of mechanical ventilation integrity of PC facilities from the Facilities Management Department;
• monitors reports of adverse events from laboratory, field or other work related to biosafety including risk management practices;
• maintains a register of proposed and approved dealings with genetically modified organisms;
• monitors the availability and uptake of biosafety education programs.

Membership

Membership of QUT Institute Biosafety Committee is constituted to ensure relevant knowledge and expertise is available for review of matters before the Committee.

• One nominee of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) as Chair (this should be a person with appropriate research or other relevant experience)
• One microbiologist and/or geneticist, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
• One biotechnologist with expertise in cell biology, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
• One microbiologist and/or geneticist with expertise in plant biotechnology, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
• One virologist, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
• One or more external scientists with relevant experience, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation )
• One representative of QUT Lead Health and Safety Forum, usually the QUT Health and Safety Advisor or a suitable representative of the Forum
• One engineer with expertise in air handling, including biological safety cabinets, nominated by the Director, Facilities Management
• One member of staff from laboratory (PC) facilities within faculties/institutes (normally a Laboratory Manager/Coordinator), with experience in the research areas of medical engineering, biomedical research and plant technology, nominated by the executive dean or institute director
• One or more laypersons not associated with QUT, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
• Research Ethics Coordinator ex officio (rights of audience and debate only)

A nominee of the Registrar is secretary.

Alternate members may be appointed in each membership category with full membership rights. Alternate members may attend a meeting when:

• the ordinary member is unable to attend a meeting; or
• a project from the ordinary member is scheduled to be considered at a meeting.

Deputy Chair

In addition to the usual duties of a deputy chair, the Deputy Chair of QUT Institute Biosafety Committee acts as Chair while applications or other matters involving the Chair are under consideration.

Tenure and frequency of meetings

Terms of office are as detailed in section 6 of Council Procedure 1 (Committees).

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee meets as required (usually every two to three months).

Reporting

QUT Institute Biosafety Committee reports to:

• QUT Council at least annually, through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), Audit and Risk Management Committee, University Research and Innovation Committee and University Academic Board. Annual reports to Council should address numbers and types of activities considered for approval and the outcomes, physical facilities available for GMO dealings, risk management, any administrative or other difficulties being experienced, and any requirements for training staff.
• External bodies such as the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and Queensland Government (Biotechnology Code of Practice), as required.
• QUT Lead Health and Safety Forum as appropriate.

Top

Related Documents

MOPP D/6.1 University research ethics

MOPP D/6.4 Biosafety assurance (including dealings with genetically modified organisms)

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator website (http://www.ogtr.gov.au/)

Top

Modification History

Top