Research Ethics Office

Murdoch University Institutional Biosafety Committee

Introduction:

Murdoch University recognizes the need to protect staff from potential hazards associated with research on biological organisms or material that may contain such organisms. Responsibility for ensuring that researchers conform to acceptable standards rests with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

Membership of the Murdoch University IBC:

Name		Phone (9360+)
Dr Philip O'Brien	Microbial Molecular Biologist (Chair)	2785
Mrs Shelley Cocks	Laymember
Mr John Pastore	Engineering	2422
Prof. Richard Oliver	Molecular Plant Pathologist	7404
Dr David Berryman	Molecular Biologist	6119
Prof. David Hampson	Animal Diseases	2287
Dr Philip Nicholls	Animal Virologist/Pathologist	2599
Dr Steve Wyley	Plant Virologist	2920
Mr Angus Morrison Saunders	Environmental Law	6125
Dr Ravi Tiwari	Molecular Bacteriology	2202

The main duties of the IBC are:

To monitor Gene Manipulation Research at Murdoch University; and ensure compliance with the regulations of the Gene Technology Act 2000.
To ensure the safety of researchers and students dealing with potentially hazardous organisms or material.
To administer the importation of organisms into Australia by Murdoch researchers and ensure compliance with the regulations specified by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection service for research with imported organisms and biological material.

Project Risk Assessment Forms and Information

For all Risk assestment forms and information please vist http://www.dse.murdoch.edu.au/admin/safety/riskassess/

Carrying out Genetic Manipulation Research at Murdoch University

The IBC monitors all research with genetically manipulated organisms at Murdoch University. All such work requires notification to the IBC following an application process.

Risk assessment of Biological research at Murdoch University

The IBC also monitors biosafety procedures (page not yet available) for non-GM projects at Murdoch University.

EduSafe

EduSafe is the body charged with administering safety at both Murdoch and Curtin. For information about the Curtin Institutional Biosafety Committee click here.

Working with potentially infectious organisms or materials at Murdoch University

(page not yet available)

Working with genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) at Murdoch University.

Procedures for importing organisms and biological material into Australia and regulations for research with imported material at Murdoch University.

Reporting incidences with GMO's.

The Gene Technology Act.

The Gene Technology Act became law on 21/6/01. This places regulation of ALL gene manipulation experiments within Australia on a statutory footing. All organizations dealing with genetically manipulated organisms apply for accreditation under the act. Only accredited organizations can carry out such work.

To oversee gene manipulation experimentation in Australia the Federal Government established the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).

What Does It Mean To Us?

The OGTR must be notified of ALL dealings with genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) whether this involve construction or simply use of the GMO constructed elsewhere. Most dealings are either exempt (IBC notification only), or simply requires notification to the OGTR via the IBC (NLRD). Other types of work require a licence which may have specific conditions attached (DNIR, DIR).

If you fail to notify the IBC, or breach the conditions of the licence then you are breaking the law and can be subject to conviction. This can have serious consequences for you, and for your institution. It may cause the institution to lose it's accreditation under the Gene Technology Act.

Where can we find information on the Gene Technology Act and the regulations?

Comprehensive information can be found on the OGTR website.

Research and Development