Biosafety & Biosecurity

Biological Research at the University of Buffalo must be carried out with due concern for the safety and welfare of the University Community, the public we serve, the environment and the research subjects, human and animal. To assist you in your efforts to fulfill this critical responsibility, the Office of Environment, Health and Safety provides information, guidance, and training in Biosafety fundamentals, regulatory affairs (federal, state and local) and works closely with the various University committees that oversee research at the University at Buffalo.

rNA, Pathogen & Toxin Use
10/27/17
All recombinant nucleic acid, toxin and infectious agent work activities must be registered with the Institutional Biosafety Committee.
Regulated Medical Waste
1/29/18
Regulated medical waste (RMW) is governed by rules promulgated by NYS Department of Health and enforced by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The information below is not intended to be complete nor address all of the regulatory requirements and safety issues associated with the handling of biohazardous material. For more detailed guidance, contact the EH&S Biological Safety Officer, David Pawlowski at 829-5816.
Specialized Training
10/27/17
Biological safety & security are not “one-size fits all” solutions, rather specialized risk-assessments and mitigation techniques are developed as a situation dictates.
Autoclave Use
10/27/17
Autoclaves use steam and pressure to sterilize liquids and other media, glassware, instruments and waste. At UB many autoclaves are shared resources that are subject to users of various levels of experience. The videos below are intended to assist users in understanding how autoclaves function and how to best use an autoclave. All autoclave users are responsible for the safe and proper use of these devices. Please be sure to use autoclave safe materials, especially waste bags and plactics, otherwise the autoclave or house steam system can be severly damaged.
Animal Use and Field Work
10/27/17
All animal research must be approved by the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Biosafety Office to help researchers develop effective and compliant protocols.
About the IBC
10/27/17
A University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) has been created in accordance with requirements set forth in the National Institutes of Health "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules". All research investigations involving recombinant nucleic acids, infectious agents, oncogenic materials or agents and toxins, must be registered with the IBC.