Biological Safety
Transgenic Animal Research
Introduction
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established strict guidelines on the proper use and disposal of transgenic animals, plants and other forms of recombinant DNA (rDNA) in research. This document entitled NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines), outlines institutional and investigator responsibilities and can be accessed online at: http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/rac/guidelines/guidelines.html.
Compliance with NIH Guidelines
All NIH-funded projects involving rDNA must comply with NIH Guidelines. As per the NIH Guidelines, all non-NIH funded projects involving rDNA conducted at or sponsored by an institution that receives NIH funding must comply with NIH guidelines.
Failure to follow NIH guidelines can result in the suspension, limitation, or termination of NIH funds for all rDNA research at the University. In addition, any intentional failure to comply has the potential to be defined as academic misconduct as outlined by University policy.
As an NIH-funded institution, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed both a policy and a protocol, outlined in this fact sheet, through which investigators may obtain institutional authorization to work with transgenic animals. As an investigator working with transgenic animals, it is your responsibility to meet these requirements.
University of Illinois Policy on Transgenic Animal Research
It is the policy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that all research conducted on the campus or sponsored by the University involving transgenic animals must receive approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) prior to the start of any work. Although some projects will qualify as exempt from the NIH Guidelines, all projects that involve transgenic animals must be registered. Research projects will be assessed by the IBC on an individual basis.
University of Illinois Protocol for Institutional Approval
You must register your research project with the IBC to initiate the approval process. The Biological Safety Section (BSS) of the Division of Research Safety (DRS) coordinates project registration. Registration forms or further information about the registration process may be obtained on the DRS web site at: http://www.drs.illinois.edu/bss/ibc/. If you have previously registered your project, you are required to update registration information whenever there are changes in the facilities, personnel, and experimental protocols associated with the project.
Disposal of Transgenic Animals
When a transgenic animal is euthanized or dies, University policy requires that the entire carcass must be disposed of by incineration to avoid its use as food for human beings or animals unless an appropriate Federal agency as well as the Institutional Biosafety Committee specifically authorizes food use. The incineration requirement applies to transgenic animals, potentially transgenic animals, “no-takes” in the production of transgenic animals, and off-spring of transgenic animals.
There are no exceptions to this policy without prior notification and approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committee. If you have questions regarding proper disposal, please contact BSS at 333-2755 or via email.
For specific instructions on packaging pathological waste for incineration, refer to the Biosafety Fact sheet Treatment and Disposal of Biological Materials or call (217) 333-2755.
Transfer of Recombinant DNA and Transgenic Materials
Intra- or inter-facility transfers of rDNA and transgenic materials including transgenic animals and transgenic plants are prohibited without the written approval of the IBC.
Research-related Incidents
University policy requires that significant research-related incidents be reported immediately to the Institutional Biosafety Committee via the Biological Safety Section (BSS) of the Division of Research Safety. Such incidents include research-related accidents and illnesses as well as inadvertent release or improper disposal of biohazardous or recombinant DNA materials. BSS can be contacted at 333-2755 and via email.
Questions?
Contact the Division of Research Safety, Biological Safety Section (333-2755 or via e-mail) or visit our website: http://www.drs.illinois.edu/bss/.
Other Biosafety Facts Sheets are available from the Biological Safety Section at our website: http://www.drs.illinois.edu/bss/factsheets/.
