Biosafety, biosecurity and gene technology research

2023 IBC New & deferred applications - pre-review, closing and meeting dates

2024 IBC New & deferred applications - pre-review, closing and meeting dates

IBC Subject to - closing and meeting dates

If you wish to provide feedback or make a complaint please email biosafety@latrobe.edu.au or call the Senior Biosafety Officer on (03) 9479 1443

For support and training with the PRIME Ethics Researcher Portal see below:

1. Training opportunities:
   • Schedule a personalised session for help with your submissions through the Portal;
   • Attend drop in sessions on the first Monday of every month at midday: https://latrobe.zoom.us/j/84849823999
   • Training will cover the following self-serve Ethics Requests:
     • New Applications
     • Unexpected Adverse Events/Safety Reports
     • Modifications
     • Annual/Final Reports
     • Milestones and tasks
2. If you would like to book a time to discuss your needs and preferred option/s please contact the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety Team:
   • animalethics@latrobe.edu.au
   • biosafety@latrobe.edu.au
   • humanethics@latrobe.edu.au
   • + 61 3 9479 3338

Modifications

Following application approval, researchers may require a modification to their project.

Modifications may include:

• addition of personnel to the project
• removal of personnel from the project
• change of PI for the project
• addition of dealings within the scope of the existing project approval
• change of facility in which the dealings will be conducted
• change to the approved import/export/transport conditions

Modifications may NOT include:

• addition of dealings NOT within the scope of the existing project approval – new application must be submitted
• extension of the approval period - new application must be submitted

The PI must submit an LTIBC Amendment Request Form (updated May 2024) to the committee electronically via PRIME. The proposed modifications must be included in a copy of the approved application form and a track changed and clean copy should be submitted for review.

How do I submit a modification request?

• Download and complete the LTIBC Amendment Request Form (updated May 2024)
• Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to create a modification request:
• To find your ethics project click on the “My Ethics & IBC Projects” tile and select the Ethics Approval Number you wish to modify. Download and add modifications to the current LTIBC approved application. Make sure to save a tracked and clean copy of the application
• At the top right of the PRIME project screen, select “Create Modification” from the drop-down menu
• Upload the completed LTIBC Amendment Request Form
• Upload the tracked and clean copies of the modified approved application
• If requesting change to personnel, upload an updated Personnel Training Record for Dealings with GMOs
• If requesting addition of dealings, upload an updated GMO Summary Spreadsheet
• In the progress bar at the top of the page, select "Review by Research Office" and then click "Mark as Current Status" to the right.

NOTE: Amendment requests for a project that has overdue annual reports will not be considered by the LTIBC and project approval may be suspended if an annual report is not submitted after notification of the overdue milestone.

Progress Reports

NOTE: If your project has expired you will not be able to upload your progress report in PRIME, please email your completed report form to biosafety@latrobe.edu.au. A Research Ethics Advisor will upload it and mark your milestone as complete on your behalf.

It is a condition of approval that all approved applications must submit an Annual Report Form providing detail on the preceding year’s progress of the research on the anniversary of their approval date annually throughout the life of their project approval and a Final Report Form within 6 months of project completion. Up to date personnel training records and GM strain lists must be submitted with the annual progress report.

PRIME will provide automatic notice of the upcoming report date.

NOTE: New project applications for replacement of a project that has overdue milestone reports or for a PI that has overdue milestones in other approved projects may not be considered by the LTIBC until those overdue milestones are submitted.

How do I submit an annual/final report?

• Download and complete the Annual Report Form (DOC 63KB) or Final Report Form (DOC 60KB)
• Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to lodge an annual/final report:
• To find your ethics project click on the “My Ethics & IBC Projects” tile and select the Ethics Approval Number for which you wish to submit an annual or final report:
• At the top right of the screen, select “Create Annual Report” or "Create Final Report" from the drop-down menu
• Upload the completed annual/final report
• Upload an up to date Personnel Training Record for Dealings with GMOs
• Upload an up to date GMO Summary Spreadsheet
• In the progress bar at the top of the page, select "Review by Research Office" and then click "Mark as Current Status" to the right.

Incident Reporting

The LTIBC Incident Report Form should be used to report:

• Unintended presence or unintended release of GMOs from a PC certified facility
• Unintended escape and spread of biosecurity goods (including live organisms) outside an approved arrangement (AA) site
• Potential non-compliance in your dealings
• Suspected non-compliance in others’ dealings

It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to report any incidents involving GMOs and biosecurity goods to the LTIBC. Please download and complete the Incident Report Form and submit to the Biosafety Team as soon as possible.

Please contact the Biosafety Team (+61 3 9479 3338) for any questions regarding risk group levels, containment, import and export, legislative requirements.

For staff and students, you can access the Biosafety training om LMS by clicking on this link.

Guidelines:

1. Safe use of Portable Device in Laboratories - IBC Approved (PDF 923KB)
2. Waste Management Guideline - IBC Approved (PDF 1.08MB)
3. Transport of Biological Material -IBC Approved (PDF 3MB)