Biological Safety Program

The Biological Safety Program is responsible for providing support to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston students and personnel concerning the recognition, evaluation, and control of chemical, biological, and physical hazards. Our goal is to provide the safest work environment for all UTHealth employees and the surrounding health science center community, as well as minimizing risk to the environment and property.

The Biological Safety Program is located at CYF in room: CYF G102. They may be reached by phone at: (713) 500-8170 or fax at: (713) 500-8111

EHS Main Office 713-500-8100 (answered M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM CST)
EHS Hotline 713-500-5832  (after hours, weekends, holiday for the on-call safety specialist)
For Emergencies, Dial UT Police Dispatch 713-792-2890 or 911

Biological Safety Manual, and Guidance Documents

• UTHealth Houston Institutional Biological Safety Manual (pdf)
• UTHealth Houston Biological Safety Cabinets Guidance Document
• UTHealth Houston Indoor Air Quality - Mold
• Laboratory Safety Audits

Community Based Research

For research projects at UTHealth Houston involve off-campus surveillance activities without collecting or directly interacting with chemical, biological, radiological, and physical hazards.

• Community Based Research Safety Security Guidelines (pdf)
• Community Based Education, Research Project Safety & Security Plan (pdf)

Field Based Research

For research projects at UTHealth Houston, involve off-campus field activities, including collecting or directly interacting with chemical, biological, radiological and physical hazards.

• Field Research Project Safety and Security Guidance (pdf)
• Field Research Project Safety Plan and Risk Assessment Form (pdf)
  
  

Biological Safety Training

• Initial Laboratory and Bloodborne Pathogens Training* required initially for all laboratory workers
• Annual Laboratory and Bloodborne Pathogens Training *required annually
• Infectious Substance Shipping Training -*required every two years

Biosafety Basics for Researchers

• Introduction to Biosafety Basics (pdf)
• Module 1 Biosafety Fundamentals (pdf)
• Module 2 Regulations and Committees (pdf)
• Module 3 Containment (pdf)
• Module 4 Decontamination, Disinfection and Sterilization/Infectious Waste Management (pdf)

Institutional Biosafety Committee (Biological Agents, Recombinant or Synthetic DNA Molecules)

IBC Protocol Submission

• Online Protocol Submission Interface
• User's Manual for Online Protocol Submission interface (PDF)
• Guidance Chart for IBC Protocols (PDF)
• Biosafety Considerations for Contained Research Involving Gene Drive Modified Organisms (PDF)
• Lab Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 (PDF)

rDNA Guidance

• NIH Guidelines for PI’s (PDF)
• NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules
  
  

IBC Policies

• IBC Policy and Procedures (PDF)
• Principal Investigator Responsibilities for the Use and Classification of rDNA Research (PDF)
• Fully and Conditionally Exempt Protocols (PDF)
• Accidental Spills - Loss of Containment (PDF)
• Accidental Spills - Personal Contamination(PDF)

IBC Committee Information

• Committee Membership
• Committee Guidelines

Institutional Biosafety Committee meets on the second Thursday of every month.  Meetings are open to the public, but location and times may vary. Please contact Environmental Health & Safety (713-500-8100) for further information.

Biological Safety Staff

Kristin King, DrPH, CPH, CBSP, CHSP, CIC Biological Safety Manager (713) 500-8162 CYF B108 BS: University of Texas at Austin (Microbiology) MPH: UTHealth School of Public Health (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences) DrPH: UTHealth School of Public Health (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences)

Zack Becker, MPH, CBSP Safety Specialist (713) 500-5311 CYF B108 BS: Arizona State University (Microbiology) MPH: UTHealth School of Public Health (Epidemiology)

Rebecca Kairis, MPH Safety Specialist (713) 500-8161 CYF B108 BS: Houston Baptist University (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) MPH: UTHealth School of Public Health (Environmental Health)

Allison Lino, MPH Safety Specialist (713) 500-8166 CYF B108 BS: Texas A&M University (Biomedical Sciences) MPH: UTHealth School of Public Health (Epidemiology)