Safeguarding 100% safe and responsible research.
Some of our most cutting-edge research sometimes requires experimentation with organisms and biological agents, such as invasive species or pathogens, which require special measures regarding facilities and work procedures to guarantee the safety and health of both centre staff and the environment and communities living in the area.
The IIM-CSIC Biosafety Committee (CB) is a multidisciplinary group of professionals who ensure strict compliance with the relevant biosafety standards. This takes place both before the start and throughout the development of projects involving particularly sensitive organisms.
The CB is responsible for assessing the biological risks associated with each new proposal to start an activity. Based on this risk assessment, it also evaluates existing facilities to check that they are suitable and comply with biosafety requirements; it is also responsible for notifying the competent authorities of the activities carried out at the Institute, specifying the type of biological agents involved.
The committee also ensures proper compliance with the relevant rules and protocols, as well as the maintenance of the necessary standards in the facilities to be used. Finally, the CB is also tasked with providing training and information activities on biosafety for all staff involved in risk activities.
Together with the other committees that make up the Prevention, Safety and Ethics Unit (UPSE), the Biosafety Committee ensures the ethical and responsible use of highly sensitive organisms, always with the advice of the CSIC Ethics and Biosafety Committee and in compliance with the regulations established by the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) and by the European Biosafety Association (EBSA).