A called meeting of Southern Research’s Institutional Biosafety Committee convened on
Thursday, 26 February 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The following participants were present via Teams:
Steven Orr, Voting Participant
James Toomey, Voting Participant
La’Wanda Parker, Voting Participant
Kayton Cherry, Voting Participant
Synthia Mayfield, Voting Participant
Lamar Jones, Voting Participant
Christina Humphries, Ex-Officio
Thorsten Demberg, Visitor
- Review and Approval of Meeting Agenda
The Chairperson called the meeting to order. The Chairperson asked the committee to
review the agenda. A motion was made to approve. A second was made and by voice vote
the agenda was approved. - Review and Approval of BPRs and Amendments
R26-02-001NS
Title: Pilot Study of Mucosal Influenza Vaccines in Mice
RS: Thorsten Demberg
IBC reviewed, comments and contingencies were received. A motion was made to approve
with additions, a second was made, and by voice vote the BPR amendment was approved.
- Agent Name: T7 phage vaccines
- Agent Characteristics: For this study, the T7 phages are engineered to display two
different proteins on their capsid. - Containment Conditions: A/BSL-2
- Sources of the Inserted DNA Sequences: Sponsor provided.
- Foreign Gene Expression: n/a
- Protein Expressed: One is an influenza specific antigen, which is the part of the virus
the immune system should make the immune response against. The second is a
targeting peptide that binds to special cells called M cells. - Applicable Section(s) of the NIH Guidelines: Section III-D-2, Section III-D-7, and
Section III-D-4.
INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE
Minutes, Page 2 of 2 - Types of Manipulations Planned: In this study, the T7 phage vaccine will be given
intranasal to trigger a strong immune response both locally (at the mucosal site) and
throughout the body.
Contingency 1: Section 5.3(i) – add Vesta-Syde NPD as an option for disinfectant
for BSL-2.
Response: The section for BSL-2 and ABSL-1&2 CCP has been updated to include
Vesta-Syde NPD as disinfectant.
Contingency 2: Section 5.3(i) – Please check Coverage+ NPD for ABSL-1&2 CCP.
Response: Coverage+NPD has been added.
Contingency 3: Section 5.5 – Should MDCK cells (for challenge back-titration) be
added to this section?
Response: The section has been updated and the MDCK cell line has been added
for back titration.
Contingency 4: Section 5.8(b) – Check unfixed animal tissues if there are frozen
samples for this study. If there are no frozen samples, remove the statement
regarding unfixed tissues in section 5.10(e).
Response: All tissue collected for the study will be fixed in 10% NBF. There are no
frozen tissues collected. The statement on under 5.10(e) has been removed.
Contingency 5: Section 5.11(c) – Check IIA2 biological safety cabinet and
downdraft table.
Response: The correction has been made.
Contingency 6: Section 5.11(d) – State animals will be challenged/dosed in a BSC – do they need to be euthanized in a BSC?
Response: The section has been updated with “Animals will be challenged and
euthanized in a BSC.”
Contingency 7: Section 8.3 – Should cleaning products for decontamination be
included?
Response: No, cleaning products including chemicals for decontamination are
general reagents needed for regular SR operations, only study specific hazardous
chemicals should be added.
Contingency 8: Should the client’s name be referenced in the BPR Appendices?
Response: The client’s name and the image of the plasmid has been removed.
- Next Meeting
The next Institutional Biosafety Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday,
12 March 2026 at 11:15 a.m. in Birmingham. - Adjourn