A meeting of Southern Research’s Institutional Biosafety Committee convened on Thursday, 09 July 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The following participants were present:
| Participant | Voting Status |
| Rikki Gard | Voting |
| Amanda Haley | Alternate |
| Chuck Hébert | Voting |
| Lamar Jones | Voting |
| Steven Orr | Voting |
| La’Wanda Parker | Voting |
| Heather Stout | Alternate |
| James Toomey | Voting |
| Brooke Warren | Alternate |
| Christina Humphries | Ex-Officio |
| Miranda Nebane | Visitor |
| Michael Roberts | 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 Previous Meeting Minutes
- 11 June 2026 – A correction was made. A motion was made to approve. A second was made, and by voice vote the minutes were approved as corrected.
- New Business
- BSO Notes/OSP Reportable Incidents Report – None to report.
- Review and Approval of BPRs and Amendments
Title: Core Non-Infectious HTS Assays
RS: Miranda Nebane
IBC reviewed. No comments and contingencies were received. A motion was made to approve as submitted, a second was made, and by voice vote the BPR amendment was approved.
- Agent Name: human FGFR4 and PLC-γ cDNA Inserts
- Agent Characteristics: No change from core
- Containment Conditions: BSL-2
- Sources of the Inserted DNA Sequences: commercially supplied
- Foreign Gene Expression: Hek293t cells express fusion protein
- Protein Expressed: fusion proteins
- Applicable Section(s) of the NIH Guidelines: Section III D 3
- Types of Manipulations Planned: Same as Core
R26-07-008NS
Title: Assay of Plasma, CSF, Urine, and Tissue Samples that may contain (or contain) infectious prion protein
RS: Michael Roberts
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: Plasma, Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF), urine, or tissue samples from patients that are either genetically pre-disposed to prion disease or have active prion disease.
- Agent Characteristics: Classic CJD (cCJD) – from patients that have the genetic form of prion disease and not Variant CJD (vCJD)
- Containment Conditions: BSL-2+
- Sources of the Inserted DNA Sequences: from study sponsor
- Foreign Gene Expression: n/a
- Protein Expressed: prion protein
- Applicable Section(s) of the NIH Guidelines: n/a
- Types of Manipulations Planned: To measure the levels of ASO’s (anti-sense oligonucleotides) in the samples, either standard absorbance ELISA will be used, or more usually hybridization ECL on the MSD platform.
Contingency 1: Sections 6.2(c) and 6.3-6.8: response is not needed according to 6.2(a)
Response: I agree. However, the BSO requested this be filled out in this manner for full disclosure on the proposed experiments.
Contingency 2: Section 8.3(c): response is not needed according to 8.3(a)
Response: I have removed response. Thank you!!
Contingency 3: Section 5.1 define ASO.
Response: I added to section. Thank you!!
- Next Meeting
The next Institutional Biosafety Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 13 August 2026 at 11:15 AM in Birmingham.
- Adjourn