Regulatory Compliance

The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) supports and promotes ethical research practices at Stony Brook University.  The ORC and the SBU research community partner together to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations as well as University polices.

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

SBU policy requires the review of all recombinant synthetic nucleic acid molecules (rsNAM) work performed on campus or funded through the University. This is based on the federal requirements for entities receiving federal funding to subject all rsNAM work to the IBC review.  The IBC's primary function is to ensure that work complies with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines), is performed with appropriate biocontainment (Biosafety Level), and persons involved in the work are experienced in the proposed work or a suitable trainer is provided.  The NIH Guidelines promote the safe conduct of research involving rsNAM by specifying appropriate biosafety practices and procedures for research involving the construction and handling of either rsNAM or organisms and viruses that contain rsNAM.  NIH oversight of research involving rsNAM biosafety issues is predicated on the ethical and scientific responsibilities with goals to promote the exchange of important scientific information, enable high-quality research, and help advance all field s of science employing rsNAM. 

The IBC will review submitted applications, determine if they fall under the NIH Guidelines, and take the appropriate actions to ensure that works takes place in compliance with federal, state and local guidelines and regulations. The IBC is administered by the ORC under the authority of the Vice President for Research.  Current information on the IBC, applying to the committee for protocol review and other questions related to the IBC purview go to > https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Biosafety/index.php

Institutional Animal Care and USE Committee (IACUC)

Research and teaching involving the use of vertebrate animals conducted under the auspices of SBU is reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in compliance with federal regulations. The IACUC at Stony Brook is accredited through AAALAC International. The IACUC works closely with faculty, students and staff to ensure that meaningful scientific research is conducted that:

• avoids or minimizes discomfort, distress, and pain in experimental animals consistent with sound scientific practices
• uses the minimum number of animals necessary to obtain valid results, and 
• considers non-animal models whenever possible

Projects involving animal research require a project description and protocol details be submitted to the IACUC for approval prior to initiating work.  Current information on the IACUC, applying to the committee for protocol review and other questions related to the IACUC purview go to > https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Animals-Use/index.php

Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Protection of Human Subjects

The Human Research Protection Program provides leadership and oversight on matters related to the protection of human subjects participating in research and ensures that such research is carried out with the highest ethical standards and in an environment where all who are involved in the conduct of human subject research understands  their responsibility for protecting the rights, safety, and welfare of subjects. SBU's research protection program (HRPP) is accredited by the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP).  Current information on the IRB, applying to the committee for protocol review and other questions related to human subjects can be found at > https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Human-Subjects/index.php

Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee  

The Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee provides oversight of all issues related to the ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues related to the derivation and research use of embryos and stem cells including: human embryonic stem cells (hESC), human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), human extended pluripotent stem cell (hePSC) lines and any derivatives of these cell lines at Stony Brook University. More information related to human stem cells can be found at > https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Stem-Cell-Use/index.php