How to Apply
Radiation
The purpose of the Biosafety and Radiation Committee is to ensure the University complies with all relevant radiation legislation, and to ensure radiation safety measures are maintained and complied with across the University. The Committee assesses and monitors all risks associated with the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation. All research activities that involve ionising and non-ionising radiation must be registered with the Committee. Applications, including variations of currently approved projects and registrations, can be submitted at any time.
Please submit the online Radiation Project Application to the IBRC committee. Further information is available in Canvas
Licence and Training: Appropriate licences and training are required for any staff member that deals with a radiation source. Students may not be required to hold a licence if they are under immediate supervision by a licenced staff member at all times.
Incident reporting: All radiation incidents and adverse events (spill, injury, and contamination) must be immediately reported to the Research Ethics & Integrity Unit. Information required includes the nature of the involved material, whether people were exposed, any steps taken to decontaminate facilities and personnel and the location of the equipment.
Dealings Involving Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Approval must be obtained by the Chief Investigator on behalf of all those involved in a particular project involving Genetically-modified Organisms (GMOs). The Chief Investigator must be a member of staff of the University or other Accredited Research Establishments for which the Committee acts as the nominated biosafety committee.
All dealings with GMOs must be submitted to the Committee for approval. To "deal with" means the following:
- conduct experiments with the GMO;
- make, develop, produce or manufacture the GMO;
- breed the GMO;
- use the GMO in the course of manufacture of a thing that is not the GMO;
- grow, raise or culture the GMO;
- import the GMO;
- transport the GMO;
- dispose of the GMO
and includes the possession, supply or use of the GMO for the purpose of, or in the course of, a dealing mentioned in any of the points above.
Applications are evaluated continously and the recommendation of the Committee will usually be sent to the Chief Investigator within 21 days of receipt of the application.
Applications that, for any of the dealings outlined below, contain confidential commercial information, please also submit the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) Confidentiality form.
Exempt Dealings
Exempt Dealings are dealings with GMOs that have been assessed as posing negligible risk.
Please send an email to the Research Ethics & Compliance Officer outlining the proposed exempt dealing, including a description of the exempt host, the exempt vector and the genetic modification. The information provided will be assessed by the University of Canberra's Biosafety Committee and the applicant will be advised of the outcome accordingly.
Notifiable Low Risk Dealings (NLRDs)
NLRDs are dealings with GMOs that have been assessed as posing low risks provided there is compliance with certain risk management conditions. NLRDs must be conducted within a facility certified to be at least Physical Containment Level 1 or Physical Containment Level 2 depending on the type of GMO involved.
To apply to conduct an NLRD, please fill out the NLRD Application Form and send an electronic copy of the signed form to the Research Ethics & Compliance Officer. Hard copies will not be accepted.
Licensed Dealings
Dealings Not Involving Intentional Release (DNIRs)
A DNIR is a contained dealing that has been assessed as posing a higher degree of risk than either an Exempt Dealing or NLRD. DNIRs must be licensed by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) before any work can commence. Such projects must also be carried out in OGTR-certified contained facilities (PC 2 or higher) and researchers must comply with all conditions of the licence.
Dealings Involving Intentional Release (DIRs)
Dealings involving an intentional release of GMOs into the Australian environment are dealings with GMOs outside contained facilities. These dealings must be licenced by the OGTR before any work can commence.
Applying for Licensed Dealings
Researchers are required to fill out either the DNIR Application Form or DIR Application Form, whichever is appropriate. An electronic copy is to be forwarded to the Research Ethics and Compliance Officer. Hard copies will not be accepted.
All applications will be reviewed by the University of Canberra's Biosafety Committee and once the review has been completed, applications must be signed by the applicant, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and the Chair of the Committee. The application will then be forwarded to the OGTR for a risk assessment and risk management process. Work on the project must not commence until the application has been approved by the OGTR and a Licence to undertake work has been received in writing by the University of Canberra and the applicant.
Reporting Requirements
The University of Canberra's Biosafety Committee is required to complete and submit to the OGTR an annual report in the form required by the Regulator. Therefore, for all ongoing projects that have been approved by the Committee, researchers must complete an annual report form. A final report is to be completed and submitted to the Committee upon completion of the project. Researchers will be advised when reports are due.