Conducting research safely
You must submit a biosafety application for all research, teaching or services that involve the use of biological materials.
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), on behalf of Macquarie University, coordinates compliance with the relevant legislation, regulations and standards which relate to work being conducted with:
- biohazardous materials
- genetically modified organisms
- infectious organisms
- materials requiring quarantine containment.
The IBC reviews the risks associated with this type of work to ensure that it is both compliant and conducted safely.
Relevant legislation, regulations and standards include:
Biosafety applications submitted to the IBC are reviewed via an expedited online review process.
You must submit a biosafety application for all research, teaching or services that involve the use of biological materials. That is, work involving any of the following categories:
- clinical or diagnostic samples
- genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
- handling of animals, their tissues or body products
- pathogenic organisms
- SSBAs or materials requiring quarantine containment.
Low-risk projects involving biological material outside of these categories still require submission of an online application, however these are treated as a notification. Examples of low-risk projects may include work involving:
- insects
- non-pathogenic microorganisms
- plant material
- other biological material or agent unlikely to cause human or animal disease or harm to the environment.
Submit your application via the Forms for Research Applications (FoRA) system. All applications must be approved by the Chief Investigator prior to an IBC submission.
Work must not commence until IBC approval has been granted.
You must also have completed relevant Macquarie University courses, such as:
- Biosafety Awareness
- Gene Technology
- Hazardous Chemicals
- Laboratory Essentials.
You may require additional approval from the appropriate Human or Animal Ethics Committees prior to commencement of work if you intend to use the following in your research or teaching:
- animals and their tissue
- blood or body fluids
- humans.
- Tuesday 3 March 2026
- Tuesday 28 July 2026
- Tuesday 27 October 2026
The IBC is out of session from 1 December to 31 January each year.
Application process for DNIRs
- Your organisation submits an application to an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for review (not required for commercial/general release).
- The application is sent to us.
- We acknowledge receipt of the application and assign it an ID number. Use this ID when enquiring about the application.
- We prepare a risk assessment and risk management plan (RARMP) for the application.
- The Regulator makes a decision on the application. The applicant is notified.
- We record the decision on the public GMO record.
Decision timeframes
The Regulator must decide whether to approve a DNIR licence within 90 working days of receiving the application.
This does not include weekends, ACT public holidays, and time spent waiting for applicants to respond to requests for additional information.