Protocol Types

New Protocols

Forms must be submitted to the IBC Coordinator no later than one week before the IBC meeting. Contact the IBC Coordinator at ibc@uark.edu or 479-575-2671 or the Biosafety Officer at bbhoward@uark.edu or 479-575-3533 if you need assistance with the forms.
The PI or a co-PI must attend the meeting.
- A student cannot be the PI or Co-PI. However, for a student project, s/he must be listed in the personnel section, with the professor named as PI.
The approval period is three years.

Modifications

A protocol may be amended at any time during the three-year approval period.
Depending on the type of modification, it may need to be reviewed by the full committee at the next scheduled meeting.
Some modifications, such as plasmid additions and personnel changes, may be approved through an expedited process.

Renewals

Protocols are approved for up to three years. After three years, and no renewal of the original protocol, a new protocol must be submitted.
The IBC Coordinator will send notices to researchers that their protocols are expiring. These notices are typically sent out up to two months prior to the protocol’s end date.

Terminations

If a renewal is not submitted, the protocol will terminate at the expiration date.
Renewals submitted after the expiration date will be reviewed as a new protocol.

Student Research

Research conducted by students for research projects, dissertations, or theses, involving biological materials, should be supervised by a faculty advisor and submitted to the IBC for review. IBC review and final approval should take place during the proposal stage of the research project, dissertation, or thesis. The IBC cannot approve a project retroactively.

PIs Leaving the University

A PI is asked to contact the IBC Coordinator to request termination of all active protocols or to request that active protocols be transferred to the co-PI or another responsible UA faculty member prior to leaving the university. The Biosafety Officer should be contacted to assist in the disposal of any biological materials as appropriate.

IBC Meetings

Committee meetings will be conducted via Teams or Zoom until further notice.

Here is a complete list of Research Integrity and Compliance events.

BioRAFT is the platform used by the University, managed by the EHS team, for laboratory safety training, tracking chemical inventories, and lab inspections. Click the logo above to access these functions or begin your required safety training.