NESBR IBC ONLINE TRAINING COURSE
We have redesigned our online IBC training course!
This six-week online training course, offered by the New England Society for Biomedical Research (NESBR),
provides an in-depth examina�on of Ins�tu�onal Biosafety Commitees (IBCs) and their evolving role in
research oversight, governance, and public accountability. Established under the NIH Guidelines to formalize
biosafety oversight in academic ins�tu�ons, IBCs have expanded in scope to address the growing complexity
of biotechnology across academic and private sectors.
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
WEEK 2: NIH GUIDELINES: OVERSIGHT and PRACTICE
WEEK 3: PRACTICAL GUIDANCE for IBC ADMINISTRATION
WEEK 4: IBC PROTOCOL REVIEW PROCESS
WEEK 5: CONNECTING IBCs TO OTHER UNITS AT YOUR ORGANIZATION
and CREATING a HIGH PERFORMING IBC PROGRAM
WEEK 6: OVERVIEW and FINAL EXAM
EVERY TUESDAY WE WILL HAVE ZOOM OFFICE HOURS FROM 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Through this self-led training, par�cipants will explore how IBCs Frameworks operate across research,
teaching, and private biotechnology se�ngs, including emerging models such as the Cambridge Biosafety
Commitee, which incorporates community oversight and enhanced transparency.
The course will also examine coordina�on among IBCs, Ins�tu�onal Animal Care and Use Commitees
(IACUCs), and Ins�tu�onal Review Boards (IRBs) to support ethical, compliant research involving biological
materials, animals, and human subjects.
Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on strategies to strengthen IBC effec�veness, promote ethical
governance, and foster a proac�ve culture of safety, transparency, and public trust. By the conclusion of the
course, par�cipants will have a clear understanding of IBC func�ons, evolving responsibili�es, and their role
in suppor�ng responsible bioscience innova�on.
Meet your IBC Online TRAINER, Matrida Neli
Matrida, is a Program Manager and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Liaison at Harvard Medical
School, where they support the opera�ons of the Commitee on Microbiology Safety (COMS), the
Ins�tu�onal Biosafety Commitee (IBC). In this role, they coordinate protocol review, ensure regulatory
compliance, and serve as a key liaison between researchers and EHS to support safe and responsible
research prac�ces.
With over a decade of experience in clinical microbiology at Mass General Brigham, Matrida has extensive
exper�se in biosafety, including BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory opera�ons, specimen processing, and quality
control. Their work is grounded in advancing biosafety oversight, strengthening compliance frameworks,
and promo�ng a culture of safety and accountability in research environments.