2023 Cambridge Biosafety Forum

Cambridge is the first city in the world to establish direct citizen oversight of biological research, and continues to set the standard for strict public oversight of this sector. In May 2023, the Cambridge Public Health Department hosted the Cambridge Biosafety Forum for people interested in learning about institutional biosafety committees and municipal regulation of the biotech sector. Here are recordings from the two-day virtual forum, as well as presentation materials and other resources.

About the Forum

• 2023 Cambridge Biosafety Forum Announcement

Video Recordings

• Session 1 — May 9, 2023 (2 hours)

Topics: Biological risk assessment, viral vector biosafety, and the role of the community representative on an institutional biosafety committee (IBC).

• Session 2 —May 17, 2023 (2 hours)

Topics:  Municipal biosafety oversight and mock meeting of an IBC.

Presentations & Handouts

• Welcome & Sponsor List
• Biological Risk Assessment 
• Viral Vector Biosafety 
• Role of Community Members on an IBC
• Municipal Biosafety Oversight
• Mock Meeting of an IBC
  • Mock Meeting Packet
  • Mock Presentation

Biosafety Resources

Cambridge 

• Cambridge Biosafety Regulation 2009
• Cambridge Biosafety Committee Policies and Procedures 2009
• Presentation Template for Cambridge Biosafety Committee
• Cambridge (MA) Recombinant DNA Technology Ordinance 1993
• The Cambridge Model—How Public Oversight of Biotech Is Good For Everyone Even Business (2003)

Massachusetts 

• State Regulation—105 CMR 480 Minimum Requirements for Management of Medical or Biological Waste
• Conflict of Interest Law for Massachusetts Municipal Employees (2010)

National Institutes of Health

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories—6th Edition
• NIH Guidelines Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (April 2019)
  • April 2019 Amendment of the NIH Guidelines
  • Major Actions under Section III-A of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules – May 2019
• FAQs on Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Administration – May 2019
• FAQs About IBC Meetings and Minutes
• FAQs for Research on Genetically Modified (Transgenic) Animals – May 2019
• FAQs on Toxin Experiments
• Lentiviral Containment Guidance
• Incident Reporting – May 2019
• NIH-Investigator-Responsibilities (undated brochure)
• Assessment of Adenoviral Vector Safety and Toxicity: Report of the National Institutes of Health Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (2002)

International

• Laboratory Biorisk Management Standard
• WHO Biosafety Manual 3rd Edition

Other Resources

• Glossary of Terms Commonly Used in Molecular Biology
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard—1910.1030
• Risk Assessment and Containment Presentation (2004)—Howard Hughes Medical Institute