Definitions What is the IBC? The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) reviews, approves and oversees research involving the use of biohazards. Under UMaine IBC Policy (Word), “biohazard” includes recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (including plants), biological materials/biospecimens (human and animal blood, bodily fluids, and/or tissues), infectious agents* or select agents/toxins. (*The University of Maine has defined “infectious