IBC Minutes - October 7th, 2025
8:30 AM-10:30 AM by Zoom

Glynis Kolling (Chair), called the meeting to order. Members in attendance were Jennifer Kershner (BSO), Aaron Mills (IBC member), Brett Moreau (IBC member), Paul Skoglund (IBC member/IBC contact), Matthew Crawford (IBC member), Raphael Malbrue (Animal Containment Expert), Marie Burdick (IBC member), Sam Driver (local non-affiliated member), Tom Leonard (EHS Director), and Ira Schulman (IBC member). Stacy Agar (local non-affiliated member) was unable to attend the meeting. The 11 members present exceeded the quorum threshold of seven. Dave Clark, the Associate Biosafety Officer, attended the meeting to observe the proceedings. Dr. Kolling reminded everybody that anyone who might have a conflict of interest participating in review of a particular protocol should be placed in a breakout room during the discussion of that protocol unless requested to stay and answer questions.

1. The minutes from the meeting of September 3rd, 2025, were approved with no dissent.
2. The following IARs have no changes from last year or exhibit a minor modification such as stating that they are not using AAV at BSL-1, making room changes, moving inventory to storage only, changing sourcing of materials, small changes to text, or similar changes. All these protocols were approved at either BSL-2 or BSL-3 (when indicated) with no dissent but pending successful laboratory inspection, training, or clerical modifications in indicated cases:
   1. BLOOM, GEORGE (121-01) was reviewed by Kolling and Crawford. He studies aortic aneurisms using viral expression strategies, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1).
   2. BRODIE, EDMUND (405-06) was reviewed by Mills and Kershner. He studies naturally occurring tetrodotoxin in amphibians, and tetrodotoxin resistance in predators of amphibians such as snakes, using biotoxins.
   3. CASANOVA, JAMES (098-09) was reviewed by Schulman and Burdick. He studies Salmonella infection, signaling through small GTPase proteins and the mechanisms underpinning Gram-negative bacterial binding to cells using BSL2 agents, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1).
   4. JOMAA, AHMAD (9455-22) was reviewed by Kolling and Schulman. He studies the structure of the human ribosome with cryo-electron microscopy, using BSL2 agents, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). There are training issues to address before approval.
   5. KITTLESEN, DAVID (1290-11) was reviewed by Crawford and Mills. He uses BSL-1 and BSL-2 bacteria in an upper-level general microbiology course.
   6. LINDNER, JONATHAN (10141-22) was reviewed by Burdick and Kolling. He studies whether lipid-shelled microbubbles can enhance cellular uptake of AAV and studies Von Willebrand factor signaling and platelet adhesion/signaling in pathogenesis using AAV, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1; III-E-1).
   7. MILLER, CLINT (5584-17) was reviewed by Schulman and Leonard. He evaluates and validates coronary artery disease target proteins and identifies their binding partners utilizing genome wide approaches, using lentivirus, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). There are room and training issues to address before approval.
   8. O'ROURKE, EYLEEN (3352-14) was reviewed by Mills and Schulman. She studies the relationship between fat metabolism and age-related diseases, using BSL-2 agents and HDM.
   9. SHEYNKMAN, GLORIA (8427-20) was reviewed by Kershner and Crawford. She studies vascular development and disease, using BSL2 agents and HDM. There are room and training issues to address before approval.
   10. SONKUSARE, SWAPNIL (4415-16) was reviewed by Kershner and Burdick. He studies how endothelial cells are regulated by calcium using HDM.
   11. SWAMI, NATHAN (2176-12) was reviewed by Leonard and Mills. He fabricates microfluidic devices for multiple biological applications, using various BSL-2 pathogens and HDM. There are training issues to address before approval.
   12. TANG, TONI (11938-24) was reviewed by Kolling and Crawford. She studies the micro- and nano- structure and biomechanics of human bone using HDM.
   13. WHITLOCK, JARRED (12116-24) was reviewed by Burdick and Kershner. He studies how cells in the skeletal system and placenta develop and maintain bones using viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1).
   14. ZHOU, ANNY (12076-24) was reviewed by Leonard and Schulman. She studies lung disease including COPD, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using influenza virus, rhinovirus, viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1).
3. The following IARs have few changes from last year but were discussed in committee:
   1. ERISIR, ALEV (10190-22) was reviewed by Crawford and Leonard. She studies the ultrastructure of neuronal circuits in the mammalian brain using AAV at BSL1, BSL2 viral vectors and recombinant DNA (III-D-1; III-E-1). She needs to change her listing of Rabies virus to Avian-receptor dependent Rabies viral vector.
4. Discussion and review of modified protocols that are not annual renewals- Reviewers can review just the modification or notice other changes as well. Other changes can either be made during that revision cycle or addressed at the subsequent annual review at the reviewee’s discretion. (Note that this type of review leads to approval with no change in annual renewal date.):
   1. GARCIA-BLANCO, MARIANO (10413-23; MOD) was reviewed by Leonard and Kolling. He studies RNA virus infection and autoimmune disease, using the BSL-2 agents Coronaviruses, Coxsackie virus, Dengue viruses, hepatitis B, lentivirus, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). He is adding yellow fever virus vaccine as a BSL2 agent. He needs to add a sentence or two to describe how Yellow Fever virus vaccine strain is used in his research in Narrative question #1. Also, in Narrative question #12A, because FOXP3, DDX39B, DDX39A are involved with immune regulation and cancer progression he needs to change his answer to yes and then mention those risks.
   2. KUYUMCU-MARTINEZ, MUGE (10340-23; MOD) was reviewed by Schulman and Leonard. She studies the role of RNA binding proteins in the heart, using AAV at BSL-2, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). She is adding AAV at BSL1 to her protocol. She needs to better describe her need for AAV at both BSL1 and BSL2 containment. There are rooms to inspect before approval.
   3. NELSON, CHRISTINE (11902-24; MOD; BSL3) was reviewed by Kolling and Kershner. She studies both protective and pathogenic immune responses to mycobacterial species, using various BSL-2 agents, Mycobacterium tuberculosis at BSL-3, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). She is adding patient or healthy donors as sourcing for HDM. She needs to address IRB approval/exemption issues to allow collection of patient samples.
   4. PLATTS-MILLS, THOMAS (134-02; MOD) was reviewed by Crawford and Burdick. He studies both the antibody and T-cell mediated immune response to various allergens using HDM. He is adding Covid19 patient samples to his HDM inventory. He needs to rectify a discrepancy in mentioning room MR4 5084 in Narrative question #3 but not listing it as a location in the HDM section. There are training issues to address before approval.
   5. TAYLOR, JUSTIN (10691-23; MOD) was reviewed by Kershner and Crawford. He does basic research on antigen specific B Cells from humans and mice with the aim of improving vaccine design, using viral expression strategies, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). He is adding SARS-CoV-2 as a BSL2 agent. He needs to update Narrative question #1 to include the new SARS-CoV-2 work and specifically mention that he is using the mouse adapted strain. He needs to match his listing of SARs-CoV-2 to the listing in his IAR. He also needs to state that he will follow heath system policy for COVID19 vaccination in Narrative question #2.
5. Discussion and review of annual renewal protocols that contain modifications:
   1. SHANMUGASUNDARUM, KRITHIKA (11876-24; HGT) was reviewed by Moreau and Malbrue. He runs an HGT clinical trial titled “A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of ATA3219, Allogeneic Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy, in Subjects with Relapsed/Refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma” and is adding a second HGT clinical trial “Expanded Access Study for the Treatment of Patients
      with Commercially Out-of-Specification Brexucabtagene Autoleucel”. His protocol was approved with no dissent.
   2. ZEGARRA RUIZ, DANIEL (11022-23) was reviewed by Burdick and Mills. He studies the role of T cells in autoimmune disease, using BSL-2 agents and Biotoxins. He is adding Enterococcus gallinarium to his protocol. He needs to provide the maximum concentration information for his agents in a per milliliter format, to specify that liquid decontamination is done with 10% bleach (final concentration) in Narrative question #4, and to provide a specific minimum contact time for surface disinfection in Narrative question #5. There are training issues to address before approval.
6. Discussion and review of new protocols:
   1. CULVER, SILAS (13139-25; NEW) was reviewed by Burdick and Kolling. He studies the (pro)renin receptor in obesity and diabetes, using viral vector expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). He needs to clarify the discussion of BSC and PPE use pertains to work with HDM or any BSL2 agent, as well as lentivirus. He also needs to either remove mention of adenovirus in Narrative question #3 and #5, or else add adenovirus as a BSL2 agent.
   2. DEVALL, MATTHEW (13190-25; NEW) was reviewed by Mills and Crawford. He studies the genetic and environmental factors associated with colorectal cancer using HDM and recombinant DNA (Exempt). He needs to modify his description of his work in Narrative question #1 to include planned activities with Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (Exempt), future work with blood/blood components, and to remove the media recipe and description of other reagents. In the Human Derived Materials section, he needs to change the sourcing of all HDM agents to UVA collaborator rather than Patient or Healthy Donor, or else change his description of these experiments elsewhere in the protocol. In Narrative question #4 he needs to explicitly state that cavicide is the primary disinfectant and that 70% ethanol is secondary, and that that solid contaminated materials are placed in a Contaminated materials container (CMC).
   3. HASSAN, MUHAMMAD MURTAZA (13104-25; NEW) was reviewed by Leonard and Schulman. He works on developing targeted therapeutics for cancer focusing on protein inhibitors and degraders, using various viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). His protocol was approved at BSL2 with no dissent, pending successful new lab inspection.
   4. KHALIFE, JIHANE (13047-25; NEW) was reviewed by Kershner and Burdick. They study T-cell derived malignancies, particularly T-cell lymphomas, using viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). In Narrative question #1, they need to remove repetitive information that is addressed in other sections and to rectify the statement that ”Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s) from blood donors…” are used but not having listed “Patients or Healthy donors” as a source of blood in the HDM section. The answer to Narrative question #4 needs to be both shortened and made clearer. In Narrative question #8 they need to delete the description of disposal practices for contaminated material that duplicates information found in Narrative question #4.
   5. MARTO, JARROD (13203-25; NEW) was reviewed by Crawford and Kolling. He uses proteomic approaches to study the effects of covalent protein modifications and other pre- and posttranslational modifications on protein activity or localization using viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). He needs to update the room listings throughout to modify the listing of “ adjacent -80 “ to an actual room number. In the Hazards/ Risks (BSL2) question, he needs to specifically state at the front of the answer that the risks from lentivirus are insertional mutagenesis and transgene expression. In the HDM section, he needs to delete his listing of Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fallopian tube tissue and shorten the answer to the Hazards/Risks (HDM) question while specifically stating that the risks to personnel from cell lines are from known and unknown human pathogens. He needs to declare the recombinant DNA (Exempt) section. He needs to answer Narrative question 10B No, or else specifically address this issue in the recombinant DNA section. In Narrative question 10F he needs to address what he means by BSL2+ containment and to spell out what RCV means. In Narrative question #16 he needs to click both the BSL1 and BSL2 checkboxes.
   6. MICHELASSI, FRANCESCO (13171-25; NEW) was reviewed by Schulman and Mills. He studies the pathological mechanisms underlying peripheral neuropathies. He needs to clarify the source of virus referenced in both Narrative questions #5 and #8.
   7. SMITH, SCOTT (13136-25; NEW) was reviewed by Kershner and Leonard. He investigates the role of IgE antibodies in the context of both allergic diseases and parasite immunity, using various BSL2 agents including ticks and filarial worms, and HDM. He needs to expand on the potential Hazards/Risks for Brugia malayi, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. He also needs to specifically address whether there are any possible tick-associated risks to personnel related to alpha-gal syndrome. In Narrative question #8 he needs to add safety glasses/goggles for bench work with parasites.
7. Mid-Month Review- Designated Member and Administrative review:
   1. BRAYMAN, KENNETH (157-03) Administrative Review. He modified the rooms listings in his protocol. His protocol was approved at BSL-2 after the rooms were approved by the Biosafety office.
   2. SHEYBANI, NATASHA (9452-22) Administrative Review. She modified the rooms listings in her protocol. Her protocol was approved at BSL-2 after the rooms were approved by the Biosafety office.
8. Discussion and Review of ACUC protocols with IBC Concerns
   1. CAI, CHUANXI (4408; 3rd year) was reviewed by Mills and Kershner. He studies cardiovascular responses to influenza infections using viral expression technology, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). There were no changes in the biological agents section of his protocol. His protocol was approved at ABSL2 with no dissent.
   2. COOK, DANIELLE (UNIQUE) was reviewed by Kershner and Schulman. She examines whether modified T-cells can be used as therapeutics for targeting specific cancers, using viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). This is a new protocol titled “ T cell therapy for Cancer”. She needs to remove AAV and lentivirus as biological agents in her protocol, if they are used to infect cells in vitro before administering to mice. She also needs to provide the frequency of the T-cell injections per animal.
   3. HAHN, YOUNG-SHIN (2720; 3rd year) was reviewed by Kolling and Leonard. She studies various viruses including Zika, Dengue and Hepatitis C, using viral expression strategies, HDM, NHPDM, Biotoxins, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1; III-D- 2, and III-E-1). There were no changes in the biological agents sections of her protocol. In the “Infection model: Zika’’ species procedure she needs to reconcile a discrepancy in the amount of Zika virus injected, which is stated as "10^3, 10^4 or 10^5 PFU" ZIKA will be injected into mice in the main species procedure section, while the biological agents section indicates "10^3 PFU". She also needs to clarify whether animals receive a single injection or if are there multiple injections in the “Liver Infection model” species procedure.
   4. KUYUMUSCU-MARTINEZ, MUGE (4422; MOD) was reviewed by Kolling and Kershner. She studies the role of RNA binding proteins in the heart, using AAV at BSL-2, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). She clicked the AAV at ABSL1 checkbox in the biological agents section. She needs to unclick the AAV at ABSL1 checkbox that was accidentally clicked in her protocol.
   5. MA, JIANJIE (4410; 3rd year) was reviewed by Burdick and Crawford. He studies muscle gene function in in vitro and in vivo models using various viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-E-1). There were no changes in the biological agents sections of his protocol. However, he needs to clarify that ABSL2 precautions are used for the duration of the experiment and to confirm that the experimental details provided in the biological agents section match those give in the Main Procedure descriptions for two species procedures.
   6. PIERCE-COTTLER, SHAYN (3459; 3rd year) was reviewed by Crawford and Burdick. She studies microvascular development, using HDM. There were no changes in the biological agents section of her protocol. Her protocol was approved at ABSL2 with no dissent.
   7. PROCTOR, ELIZABETH (4569; MOD; ABSL1; AAV at ABSL1) was reviewed by Leonard and Kolling. She studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease, using AAV at BSL1, BSL2 viral vector expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-E-1). She added a new species procedure titled “AAV modulation of neural circuit activation” to this ABSL1 protocol using AAV at ABSL1. Her protocol was approved at ABSL1 with no dissent.
   8. QI, LING (4459; MOD) was reviewed by Schulman and Kershner. She studies the role of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis in human health and disease, using various viral expression strategies, HDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). She added a new route of delivery for AAV at BSL2. Her protocol was approved at ABSL2 with no dissent.
   9. TAYLOR, JUSTIN (4460; MOD) was reviewed by Kolling and Crawford. He does basic research on antigen specific B Cells from humans and mice with the aim of improving vaccine design, using viral expression strategies, HDM, NHPDM, and recombinant DNA (III-D-1). He is adding SARS-CoV-2@BSL2. He needs approval for SARS-CoV-2 in his concomitant IAR submittal, and the agent names need to match exactly between his IAR and this ACUC protocol. He also needs to address a typo of injecting 3 ml volumes into mice, and a mention of "influenza strains", when influenza is not listed as a biological agent in this species procedure.
9. IBC and Biosafety issues:
   1. Paul Skoglund reminded everyone that the November IBC meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5th because of the UVA voting holiday on Tuesday, November 4th.
   2. Paul Skoglund let everyone know that the program modifications to the description of the NIH guideline for III-D-1 has been done. He reminded everyone that this change was to strike specific mention of Adenovirus and Murine retroviral vectors from the description of Guideline III-D-1 in the NIH Guidelines.
   3. Jenni Kershner, Biosafety Officer, mentioned to the committee that the ACUC protocols now have a new feature to allow viewing of the training status of personnel listed in any specific species procedure. This change was made to make sure personnel listed in that ACUC protocol are listed on a IAR and have received appropriate training.
   4. Jenni Kershner, Biosafety Officer, informed the committee that ABSA had a Listening session with NIH Tuesday, 9/30/25 where Biosafety officers, PIs, researchers, and physicians for different institutions were given time to voice their requests, concerns, and recommendations for the Modernization of the NIH guidelines. NIH also invited any interested stakeholders to provide “on-demand” comments at any time by utilizing a 24/7 comment form found at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/help-modernize-and-strengthen-the-oversight-of-biosafety/. Jenni has already added a link for this comment form to the Biosafety webpage for convenience.
   5. Glynis Kolling, IBC Chair, mentioned that some grants are being flagged by the NIH for DURC/PEPP/gain of function issues. This effort focuses on identifying dangerous gain of function as opposed to gain of function work. The NIH is requiring responses from PIs in selected cases, and it may be these grants are selected automatically through some criteria.
   6. Jenni Kershner, Biosafety Officer, informed the committee that October is Biosafety Awareness Month. The new webpage reflecting this can be found at
      https://ehs.virginia.edu/Biosafety/Awareness-Month. She also will be sending each lab an email announcing Biosafety Month, as well as informing them of the NIH request for public feedback and announcing the new EHS webpage for Needle and Sharps Safety.
10. IRE Business:
    1. None at present.
11. Renewals over 30 days old:
    1. None at present.
12. Renewals over 60 days old:
    1. None at present.
13. ACUC protocols for IBC over 30 days old:
    1. None at present.
14. Renewals over 60 days old:
    1. None at present.
15. ACUC protocols for IBC over 60 days old:
    1. None at present.
16. New PIs who are in the process of doing their visits and training:
    1. None at present.