IBC Meeting Minutes

Meeting time: August 7, 2026, 10:00-11:00 am PST via Zoom

Participants: Laurent Dejean, Geoffrey Dervishian, Jeff Bulawit, Jaime Horio, Kate Waselkov, Mark Schreiber.

Approval of Minutes: This document was circulated to the IBC after the meeting and all attendees approved of the minutes by return email.

Key Outcomes

The IBC committee convened to review and vote on three documents for Dr. Chelsea Juarez’s (Anthropology) human cadaver research: the Biohazard Use Authorization (BUA), Exposure Control Plan, and Job Safety Analysis (JSA). All six members voted to approve all three documents, contingent on agreed changes being implemented by Dr. Juarez. Geoffrey will communicate changes with Dr. Juarez, finalize documents, and circulate for confirmation before routing to Adobe Sign.

Key Safety Points Addressed

  • Splash prevention: BUA already specifies materials are placed in macerating vessel before water is added — reduces splash risk.
  • PPE: Gown + apron combination deemed adequate; recommendation to specify liquid­impervious gown (similar to BSL-3 practice).
  • Scalpel disinfection: Exposure Control Plan covers decontamination of all equipment with bleach; BUA to be aligned.
  • Boiling inactivation: High-temperature boiling considered sufficient to eliminate most pathogens; cysts/spores not expected on these cadaver types.
  • Embalming/formaldehyde: If body was embalmed prior to burial, this should be noted on the burial certificate and referenced in the document as a risk reducer; if not, standard bloodborne pathogen precautions apply.
  • Fire Academy bodies: Screened for HIV, TB, and hepatitis — further reducing infectious risk.
  • Drain/fat disposal: Soap and meat tenderizer used in boiling water; not expected to cause drain clogging.

Pending Confirmation

  • Dr. Juarez to review and accept all tracked changes in BUA, Exposure Control Plan, and JSA.
  • Geoffrey to confirm whether exhumed body handling is fully captured under JSA Element 5.
  • Formaldehyde/aldehyde treatment reference to be added or verified in the BUA for bodies that were embalmed.

Open Questions

  • Alternative/more isolated lab space for cadaver work to reduce nuisance odor complaints — no solution identified yet; Geoffrey (liaison) to be notified if options arise.

Decisions Made

  • Waste classification: Biohazardous waste to be explicitly designated as pathological waste (double-bagged, rigid container) in the BUA.
  • Bleach concentration: Replace “full-strength household bleach” with specific concentration (0.5–1.0% sodium hypochlorite / 10% bleach solution) to align BUA with Exposure Control Plan language.
  • Windows: Windows must not be opened to prevent fly/pest entry and to maintain HVAC integrity; language to be added to the document.
  • BSL-2 access control: Both lab rooms (McLane 212/214) confirmed as locked and accessible only to Dr. Juarez’s group; to be documented.
  • Scope expansion: JSA to be updated to explicitly capture both body sources — Fire Academy bodies (processed at coroner’s office) and forensic/exhumed cases (processed in lab).
  • Vote: Unanimous approval (6–0) of BUA, Exposure Control Plan, and JSA — conditional on all recommended changes being made by Dr. Juarez.

Action Items

  • Geoffrey: Finalize tracked changes in all three documents; send to Dr. Juarez for review and acceptance; circulate confirmed documents to IBC members; route to Adobe Sign for signatures.
  • Laurent: Prepare and review meeting transcript summary; distribute to IBC members for approval before posting to university website.
  • Dr. Juarez: Accept/confirm all recommended changes; implement prior to final document execution.

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