Laboratory Research (not clinical service)

Laboratory Research (not clinical service)

Laboratory research (not clinical service) involving SARS-Cov-2 virus and organisms that cause Listed Human Diseases under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are regulated by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Institutional Biosafety Committee (RPAH IBC) (regardless of whether or not GMOs are involved).
This does not include research involving samples from persons suspected or confirmed to be positive for SARS-Cov-2 or for organisms that cause Listed Human Diseases under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
This applies to RPAH, Concord Hospital, Lifehouse, Heart Research Institute and Centenary Institute.
Laboratory research (not clinical service) with SARS-Cov-2 virus or with organisms that cause Listed Human Diseases under the Biosecurity Act 2015 must be approved by RPAH IBC.
Research involving human samples requires approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and Governance
A Listed Human Disease (LHD) under the Biosecurity Act 2015 is a human disease which is communicable and may cause significant harm to human health.
The Australian Department of Health lists the diseases that fall under the Biosecurity Act 2015 at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-biosec-list-diseases.htm

Current Listed Human Diseases under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are:

-Human influenza with pandemic potential

-Plague

-Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

-Middle East respiratory syndrome

-Smallpox

-Viral haemorrhagic fevers

-Yellow Fever

-Human coronavirus with pandemic potential (e.g. COVID-19)

Australian Department of Health, Listed Human Diseases (LHD) under the Biosecurity Act 2015,

Researchers should refer to the Australian Department of Health website as the list may change from time to time.

Researchers should contact the IBC if they are planning laboratory research (not clinical service) using such organisms.

IBC contact: