The University of Maryland Baltimore IBC provides oversight of research conducted with microorganisms pathogenic to humans, plants, or animals. Work with infectious agents that are classified as Risk Group 2 or higher must be submitted for IBC approval using the online CICERO system.

Basis for the Classification of Biohazardous Agents by Risk Group (Appendix B of the NIH Guidelines).

Risk Group 1 (RG1)

• Agents that are not associated with disease in healthy adult humans

Risk Group 2 (RG2)

• Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available

Risk Group 3 (RG3)

• Agents that are associated with serious or lethal human disease for which preventive or therapeutic interventions may be available (high individual risk but low community risk)

Risk Group 4 (RG4) –Not allowed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Agents that are likely to cause serious or lethal human disease for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are not usually available (high individual risk and high community risk)

Additional Resources:

Risk Group Database, ABSA International

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition

World Health Organization Biosafety Guidelines

Public Health Agency of Canada Pathogen Safety Data Sheets