The Committee is chaired by a senior Queen Mary academic staff member with experience and knowledge of GMOs and biological agents / hazards. The Queen Mary Biological Safety Adviser (Health and Safety Directorate) provides first point of contact for risk assessment review, competent topic advice (Biological Safety Adviser for Queen Mary) and is Secretary to the Group.

BGMSC Chair: Dr James Whiteford (William Harvey)

Biological Safety Adviser / BGMSC Secretary: Dr Mark Ariyanayagam (Health and Safety Directorate) 

Committee members (with contact details): 

Membership BGMSC - current academic year

BGMSC - Duties and Responsibilities

BGMSC - Appointment Letter template

All Queen Mary Schools and Institutes conducting GMO / biological agent or hazard work have at least one representative member; Occupational Health, Trade Union, research partner organisations and lay member representation is maintained on the committee.

The BGMSC meets once an academic semester (and ad hoc as required).

1. Autumn (Semester One) Meeting

Meeting Risk Assessment submission deadline: Mon 4 Nov 2024
Meeting Date: Tues 12 Nov 2024 (13:30 – 16:00, MS Teams)

2. Spring (Semester Two) Meeting

Meeting Risk Assessment submission deadline: Mon 10 Feb 2025
Meeting Date: Tues 18 Feb 2025 (14:05 – 16:00, MS Teams)

3. Summer (Semester Three) Meeting

Meeting Risk Assessment submission deadline: Mon 5 May 2025
Meeting Date:  Tues 13 May 2025 (14:05 – 16:00, MS Teams)

1. See meeting submission deadline date above for risk assessments.

2. Draft GMO risk assessment on Queen Mary template

• Genetically Modified Micro-organisms (GMMs) - GMO Contained Use Risk Assessment Template
• Larger GMOs (plant or animals) - Contained Use Risk Assessment_Larger GMOs assoc GMM [DOC 127KB] 

3. Submit to the Queen Mary Biological Safety Adviser by email. 

(A GM risk assessment can be submitted at any time but please note they will be ‘batch reviewed’ between the 20^th of each month and the end of the month. GM Class 1 responses will be provided shortly after ‘batch review’ concludes, GM Class 2 and 3 responses will be provided similarly with the requirement that the GM Project Supervisor attends the next BGMSC meeting to validate).

4. Complete and submit environment risk assessments (for Larger GMOs)

• Animals - Environmental Risk Assessment Low Risk GMO Animals [DOC 42KB] 
• Plants - Environmental Risk Assessment_Low Risk Plant GMO [DOC 46KB]
• GMO CU Peer Review Approval Notification Process [PDF 502KB]

GMO Topic Page – Queen Mary policy, procedures and guidance along with full detail of the peer review, approval and notification process for GMO work.

1. See meeting submission deadline date above.

2. Draft Biosafety risk assessment on the template noted

• Biosafety Risk Assessment - Notifiable
• Biosafety Risk Assessment - Notifiable - Guidance
• Notifiable Biosafety risk assessment Peer Review Process.

3. Submit to the Queen Mary Biological Safety Advisor by email. 

(A Notifiable Biosafety risk assessment can be submitted at any time but please note they will be ‘batch reviewed’ between the 20^th of each month and the end of the month. Responses will be provided following the ‘batch review’ with the requirement that the Project Supervisor attends the next BGMSC meeting).

4. Complete any required permit / license documents (see summary above).

Biosafety Topic Page – Queen Mary policy, procedures and guidance along with full detail of the peer review and approval process for intentional research or teaching work with biological agents or hazards.