Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is the best contact for questions about my COMS review process?
A. For any questions regarding your COMS applications please reach out to COMS@hms.harvard.edu or your institutional biosafety officer.
Q. What is the purpose of the COMS office?
A. COMS serves as the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for Harvard as well as the Harvard-affiliated medical research institutions.
e-COMS
The Committee on Microbiological Safety (COMS), along with the affiliated Institutional Biosafety Officers, is pleased to announce that the electronic research management system to streamline COMS processes. e-COMS is now live and accepting electronic registrations! The system should greatly smooth the COMS application and renewal process and will now allow you to submit, maintain and renew your COMS registration(s) online. Effective today, all new registrations and amendments must be submitted through the new online system. COMS has developed a quick reference guide and e-COMS fundamentals training to help Principal Investigators and other laboratory staff navigate through the new electronic submission process.
Log in to e-COMS at https://esupport.hms.harvard.edu/COMSIACUC.
BSOs can provide guidance on protocol submittal to PIs and designees. For further details, contact your BSO.
To consolidate user log-ins across university-wide, eCOMS will be utilizing the HarvardKey for system access. If you do not have a HarvardKey you can obtain one by filling out an application.
Policies:
- Introduction
- Adenoviral Vector Policy
- BL2+ Policy
- Clinical Trials Policy
- Incident Reporting Policy
- Interim Policy on Amplification of Sars-Cov-2
- Lab Inspection Policy
- Lentiviral Vector Policy
- Liquid Waste Policy
- Minutes Policy
- Minutes Redaction Policy
- Protocol Review Policy
- Retroviral Vector Policy
- Risk Assessment Policy
- Sharps Policy
- Solid Waste Policy
- Training Policy
- Validating Attenuated Strains of BL3 Organisms Policy
Appendices
Other announcements:
- COMS has created a frequently asked questions document regarding Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules.
- The latest version of the NIH Guidelines can be found here.