Institutional Stem Cell Research Oversight (ISCRO)

The mission of the ISCRO is to review and facilitate research with human and animal stem cells at Rensselaer, especially work funded by the New York State Stem Cell Initiative (NYSTEM).

Projects involving other research tools also must be approved by the relevant campus committees: 

• Animals: require IACUC approval
• Humans: require IRB approval
• Recombinant DNA, human or non-human prinmate cells, plasmids or viral vectors: require IBC approval

Questions and Submission of Forms

Direct all inquiries to Joelle Willis (276-4232; willij@rpi.edu).

Basic ISCRO Review and Approval Procedure

• Proposed research protocols must be submitted by the principal investigator* for review.

• The proposed protocols are reviewed to ensure that the work will be performed according to accepted ethical guidelines (NAS and ISSCR), with appropriate personnel training, required facility safeguards and adequate biosafety procedures.

• The approval period is for three years, subject to annual approvals at the end of years one and two.

• All modifications to the approved protocol must be approved in writing by the ISCRO prior to implementation.

* The investigator who is primarily responsible for the conduct of the research. Only faculty or staff members may be Principal Investigators. All non-faculty researchers are properly characterized as Co-Investigators.