Safety ​

Overview ​

We have thoroughly studied and mastered the laboratory safety management regulations, ensuring standardized operation and guaranteeing the safe use of chemicals, proper handling of biological materials, and the personal safety of experimenters.

Project Safety Form ​

We have submitted our Safety Form, which provides detailed information on our team’s contact details, laboratory safety management, risk assessment and mitigation strategies, and the biological organisms and genetic components used in our project.

In particular, we applied in advance for the use of an off-whitelist part, the HDV ribozyme, in HEK293T and HepG2 cells, and received official approval.

Safety Training ​

Laboratory Safety Management Regulations ​

We invited Professor Wei Xu from our laboratory to give a lecture on the laboratory’s safety management regulations, covering:

Safety Entrance Examination ​

Before entering the laboratory, all members of the wet lab team studied the Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Safety Manual (http://spsxn.bjmu.edu.cn/ynxx/sysaqzr/kszl/index.htm) and the Laboratory Safety Management Regulations (http://spsxn.bjmu.edu.cn/ynxx/aqxx/index.htm).

All members participated in and passed the official safety entrance examination organized by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University. Through this, we mastered laboratory safety rules, operational procedures, emergency response methods, and regulations for the use and disposal of reagents. This training ensured that we possess the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct experiments safely, and all subsequent experimental operations were carried out strictly in accordance with the laboratory safety code.

Risk Management ​

Biosafety ​

The biological materials used in our experiments include E. coli DH5α, HepG2 cells, and HEK293T cells — all of which are listed on the iGEM White List.

Our laboratory is equipped with three Class I biosafety level laminar flow cabinets with ventilation systems and one Class II biosafety cabinet. All bacterial experiments are conducted within the Class I laminar flow cabinets, while cell culture experiments are performed in the Class II biosafety cabinet.

Solid and liquid culture waste containing E. coli is autoclaved before disposal to ensure biosafety compliance.

Chemical Waste Management ​

All non-toxic laboratory waste generated during experiments is disinfected prior to disposal.

For toxic reagents, particularly nucleic acid dyes containing ethidium bromide, we have established specific safety handling procedures. Agarose gels and pipette tips contaminated with these dyes are collected in yellow medical waste bags, clearly labeled for hazardous chemical content, and properly handled before final disposal.

Facility Management ​

The laboratory has a designated safety officer responsible for the management of key equipment, including the autoclave, laminar flow cabinets, shakers, refrigerators, ovens, and liquid nitrogen tanks.

The safety officer conducts regular inspections and assists in addressing any equipment malfunction or maintenance issues to ensure operational safety.

Contact Information ​

For any safety-related inquiries, please contact our Principal Investigator (PI) at lqzhang@hsc.pku.edu.cn