News

We would like to draw your attention to two new risk assessment guides currently available online from the Public Health Agency of Canada as follows:

Pathogen Risk Assessment

Biosecurity Risk Assessment

Yarbrough et al. looked at contamination of instruments, the environment and laboratory staff during routine diagnostics work in the laboratory. The article, published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, may be accessed through the following link.

The Italian Biosafety Platform will be holding their 7th Biosafety Conference in Siena from September 13th to 14th. More information may be found under the following link.

WHO is currently working on a new edition of its Laboratory Biosafety Manual. Please see the link for further details.

A member app is now available to all members (currently only for Apple iOS).

With the app members can:

• view the member directory
• view a member's profile
• email their fellow members
• view the event calendar and event details
• register for an event
• view their existing event registrations
• view their member profile

Deleting existing event registrations and updating your member profile can still only be done via our website.  

The app may be downloaded from Apple's App Store via the following link.

Please see below for a link to an article which may be of interest to you all:

 

http://jcm.asm.org/content/early/2018/03/15/JCM.00225-18.abstract?papetoc

Please see the course announcement below.

You may be familiar with the Biosafety and Biosecurity Training Course, which was held in Fort Collins, CO, from 2004 – 2017. We had over 700 individuals from around the world attend the BBTC during that time. We have transitioned the on-site BBTC to a web based course, BBTC-Global. 2017 was the last year for the on-site BBTC in Fort Collins.

Please review the following information regarding the BBTC-Global. Note: Deadline for registration is May 15, 2018.

 

The BBTC-Global is a remote-based course presented through an interactive Learning Management System.  The course is chaired by Dr. Robert P. Ellis, and is facilitated by Mr. Sean Kaufman.

 

Topics include the most current information for the following:

General Session:

June-July, 20 hours presented in 10 modules (4 hours per week) – will be general Biosafety and Biosecurity.
Topics to be covered include rDNA/Synthetic NA (recombinant DNA) Guidelines; Risk assessment; Entity specific inspection and audit preparations and responses; Entity Specific Audit Program; Select Agent regulations and changes, administration, and inspection preparations; Design and management of insectaries; HEPA filters and biosafety cabinet certification; BSL–2 and BSL–3 Building Design and Operations; Synthetic Biology, Dual Use Research of Concern Guidelines/Oversight; Clinical and Public Health Lab Biosafety; and Ethics and Culture of Biosafety.

 

Animal Session:

July, 14 hours presented in 7 modules (4 hours per week); will be animal oriented.
Topics to be covered include large animal ABSL–2 and –3 facilities design, containment and management; Laboratory animal ABSL–2 and –3 facilities design, containment and management; Veterinary hospital, clinic, and farm and ranch Biosecurity [infection control]; Prion disease research Biosafety; ABSL-3 research with multiple agents/multiple species; Field Investigations; and Select Agent inspection preparations.

 

Plant Session:

August, 14 hours presented in 7 modules (4 hours per week); will be plant oriented.
Topics to be covered include Greenhouse design and management; Regulations and permit procedures; Containment of recombinant plants; Infectious disease research with plants; Biopharmaceuticals; Plant disease diagnostic lab network; Diseases of crops; and Select Agent inspection preparations.

 

Participants include individuals from universities, private industry, and government. Disciplines represented include biosafety, laboratory designers, laboratory management, program managers, veterinarians, vivarium management, maintenance and engineering, and facility operations.

 

A detailed schedule/program and faculty biographies are posted on our web site. Please continue to check the web site for updates: www.bbtcfortcollins.com

 

2018 Registration and Payment Information : Deadline to register for sessions is May 15, 2018

* General, Animal, and Plant Sessions, (Complete Course) June-July-August 2018: $2100

* General and Animal Sessions: $1600

* General and Plant Sessions: $1600

* General Only Session: $1000

* Animal Only Session: $700

* Plant Only Session: $700

 

Registration fee includes all course material and a course completion certificate.

 

NOTICE: The 2018 BBTC-Global Program will have the (ABSA) American Biological Safety Association Certification Maintenance Points (CM Pts) for biosafety professionals.

 

Registration information and detailed schedule/program are available at our web site:

http://www.bbtcfortcollins.com/

http://www.bbtcfortcollins.com/course-information/

 

The Course is chaired by Dr. Robert P. Ellis, PhD, CBSP.  For more information please contact Robert Ellis robert.ellis@colostate.edu or 970-491-8268

Or

Contact the Course facilitator, Mr. Sean Kaufman, MPH, at sean@seankaufman.com or 404-849-3966

A meeting report on Gene Drives Held by the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences and the Federal Office for the Environment may be downloaded under the following link.

There is also an anmated movie illustrating the process. Link.

An article has been published on how to create horsepox virus from chemically synthesised DNA. Below are two links you may find interesting:

Article

Commentary

EBSA is looking for nominations for council and workgroup members. Please see text below:

Dear Colleagues and friends,
You are cordially invited to participate in the 2018 nomination for:

3 positions on the EBSA council

• President Elect
• Treasurer
• Regular Council member
• 1 position on the Nomination Committee
• 1position as Financial Auditor

Send in your nominations before February 12, 2018.
 
The nomination committee will review the candidates and the online ballot will be open February 19 - March 2 2018.
The newly elected members will be contacted by the president and officially introduced at the Annual General Meeting held during the Conference in Copenhagen.

If you know somebody who could make a difference to the activities of EBSA or you are willing to contribute, please submit your candidature or nominate one of your colleagues here.
 
Any questions please feel free to contact the secretariat.
 
EBSA Administration Office
Tel.: +32 (0) 9- 233 48 66
E-Mail: ebsa-office@ebsaweb.eu
Web: www.ebsaweb.eu