Have Credentials?

Become a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)
Become a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP)

Hotel Information

Sheraton Inner Harbor
300 S. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Reservations: 800-325-3535
Room Rate: Rate: $219 a night
Online Reservations

The hotel reservation deadline is June 4, 2008

Courses:

ABSA Review Course

June 23-24, 2008, 8am - 5pm

Instructors:
Mary Cipriano, MBA, RBP, CBSP Abbott Laboratories
Marian Downing, RBP, CBSP University of Texas—Medical Branch
Glenn Funk, PhD, CBSP Biosafety Consultant
Michelle McKinney, MS, (SM)NRM, CBSP Science Applications International Corporation
Christina Thompson, MS, (SM)NRM, RBP, CBSP Thompson Biosafety, LLC

Course Description:
This 2-day, 16-hour course will provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of biological safety with emphasis on the NRM Specialist Microbiologist Task List for Biological Safety Microbiology. The course will be directed to those individuals with previous biosafety experience preparing to take the NRM Specialist Microbiologist (SM) exam in Biological Safety Microbiology.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this activity participants should be able to:

1. Understand the 65 biological safety task areas that will be covered in the exam
2. Review all critical subject matter under each of the tasks
3. Provide an overview of all regulations and critical biological safety reference materials
4. Recognize the exam structure and format based on topics covered, and be aware of subject areas needed

BSL-3 Laboratory Comprehensive Design Approaches

June 25-26, 2008, 8am - 5pm

Instructors: Paul Langevin, P. Eng Merrick
Sandy Ellis Merrick
Steve Freson Merrick
Chris Kiley Merrick
Gilles Tremblay Merrick

Course Description:
The audience will learn the essentials of laboratory planning, laboratory architecture, systems designs and commissioning approaches for BSL-3 laboratories and animal vivaria. This course will include interactive discussions between lecturers and students allowing exchange of ideas and practiced and proposed solutions.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this activity participants should be able to:

1. Understand BSL-3 laboratory planning principles
2. Recognize the implications of architecture linked to systems and vice versa
3. Describe the variations and successful solutions of MEP designs
4. Understand the testing and commissioning approaches to BSL-3 facilities

Risk Communication and High-Containment Laboratories: Minimizing Public Outrage Associated with Infectious Diseases

June 25, 2008, 8am - 5pm

Instructor:
Sean Kaufman, MPH, CHES Emory University—Rollins School of Public Health

Course Description:
High-containment laboratories are perceived by the public as high-risk environments. This course will discuss the reasons behind this perception, provide strategies for minimizing public outrage, and assist participants in the development of risk communication strategies aimed at personal, professional, internal, and external audiences.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity participants should be able to:

1. Define risk communication
2. Differentiate the definition of public and scientific risk
3. Discuss strategies for minimizing and maximizing personal and public outrage
4. List at least five factors which influence risk perception
5. Discuss the role of risk communication in the risk assessment process
6. Demonstrate initial statements which can be utilized during any emergency situation

Real World Risk Assessment

June 26, 2008, 8 am - 5pm

Instructors:
Joseph Kozlovac, MS, CBSP, RBP, (SM)NRM USDA Agricultural Research Service
David Bressler, MS, CBSP Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Course Description:
Course is designed to provide an overview of different aspects of biological risk assessment for agricultural and biological laboratory research. To illustrate the risk assessment process, case studies will involve scenarios recently in the news, or topics brought up by attendees highlighting a risk assessment focus. The course will include risk assessment involving emerging biosafety issues in the areas of agricultural diseases and biological laboratory research. This course is geared to biological safety officers, researchers, laboratory personnel, communications and response personnel, and others associated with safety and risk management operations.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity participants should be able to:

1. Understand the importance of risk assessment in the agricultural and biological laboratory realm
2. Describe and discuss the components of biological risk assessment
3. Recognize and discuss relevant risk assessment considerations for both agricultural research and the biological research laboratory

AGENDA

(subject to change)

Sunday, August 3 – 5:30pm to 7pm

• Welcome Reception

Monday, August 4 – 8am to 5:30pm

• Risk Assessment
• Introduction to Pathogenic Microbes
• Molecular Biology

Tuesday, August 5 – 8am to 5:30pm

• Human Source Materials & Mammalian Cell Lines
• Research Animals
• Disinfection & Biological Waste
• Course Dinner (6:30 to 9pm)

Wednesday, August 6 – 8am to 5:30pm

• Biocontainment Facilities &Equipment
• Emerging Issues

Thursday, August 7 – 8am to 5:30pm

• Biocontainment Practices & PPE
• Emergency Response & Biosecurity

Friday, August 8 – 8am to 3:30pm

• Shipment and Transfer of Biological Materials
• Strategies for Effective Biosafety Management & Communication

COURSE FACULTY:
(not all listed faculty may serve as instructors at this offering)
LouAnn Burnett, MS, CBSP
Patrick Condreay, PhD
Glenn Funk, PhD, CBSP
Paul Jennette, PE, RBP
Michelle McKinney, CBSP
Additional faculty may be added

ACCOMODATIONS

A block of rooms has been reserved for ABSA at the Hyatt Regency Rochester:

$129/night plus tax

Hyatt Regency Rochester
125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604
585-546-1234 fax 585-546-6777
www.rochester.hyatt.com

Booking early allows us to make sure that all participants receive the same discounted rates. The block of rooms will be available until sold out or July 14, 2008, whichever comes first.