ABSA International, Author at ABSA International

ABSA in the News: Coronavirus Travel Advice: How to Minimize Exposure While Traveling, Including at Airports, on Planes and Cruises

ABSA in the News: Coronavirus Travel Advice: How to Minimize Exposure While Traveling, Including at Airports, on Planes and Cruises The executive director of ABSA International (The Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity), Ed Stygar, also told Newsweek: "When traveling, you are always going to be at risk for exposure to a variety of infectious agents, including COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. There is no avoiding the presence of pathogens from fellow travelers, but you can protect yourself by following the CDC recommendations for reducing everyday risks to respiratory viruses, including good handwashing practices, avoiding visibly ill people, avoid touching your face, [...]

ABSA International2020-05-22T13:35:22-05:00February 20th, 2020|

COVID-19 Information

ABSA International COVID-19 Information Page What is the 2019 novel coronavirus? The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, is a new respiratory virus that was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is called coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, which presents as a pneumonic syndrome. Many of the earlier patients in China had links to a seafood and animal market, suggesting the virus was spreading from animal-to-people. However, a growing number of patients have reported no exposure to animal markets which indicates that the virus is spreading person-to-person. It is unclear how the virus [...]

ABSA International2020-05-22T13:35:08-05:00February 16th, 2020|

New Affiliates

The Affiliate Relations Committee is proud to welcome two new affiliate members! Northern California Biological Safety Association (Norcal Biosafety) includes members in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho helping to promote the study, evaluation, and control of biohazards in the workplace and in the environment. Swiss Biosafety Network (SBNeT) is open to all biosafety and biosecurity professionals including engineering and maintenance staff. SBNeT was established in 2010 and aims to maintain a high level of biosafety and biosecurity by sustaining and supporting the implementation of applicable and practical solutions. We welcome these new affiliates to ABSA International! Additional information [...]

ABSA International2025-04-28T15:47:25-05:00February 14th, 2020|

Dr. Michael Pentella Interviews

Michael A. Pentella, Ph.D., M.S., SM(ASCP), CIC, D(ABMM) Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health Director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory Arnold G. Wedum Memorial Lecture Award speaker at the 62nd Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference Biosafety in Clinical Laboratories Part I Part II

ABSA International2020-05-22T13:34:39-05:00November 24th, 2019|

Dr Robert Emery Interview

Interview with Robert Emery, DrPH, CBSP University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX Invited speaker at the 62nd Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference Making Your Biosafety Message Stick!

ABSA International2020-05-22T13:34:29-05:00November 19th, 2019|

ABSA Council Members Promote Biosecurity Engagement

On May, 2, 2019, ABSA Council Members Rebecca Moritz and Patricia de la Rosa and President-Elect David Gillum attended a meeting at Georgetown University to discuss opportunities for improving biosecurity oversight of research activities, including Dual Use Research and Gain of Function experiments. The half-day meeting was designed to encourage and promote biosecurity collaborations with ABSA International, academia, law enforcement, and the public and private sectors in support of global biosecurity initiatives. The attendees agreed that the current focus on biological threats needs to be expanded beyond list-based pathogens and that scientists and research administrators must be provided guidance [...]

ABSA International2020-05-22T13:34:17-05:00May 20th, 2019|

Applications are now open for CDC’s Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS)

Applications are now open for CDC’s Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS). LLS provides training for laboratory scientists with an emphasis on safety, quality, and leadership. LLS is intended to prepare laboratory leaders to protect the public’s health, safety, and security. LLS fellows enhance their leadership and critical thinking skills to provide rapid, strategic, and effective solutions — applying what they learn from their laboratory research on numerous disease-causing agents to solve real-world health problems. LLS seeks high caliber PhD scientists with two years of post-doctoral experience to apply for the incoming Class of 2020, which begins on July 6, 2020. I [...]

ABSA International2025-04-28T15:49:24-05:00May 7th, 2019|

National Inventory for Poliovirus Containment (NIPC) survey

The US National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus (NAC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Preparedness and Response has recently launched the National Inventory for Poliovirus Containment: Minimizing Risk of Poliovirus Release from Laboratories in the United States, as part of the WHO Global Action Plan (GAP III). In compliance with GAP III, the US is required to complete a national inventory of poliovirus-containing materials by surveying laboratories and other facilities. An initial survey was released in 2015 in order to identify facilities with infectious poliovirus materials and potentially infectious stool specimens. The survey responses were [...]

ABSA International2025-04-28T15:50:25-05:00April 29th, 2019|

Building a Biosafety and Biosecurity Relationship with the iGEM and DIY Communities

David Gillum, President-Elect of ABSA International Arizona State University April 8, 2019 “A scientist discovers that which exists; an engineer creates that which never was.” –Theodore von Karmen “It's never too late - in fiction or in life - to revise.” –Nancy Thayer During the past 5 years, I have had the distinct pleasure of attending four iGEM Jamborees in Massachusetts. For those of you who do not know, iGEM is the International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition, an organization that holds the largest gathering of synthetic biologists in the world once a year in Boston [...]

ABSA International2025-04-28T16:09:22-05:00April 9th, 2019|

ABSA International’s 1^st Biosecurity Symposium

ABSA International’s 1st Biosecurity Symposium biosecuritysymposium.org When: May 12-15, 2020 Where: Minneapolis, MN Why is ABSA getting involved in holding this symposium and creating a credential? ABSA International is “The Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity.” As science becomes more interdisciplinary, recognizing and defining the synergistic roles of biosafety and biosecurity have never been more paramount. ABSA currently supports an international, credentialed work force with expertise in mitigating the biosafety risks associated with life sciences research, pharmaceutical production, education, and other industries. ABSA recognizes that as technology advances and national security remains a concern, there is a substantial and ever-increasing need [...]

ABSA International2019-10-22T12:10:26-05:00January 26th, 2019|

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