ABSA International Call to Action: NIH Biosafety Modernization Initiative

As you are likely aware, NIH launched a landmark initiative to modernize and strengthen biosafety oversight — and ABSA International has been invited to contribute directly to this process. Being included as a partner in this national conversation underscores the critical importance of biosafety professionals and the value our community brings to shaping safe, forward-looking research policy.

This is a pivotal moment for the biosafety and biosecurity profession: an opportunity to make our collective expertise count and influence the framework that will guide research safety for years to come. By engaging now, we can ensure that future policies are not only rigorous and protective but also realistic, implementable, and aligned with the needs of research institutions worldwide.

This initiative is an opportunity to empower institutional biosafety programs and build a modern, globally relevant framework for safe science.

ABSA International’s Response

a letter written by Anne-Sophie Brocard, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), President of ABSA International, to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Policy, detailing ABSA’s recommendations and the results from member polls.

Response by ABSA International President Sherry Bohn to the NIH’s Office of Science Policy’s announcement regarding the Biosafety Modernization Initiative

NIH has a comment page and a widget that allows you to promote the comment page on your organization’s website.

Templates

We have created three customizable templates to make participation quick and easy. These can be used to submit written comments to NIH, ask questions during the session, or serve as talking points when sharing your perspective with colleagues.

Tips for Using the Templates:

  • Pick the template that fits your situation — named, anonymous member, or expert perspective.
  • Personalize the numbered or bulleted lists below with your institution’s priorities, examples, and recommendations.
  • Encourage multiple submissions from your institution (IBC chairs, biosafety officers, PIs, research administrators) to give NIH a variety of perspectives.

Submit in advance or use during the live Q&A session.