Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM CDT

5V. Laboratory Transition: Planning for the Inevitability of Change

Lauren Richardson, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Merrick & Company, Greenwood Village, CO

Ryan Gregory, P.Eng, CxA, Merrick & Company, Greenwood Village, CO

Aurel Tamburri, MHM, D.OHS, CRSP, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Life sciences facilities are expensive and require long timelines for facility change. The last few years have emphasized the importance of adaptable, flexible solutions to accommodate changing needs for laboratory operations. Everyone has experienced the trials of transition during the global COVID-19 pandemic. A changing environment necessitates rapid shifts in programs; as we move into a post-COVID world, we can expect additional challenges, both predictable and unforeseen. Given the speed of change and the expectation to react quickly and decisively, designing and implementing laboratory programs addressing the current and future requirements is key. This course will discuss the methods for assessing needs and planning for change, including components for consideration in both facility design and science operations. Discussions will be focused on the development of new facilities and programs with the inevitability of change in mind; applying lessons learned from experience in the field; identifying risks, opportunities, and strategies for a resilient program that is able to respond to current and future challenges. The course will walk through a series of scenarios to discuss program redirection with and without facility renovation and participants will have the opportunity to identify actions that will prepare their own organizations for potential change.

Objectives:

• Discuss recent emphasis on flexibility in program design, including defining “flexibility” for different organizations
• Review methods for assessing needs and planning for change as it occurs
• Identify risks, opportunities, and strategies for a resilient program that is able to respond to current and future challenges

Suggested Background:   None

Target Audience:                  All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Managers, Program Managers, Institutional

                                                         Leadership

Audience Level:                     Intermediate

Course Length:                      4 hours (one 4-hour live session with a 60-minute break)