Strategic Biocontainment Laboratory Planning and Operations Workshop
The ABCs of High Containment Operations
November 17-21, 2025
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
https://cabs-acsb.ca/highcontainPlan.aspx
CABS-ACSB and Merrick & Company are pleased to co-present the Strategic Biocontainment Laboratory Planning and Operations Workshop. This comprehensive, hands-on workshop is designed for professionals involved in the planning, renovation, operation, and management of high-containment laboratories and research facilities. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the critical elements required to establish and sustain a secure, efficient, and compliant biocontainment facility.
Through interactive discussions, case studies, real-world scenarios, and practical exercises, this course will cover:
- Biocontainment Fundamentals– A historical perspective, key design considerations, and core biosafety and biosecurity principles.
- Facility Planning & Design– Space allocation, workflow optimization, sustainability, and environmental impact mitigation.
- Regulatory Compliance & Documentation– International and federal biosafety/biosecurity standards, as well as best practices for writing SOPs, facility manuals, emergency response plans, and compliance records.
- Operations & Infrastructure– Effective maintenance strategies, safety procedures, access controls, and performance verification processes.
- Institutional & Community Engagement– Strategies for gaining buy-in from leadership, fostering collaboration with facility staff, and managing public relations.
- Workforce & Training Strategies– Approaches for staffing, workforce skills assessments, and developing training programs to ensure personnel competency.
- Financial & Business Planning– Budgeting for operational and facility costs, revenue projections, rate structuring, and long-term capital planning.
This course is ideal for biosafety officers, laboratory managers, facility directors, architects, engineers, researchers, and institutional leaders responsible for high-containment operations.
The uniqueness of this workshop is in its intensive, participatory-based approach. Attendees will work with a variety of instructors and subject matter experts each day.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have the knowledge and practical tools necessary to successfully plan, operate, and manage high-containment laboratories that meet the highest standards of safety, security, and efficiency.
All aspects of the workshop will be conducted in English. There are only 20 spaces available for this course.
The cost to attend is $3,500 CAD. This cost covers tuition, lunches, coffee and breaks while the course is in session. It does not include accommodations or travel.
Applications will close August 15, 2025 and all applicants will be advised of their status no later than August 22, 2025.
