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Enhancing Biosafety and Biosecurity through Technology For October 2026 Biosafety and Biosecurity Month, we encourage our members to use this opportunity to spotlight training ideas, stewardship, and engagement, how to foster positive relationships within the research community, and how to support responsible and ethical research through our profession.
CABS-ACSB and Merrick 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 [...]
Annual event that brings together CBRN experts from a wide variety of disciplines to discuss changes in the threat and the best response to deal with them. A pre-conference day of workshops, then two streams over two days allows delegates to choose the learning path that is right for them. Now in its 19th year, it brings together between 400-500 individuals from Nato countries and beyond.
Recognizing the need to improve and standardize health and safety program metrics and performance measures, the American National Standards Institute collaborated with the American Society of Safety Professionals to create “ANSI/ASSP Z16.2 – 2022 Safety and Health Metrics and Performance Measures”. The standard describes the types of measures and metrics that safety programs should consider for programmatic decision-making and for communications to management and other stakeholders. The team assembled to create this standard possessed an impressive breadth of knowledge and experience across a variety of health and safety settings, however lacked specific involvement from the biosafety perspective. Given the preeminence of ANSI and ASSP recommendations, this course will first summarize the content of the ANSI/ASSP report and then provide tangible examples of how actual biosafety program data can be collected, displayed, communicated, and used as the basis for programmatic decision-making while meeting the criteria described in the report. The course will include small-group discussions focused on which data are currently being collected, and which are needed by leadership. Attendees are asked to come prepared to describe their respective measures and metrics, as well as the parameters other stakeholders are seeking, with ample time allotted for questions and discussion.
Please join the Arizona Biosafety Alliance (AZBA) on Thursday, November 5th, at 10am MST for our Fall Meeting. We will be joined by Joey Ramp-Adams from Empower Ability Consulting and Sampson's Legacy Foundation. Registration for the event can be completed here (calendar invite downloadable after completing registration): https://forms.gle/GumWbNYS3sf9rNdNA Speaker Bio: Joey Ramp-Adams is a biocognitive neuroscientist, disability advocate, author of INSISTENT, and Founder of Empower Ability Consulting and Sampson’s Legacy Foundation. A nationally recognized advocate for service dog access in laboratories, she works with academic institutions, research laboratories, and professional organizations to advance accessibility and inclusion in STEM. Her [...]
November 9-13: This course is tailored for individuals responsible for establishing and overseeing infectious substance shipping programs within their facilities. This webinar series aims to assist institutions in developing robust shipping programs tailored to their needs. Course elements include: training; written policies; written descriptions of program plans; transport and shipping specific SOPs; safety and security plans; emergency response plans; logistics and supplies; carrier selection and support; MOUs and authorizations; access control and personnel assurance. The instructor will provide a detailed and comprehensive shipping program assessment and implementation guidance document. Attendees will receive an introduction to this document and step-by-step guidance on its completion. By completing the assessment document, attendees will conduct a thorough review to identify areas for improving existing shipping programs. This interactive, instructor led, web-based training will invite attendees to share examples of how these elements are addressed at their own institution.
MID-ATLANTIC BIOSAFETY ASSOCIATION Virtual Quarterly Biosafety Meeting Thursday, November 12, 2026 Register for the Symposium at www.mabsa.org Members free; Non-Members $20 virtual Non-member registration offers one year membership in 2026. Students $10.00 virtual The registration deadline is November 10, 2026. Time Presentation Title Speaker Moderator: Sarah Capasso, MABSA President Elect 1:00 pm –1:45 pm Fungal Wars: The rise of Candidozyma auris Milena Kordalewska, Ph.D. Research Assistant Member, Infectious Diseases, HMH-CDI Mycology Core Director, HMH-CDI Coordinator, Summer Research Scholar Program, HMH-CDI Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medical Sciences, HMSOM Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm [...]
The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and the Canadian Association for Biological Safety/L'Association Canadienne Pour la Sécurité Biologique (CABS-ACSB) and Merrick Canada ULC are pleased to co-present the International High Containment Operations and Maintenance Workshop. This workshop addresses the increasing needs of facility operators, maintenance and operations staff for training in relevant aspects of biocontainment facilities and fills a critical need within the operations and maintenance community. The focus of this workshop is operational-based, not research based. This four day course allows participants to gain hands-on experience in some of the special containment and facility support areas (CL3 and CL3-Ag) of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), Canada's newest and largest CL3-Ag facility.
November 19: High-containment laboratories play a critical role in public health preparedness, infectious disease research, and diagnostic response. However, constructing a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is only the first step; ensuring it is safe, sustainable, and compliant in operation presents significant technical, operational, and organizational challenges. Many institutions struggle with maintaining complex containment systems, implementing robust biosafety programs, and sustaining competent personnel and operational procedures over time. This course provides a practical framework for the operation, management, and sustainability of BSL-3 laboratories. Attendees will explore the operational components required to maintain high-containment facilities, including governance structures, risk management systems, operational procedures, infrastructure and engineering controls, preventive maintenance programs, and emergency preparedness strategies. Emphasis will be placed on integrating engineering controls, administrative controls, and biosafety practices into a coherent biorisk management approach aligned with international guidance and best practices. The course also examines common institutional challenges encountered in high-containment laboratories, including infrastructure failures, gaps in operational planning, insufficient maintenance strategies, and misalignment between laboratory design and operational capabilities. Attendees will learn how to evaluate these risks and implement practical solutions to improve laboratory performance and safety. Through case studies, operational examples, and scenario-based discussions, attendees will analyze real-world challenges related to the management of BSL-3 laboratories and explore strategies to strengthen institutional governance, improve operational resilience, and ensure sustainable laboratory performance.
The event will be held on November 20th, 2026 from 8am-5pm Mountain Time. The topics solicited and chosen were based on feedback of what you (our members and community) wanted to hear about! This event can be utilized for 1.0 CM point through ABSA International. Fees range from $0 to $45 depending on your current and desired FRaBSA membership status: Virtual Symposium Full Access (non-member) – $45 Virtual Symposium Full Access with New FRaBSA Membership included – $45 Virtual Symposium Full Access (ABSA Affiliate) with 1 year FRaBSA membership included – $35 Virtual Symposium Full Access (ABSA Affiliate) – $25 [...]
High‑consequence biosecurity laboratory environments present unique challenges where human behavior, safety culture, and operational risk intersect. This webinar introduces Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) concepts tailored specifically to BSL‑3 and BSL‑4 laboratory settings, with a focus on early identification of concerning behaviors and proportionate, preventive intervention. Participants will explore how targeted violence and insider risk rarely occur without warning. Drawing from contemporary threat assessment research and real‑world laboratory scenarios, the session emphasizes listening to behavioral narratives, recognizing warning behaviors (such as fixation, leakage, and pathway behaviors), and understanding how stressors, grievances, and changing life circumstances can influence risk in high‑trust scientific environments. The webinar bridges macro‑level BTAM frameworks with micro‑level personnel suitability and reliability considerations, highlighting how multidisciplinary teams can responsibly assess, manage, and support individuals before concerns escalate into safety incidents. Importantly, this approach is not punitive, but prevention‑oriented; designed to protect people, research missions, and public trust. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how BTAM principles integrate with biosafety, occupational health, and laboratory leadership practices, and how proactive behavioral intervention serves as a critical layer of defense in biosecurity risk management.
This introductory course is a four-day training designed to certify personnel for safe entry into an operational BSL-3 laboratory. This course consists of a mixture of classroom and practical training that includes an introduction to microbiology, biosafety, risk assessment concept, BSL-3 lab characteristics, emergency management and personal protective equipment (PPE) use including procedures for donning and doffing PPE with N95 or various PAPR respirators. This course is suitable for O&M personnel and other non-research staff who may need to enter BSL-3 facilities to perform maintenance or make repairs. The ANSI/ASSE Z9.14 Standard focuses on performance verification of engineering controls specifically [...]
Principles & Practices of Biosafety® will introduce the essential elements of biosafety and provide extensive resource lists for use after the course. Interactive exercises will be used throughout to provide hands-on experience and to encourage networking and problem-solving among participants and instructors.
April 19-22, 2027, Baltimore, Maryland - Valuable professional development courses, 2½ days of scientific presentations, Exhibits showcasing the latest agricultural biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment products and services, Network with professionals from the biosafety, biosecurity, and scientific research industries, organizations, and agencies. Approximately 200 attendees representing a broad spectrum of biosafety and biosecurity, pharmaceutical, biotechnology research, development, and clinical organizations are expected to attend. The symposium draws national and international attendees from academic, commercial, research, and governmental sectors.
Principles & Practices of Biosafety® will introduce the essential elements of biosafety and provide extensive resource lists for use after the course. Interactive exercises will be used throughout to provide hands-on experience and to encourage networking and problem-solving among participants and instructors.
The Biosafety and Biosecurity Training Course® (BBTC) is designed for persons who are interested in the varying aspects of the responsibility of biosafety professionals. It is also suitable for persons who supervise biosafety professionals and for those who will benefit from additional knowledge of biosafety as a complement to their primary responsibilities. The weeklong training will address preparations for audits and inspections, BSL-2/BSL-3 building design and operations, clinical and public health lab biosafety, prion disease research, and field investigations. Participants will receive intensive and engaging training on aspects of biosafety and biosecurity, including interactive exercises and greenhouse tour. All lunches and an off-site dinner on Tuesday will be provided. The BBTC emphasizes the ethics and principles of biosafety and is a perfect follow-up to ABSA’s Principles & Practices of Biosafety® course. Please note: ABSA International BBTC is solely an ABSA International course and is not affiliated with other organizations or institutions.
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