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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.
October 10-14, 2026 Mobile Convention Center Mobile, Alabama Intensive professional development courses to educate and inspire Three full days of state-of-the-art keynotes, papers, and panels highlighting best practices and hands-on skills crucial for today’s biosafety and biosecurity professionals In-person exhibits showcasing the latest in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity products and services Invaluable networking opportunities to share and learn from other biosafety and biosecurity professionals The ABSA International Conference is the largest biosafety and biosecurity conference in the world! The conference will provide solutions to tackle your most challenging issues, present fascinating case studies, and showcase the latest developments [...]
October 22 & 29: Keeping a select agent program going can be difficult, especially in the face of ever-changing regulatory requirements and limited resources. Established procedures may suddenly become unacceptable, interrupting research and frustrating laboratorians. Likewise, a single unexpected adverse event can put an entire program at risk. Being prepared to deal with such changes and events is critical to maintaining a robust program. Anticipating future challenges can be even more advantageous, elevating a program from good to great. A proactive approach can minimize the impact of new requirements and reduce duration and frequency of crises sparked by sudden, unexpected requirements or events. This course will explore strategies for maintaining and improving an existing program, including how to anticipate and respond to new requirements. The focus will be on U.S. select agent requirements, although a small section on comparable requirements in the international community will be included. Strategies will be based on the instructors’ experience with their program with additional input solicited from class attendees during open discussions. Topics will include select agent program history; effective oversight; efficiently meeting ongoing requirements; reporting, responding to, and analyzing incidents; suitability program case studies; inactivation requirements, including “failure” investigation; and inspection preparation and response. The course will consist of topical presentations followed by group discussions aimed at facilitating application of presented strategies to attendees’ individual programs and providing a platform to capitalize on attendees’ collective experience.
BSL-3 laboratory training is a four-day intensive training for laboratory staff, managers, biosafety professionals, and individuals with direct or indirect involvement with work in high-containment. These courses are designed to prepare individuals for the basics of safely working in and around BSL-3 laboratories and includes a mixture of practical and classroom courses covering: Review of biosafety principles and levels Risk assessment and management Waste management Laboratory management Safety procedures Emergency management Biosafety cabinet practices and procedures Small and large spill decontamination Donning and doffing PPE Laboratory operations and preventative maintenance Data and material management Inventory and records management Biosecurity
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.
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.
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 [...]
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.
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.
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ABSA International
1200 Allanson Road, Mundelein, IL 60060-3808
1-866-425-1385 (toll free) or 847-949-1517
info@absa.org | Contact ABSA
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