Events

Join the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association for a panel discussion about emergency planning for different types of laboratories with distinguished panelists:Garth Phoebus, M.S., Chief of Emergency Management, USAMRIIDJonathan Bratt, M.S., C.E.M., N.R.P., Assistant CP, Office of Enterprise Resilience, University of Maryland, BaltimoreDavid Ferris, Executive Director, Safety and Emergency Management, George Mason UniversityModerated by Elizabeth Bramhall, MPHTime: 5:30 – 6:00 PM (Networking) | 6:00 – 6:45 PM (Dinner) |6:45 PM – 8:00 PM (Technical Seminar)ChABSA Member PricingEarly Bird Fee (By December 18, 2023): $35Regular Fee (By December 18, 2023): $40Late Fee (Can only attend via virtual platform after November 10, [...]

Webinar summary: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a single-stranded RNA arenavirus commonly used in laboratory animal models to examine acute and chronic viral infections and immunopathology. However, there is wide variation in LCMV biosafety practices between institutions, based on differing interpretations of guidelines and risk data. This lack of consensus can pose a challenge to the biosafety professional who may be evaluating LCMV use at their facility. The first part of this presentation will compare the two most common laboratory strains of LCMV, demonstrate the variation in biosafety policy between institutions, and discuss one institution’s recent approach to navigating [...]

FRaBSA Fall Meeting January 26, 2024 (all times are MST) Agenda 11:30-12:00 pm Gathering/Welcome/Introductions- Megan Brose, FRaBSA President Business Meeting-Megan Brose, FRaBSA President Outreach Committee Report, Education Committee Report, Communication Committee Report, Finance Report, New Topics 12:00-12:30 pm Sponsor Presentation: Merrick 12:30-1:15 pm Proposed Updates to the NIH Guidelines and Other Stories Kathryn Harris, Senior Outreach and Education Specialist in the Office of Science Policy (OSP), Division of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Biotechnology Policy at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 1:15-2:00 pm After the Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment Education & Research Updates Dr. Beth Beam, Associate Professor in [...]

Please register for our 2024 BioNet Hybrid Lunch Meeting which will happen on February 23rd, 2024. Topics covered include: Viral Vector Overview and ABSA Credentials. Participants are eligible for up to 0.25CM points. Register Now

Elected President of ABSA International, Sherry Bohn, PhD, MSL, CBSP (ABSA), acting director of environmental health and safety (EHS) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore will present on the "ins and outs" of the Select Agent Program, when you need to and don't need to register, and much more. A microbiologist by training, Dr. Bohn holds degrees in molecular biology, communication, and law, giving her a unique perspective on the research compliance landscape. Member Pricing Early Bird Fee: $35 Regular Fee: $40 Late Fee: $40 Non-Member Pricing Early Bird Fee: $40 Regular Fee: $45 Late Fee: $45 More information [...]

The topic From Bench to Bedside: Navigating Biosafety in Gene and Cellular Therapy is presented by Dr. Alka Arora, Quality Program Manager at UHN. The advancement of cell and gene therapy towards standard clinical practice necessitates rigorous biosafety measures at every phase of development, spanning from initial basic laboratory research to clinical trial and commercial production. Adherence to meticulous biosafety protocols in conjunction with GxP requirements mitigates potential risks for the personnel involved in research and manufacturing and ensures the safety, purity, and efficacy of the product. The discussion will underscore the importance of implementing and adhering to comprehensive biosafety [...]

2024 BioNET Symposium Friday, April 26, 2024 9:00am am- 2:00 pm, PDT In Person: La Jolla Institute 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037  OR Web Meeting via Zoom Link will be sent to registrants 24 hours prior to the meeting. Lunch will be provided for in-person meeting attendees. Topics include the following: Biosafety Level 3 Emergency Response Procedures Accommodations for Work in Laboratory Environments Artificial Intelligence Role in Biosafety Training Expert Panel to Discuss Lab Accommodations.   Register Now

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). 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. 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 [...]

Join Southeastern Biological Safety Association (SEBSA) for our live symposium.  Besides wide range of talks we will have tours of Auburn University Poultry Research Farm.   More information

Join Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association for a virtual presentation by: Gene Olinger, Ph.D., M.B.A., Adjunct Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases, Associate Director for Maximum Containment Training, NEIDL

"Biosafety Beyond the Borders: Unifying Biosafety and Biosecurity" This collaborative, international symposium will consist of: Pre-symposium Courses (Four Course Options, 4-hours each) Full-day Symposium Vendor Booths More Info

Swiss Biosafety Network (SBNet) is pleased to announce its 18th Annual Applied Biosafety Meeting scheduled for August 22nd/23rd 2024 in Naters/Brig, Valais, Switzerland.

Cyberbiosecurity: A Unique Marriage of Biosecurity and Information Systems Presented By: Julianne L. Baron, Ph.D., CPH, RBP, President, Science and Safety Consulting, LLC Increasing reliance on the internet and technology in research and biomedical laboratories has opened these organizations up to increased focus for cyberattacks. These attacks may be perpetrated by external actors or individuals internal to the organization (purposefully or accidentally) and can take advantage of a lack of knowledge by research staff about phishing, access control best practices, and network security especially of research instrumentation, automated laboratory equipment, and building automation and control systems that may be connected [...]

Please join us for our Friday, September 13th, for our BioNet September Lunch Meeting to discuss the following topics: Road to Compliance - Lab Coat Vending Machines, Biosafety Challenges in Gnotobiotic Rodent Facilities, and Service Animals In Labs - BioNET Support Letter Discussion. This event will occur from 11am-1pm via Zoom. The registration link has been included for your convenience. The event is free to BioNet members and $10 for non-members.

The Canadian Association for Biological Safety/L’Association Canadienne pour la Sécurité Biologique (CABS-ACSB) is happy to present the 2024 Canadian Biosafety Symposium! Join us in person in Saskatoon, Saskatchwean from September 17-19, 2024 for Canada’s annual event for biosafety professionals and personnel involved in biosafety and/or biocontainment facilities. The 2024 Canadian Biosafety Symposium is Canada's premier source of new knowledge and opportunity for dialogue across the biosafety community. It is the forum for advancing professional development and for building capacity for new solutions to be applied to the emerging challenges in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. The Symposium consists of oral presentations and panels related to biosafety and biosecurity and provides networking opportunities for all biosafety professionals.

Please join us for our virtual BioNet February Lunch Meeting on February 28th from 11am-1pm. Topics to be covered include: Serving the Biosafety Profession, University of Southern California (USC) Animal Research Safety Program, and Roundtable Discussion - Impact of the Recent Southern California Wildfires on Institutions in the Los Angeles Area.

Addressing Biosecurity Barriers in High-Risk Biological Research – David Gillum, Associate Vice President of Compliance and Research Administration at the University of Nevada, Reno.

AZBA Spring Meeting Thursday, April 17, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 pm MST Join us on Zoom Cost – Free 1:00 - 1:10 Welcome and Board Updates - AZBA Board 1:10 - 1:40 Speaker: Ashley Wright Area Associate Agent, Livestock Cochise County Cooperative Extension 1:40 - 2:10 Speaker: Yan Zhang, DVM, PhD, DACVM Director, Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 2:10 - 2:40 Speaker: Joseph Manfrida, PhD Senior Laboratory Chief of Safety, Security, Facilities and Responsible Official Arizona State Public Health Laboratory 2:40 - 3:00 Questions and Closing

On Thursday, May 1, 2025 MABioN is hosting another edition of our Too Shy to Ask the Listserv panel discussion. The webinar will be from 1-2pm (Central Time)/ 2-3pm (Eastern) Have you ever had a biosafety question but you were too shy to post it on the ABSA listserv?  Well this webinar is for you.  Participants can submit questions and our panel of Biosafety Experts will be on hand to answer them.  All question submissions will be completely anonymous so feel free to ask any biosafety questions your heart desires.  Our panel will consist of biosafety professionals from across the country who [...]

The SEBSA Symposium is a chance for biosafety professionals to learn and network with others in the Southeast.  The program will feature scientific presentations, a training exercise, and a networking dinner.  All times are Eastern.

Please join BioNet for our annual half day symposium which will be held in a hybrid format on May 16, 2025 from 9:00am - 2:00pm Pacific Time at the La Jolla Institute, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 or Web Meeting by Zoom. Topics to be discussed include the following: Updated enforcement of the Medical Waste Management Act Creative Solutions, Methylene Chloride Rule, Naked Mole Rat Animal Facility, Medical Waste Treatment Program / Permit, FPLC Process Flow and max pressure limitations - a lab incident review and training, and BSL3 Plant Facility.   Lunch will be provided for in-person [...]

Governor Wes Moore has officially proclaimed June 4, 2025 as Biosafety Day in the State of Maryland — a momentous acknowledgment of the critical work that biosafety professionals do every day to protect public health, promote scientific advancement, and support laboratory safety. This proclamation is especially meaningful as it coincides with our 2025 ChABSA Annual Symposium, taking place at the Universities at Shady Grove. We believe this recognition reflects the growing impact of our field and the importance of our collective efforts. You can still sign up to attend the Symposium. We will proudly read the Proclamation during the Symposium, and [...]

Annual Meeting with two days of presymposium courses and two days of conferences. Join us to discuss, share, and propose solutions to strengthen biosafety and biological risk management programsin Mexicoa and the region. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? PROFESSIONALS IN HUMAN HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, ACADEMIA, AND INDUSTRY WITH AN INTEREST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL RISKS.

ISO/TS5441:2024 Competence Requirements for Biorisk Management Advisors: what it is, how to use it ONLINE, September 24th 2025, 10:00-12:00 CET Instructor: Ursula Jenal In spring 2024, the International Organization for Standardization, ISO, published the technical specification ISO/TS5441:2024 Competence Requirements for Biorisk Management Advisors (BMA). ISO/TS5441 compiles all information on required knowledge, skills and experience a biorisk management advisor should have to provide competent advice to an organization under a given context, that is, based on the types of activities with biological material and their risk. ISO/TS5441 helps you to demonstrate and update your competence and it supports organization on [...]

The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), in collaboration with the Biosafety Association of Central Asia and the Caucasus (BACAC) and the German Biosecurity Programme through GIZ, is co-organizing an international conference entitled “Future Challenges of Biosafety and Biosecurity”, which will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

We are delighted to invite you to join us at the 13th ABSANZ Conference on ‘Future-Proofing Biosafety: Adapting to a World of Disruption and Change’. Join us as we bring together leading experts, regulators and industry stakeholders to discuss evolving challenges and innovative solutions in the fields of biosafety and biosecurity.

MABSA is pleased to announce our quarterly hybrid meeting. November 13, 2025 Time: 5 pm - 7:30 pm Location: University of Pennsylvania, Facilities & Real Estate Services (FRES) - Conference Room #01 3401 Walnut Street (3160 Chestnut Street GPS address), Philadelphia, PA 19104 Meeting agenda, parking and direction to meeting room via this link. Zoom link will be provided for virtual registrants. Meeting Registration Member: in person - $25 / virtual - free Non-member: in person - $45 / virtual - $20 Note: Nonmember registration includes one year of membership for 2026. Please register and add in the date of meeting via this link. Members (virtual [...]

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, [...]

BioNet will be hosting a Lunch Meeting this Friday, March 6th, 2026 from 11am to 1pm. The agenda for the meeting is focused on the topics in the following order: The Canadian Biosafety and Biosecurity Landscape Since Federal Legislation and Regulations, UK and EU Biosafety Regulatory Overview, ABSA 2026 initiatives, and NIH modernization survey results and BioNET statement (if time permits). Registration

Events will held LIVE, not recorded. In-Person or Virtual (Zoom) Monday, April 20, 2026: Pre-Symposium Workshop AM Workshop (8:00 AM- 12:00 PM): Applying ANSI/ASSP Z16.1-2022 Safety and Health Metrics to Biosafety Program Operations and Management Turning Performance Measures into Actionable Biosafety Insights Speakers: Dr. Robert Emery and Dr. Scott Patlovich, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) Includes Breakfast   PM Workshop (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Emerging Pathogens and Biosafety Preparedness Speakers: Dr. Courtney Woolsey, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Texas A&M University; Dr. Gregory Gray, The University of [...]

BioNet will be hosting our BioNet Symposium in hybrid fashion on Friday, May 1st from 9am to 2pm. Current speaker topics include MACSQuant Tyto, a non-aerosol cell sorting process, Plumes Modeling and the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis, and Lessons Learned: Non- Human Primate Exposures. More speaker topics to be added in the coming weeks. For those attending in-person, we ask that you please complete registration at your earliest convenience so that we have an accurate headcount of attendees for food. Cost for members is $40 for members attending in-person and $55 for non-members. Non-members attending virtually pay $40 and members pay $25. For those interested, the event will follow with a happy hour, social event at a nearby BJ's. We hope to see you there!

Come and join SBNet's 20th Annual Applied Bioafety Meeting. Program can be downloaded on our website. More information

The Canadian Association for Biological Safety/L’Association Canadienne pour la Sécurité Biologique (CABS-ACSB) is happy to present the Canadian Biosafety Symposium! Join us in Winnipeg, MB from September 21-23, 2026 for Canada’s annual event for biosafety professionals and personnel involved in biosafety and/or biocontainment facilities. The Canadian Biosafety Symposium will feature presentations on an array of biosafety topics, including emergency management for labs, building a biosafety culture, biosafety and public health, emerging and re-emerging diseases, laboratory acquired infections, ergonomics and safety, biowaste management and disinfection, regulations, airflow, ventilation, design and biosafety, animal issues, audits and inspections, occupational health and surveillance. It will be a unique opportunity for the biosafety community to learn and share knowledge with colleagues from across Canada and other countries.

ISO 35001:2019 Implementation & Lead Auditor Course Five days of hands-on instruction to implement, operate, and audit a biorisk management system based on the international standard ISO 35001, in Mexico City. ABSA members get the AMEXBIO international price. (please have ABSA office send a note to AMEXBIO to confirm membership.) Class size capped at 23.