BioRisk Association of the Philippines 2015, Inc. (BRAP2015)

Foreword: All laboratories should maintain a biologically safe and secure working environment. A laboratory, while upholding that commitment, should comply with all local and international regulations and guidelines governing the correct handling of biological materials. In order to achieve that goal, there should be a laboratory biorisk manual that is tailor-made for your institution that will serve as a guiding document for laboratory staff and management.

This program, featuring experts from the BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015), Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA), and Health Security Partners (HSP) will train participants on how to develop a laboratory biorisk manual that is specifically designed for their institution, in line with national policy and international standards and guidelines, followed by review and validation by external subject matter experts.

The laboratory biorisk manual output of this workshop should provide information and guidance to protect workers and the surrounding environment from imminent exposure to biological hazardous agents handled inside the laboratory. It should also ensure the security of valuable biological materials and provide oversight of dual use research of concern (DURC). The laboratory biorisk manual should describe the basic constituents of biosafety, biosecurity, including DURC, and biorisk management system. Additionally, the manual should lead the laboratorian on what to do in response to laboratory emergency situations.

The module initially created by Dr. Miguel Martin Moreno (Founding President of BRAP) has been going around doing writeshops with the Philippine Association of Medical Technolosists (PAMET) chapters all over the country since 2017. Dr. Moreno, together with BRAP Auditor Prof. Oliver Shane Dumaoal and PAMET Regional Director for Southern Tagalog were invited by HSP to come over to Sri Lanka and deliver the BRAP module. With them in the panel of experts are Prof. Shamsul Arfin Qasmi Founding Member of and XCO member of PBSA and Prof. Saeed Khanb, incumbent Vice President of PBSA.

Both associations, BRAP and PBSA thank Dr. Prasad Kudavali of Health Security Partners for making this new collaboration possible.

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Letter is from Ms. Maureen Ellis, Executive Director of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations in Ottawa, Canada.

Dear Colleagues,

We wanted to draw your attention to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Analytical Approach for the Development of a National Biosafety and Biosecurity System. 

The Approach is a methodology that can be used by regional, national or local authorities in the development or modernization, and implementation of national policies and oversight frameworks for biosafety and biosecurity. Recognizing that each country and region has unique needs, processes and capabilities, the Analytical Approach has a modular and flexible format that enables countries and regions to work through the methodology independently and at their own pace. The tool is available for use as both a downloadable manual and an online e-learning course in English and French by creating a free account on the Agency’s training portal.

In addition, the PHAC’s training portal includes many other free courses including the newly published   Insider and Outsider Threat course. With innovation and technological advancements, information and knowledge related to biological research is increasingly being stolen and misused by those who wish to cause harm or advance their economic competitiveness.  This course describes the motives, tactics, and indicators of insider and outsider threats. It proposes mitigation strategies which aim to reduce the occurrence of biosecurity events associated with insider and outsider threats.

With kind regards,

Maureen Ellis
Executive Director
International Federation of Biosafety Associations

Analytical Approach Factsheet pp1-2
Click to download