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

Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno is a new 2016 IFBA Biosafety Hero awardee.

It is with greatest pride that we announce and congratulate our Founding President Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno II (MD, CBP), PAMET’s point-person for Biosafety and St. Luke’s Medical Center’s Biosafety Officer, for winning the International Federation of Biosafety Association’s 2016 Biosafety Hero based in Otawwa, Ontario, Canada.

“The IFBA has created a Biosafety Heroes program to identify and celebrate extraordinary individuals who make significant contributions to help others in the field of biosafety and biosecurity. IFBA Biosafety Heroes are exceptional and inspiring individuals honored by the global biosafety community as having made a difference for the better. Biosafety Heroes serve as role models, showing others that each individual is important and can contribute to the global fight against infectious diseases. Awards are given at IFBA or member association meetings.” Accessed at http://www.internationalbiosafety.org/index.php/programs-activities/programs-activities/biosafety-heroes.

Dr. Moreno has been advocating Biosafety, Biosecurity and Biorisk Management since 2008 as the Founding Secretary of the Philippine Biosafety & Biosecurity Association. In 2011, he graduated as one of the first 19 Certified Biosafety Professionals in the country as granted by the U.S. Department of State-BEP and UP-NIH. Later that same year, he established and implemented the Laboratory Biosafety Program for the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) Research and Biotechnology Division (R&B). In mid-2014, he transferred from R&B to St. Luke’s Quality and Patient Safety as the Department Manager handling Risk Management (Biorisks), where he started implementing the same laboratory biosafety program at the Institute of Pathology in both SLMC Quezon City and Global City. In late 2014, the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists Inc. tagged him to announce in their 50th Annual National Convention a challenge to get PAMET involved in biosafety. PAMET took his challenge and, in February 2015, he was tagged as the PAMET biosafety point-person, giving him access to PAMET members, with advocacy now covering more than 94% of all laboratory workers nationwide. It was in early 2016 when he was appointed Chair of the SLMC Institutional Biosafety Committee and Biosafety Officer by the SLMC President and CEO. Dr. Moreno at this same time founded the Biological Risk Association Philippines (BRAP) where in less than 7 months, under his leadership, BRAP has assisted in paving the way to draft the Philippines’s Biological Materials of Concern List, created Technical Working Groups to Strengthen Networking in Biosafety and Biosecurity and Personnel Reliability Program nationwide, advocated Biosafety and Biosecurity in 7 PAMET Regional Conferences, 9 Chapter Conferences and conducted a Biorisk Management Workshop with the biggest pre-conference attendance in PAMET’s history.

The announcement and congratulatory letter (click to enlarge) by Biosafety Hero Committee Chair Dr. L. Michael Weaver was sent to Dr. Moreno on December 8,^, 2016.

Every year, a number of accidents happen in laboratories. Laboratory workers play a huge part in this, yet they face issues of being at risk, or immensely  exposed to risks. But what makes the risks real is the acknowledgment and imminence of a consequence. These issues, whether it is biosafety or biosecurity related, have to be addressed, because these issues may affect the laboratory worker itself, other people, and the environment. It is an exhaustion-borne thought, one that needs proper and immediate action.

Biological Risk Association Philippines (BRAP) has been on the move and taking actions on raising awareness of the laboratory workers in this field. Risks bear repeating, so BRAP addresses these issues by conducting seminars and workshops throughout the Philippines.

Last November 7, as a pre-convention workshop to the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc.’s (PAMET) 52nd Annual Convention held at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, BRAP’s founding and incumbent president, Dr. Miguel Martin N.

Dr. Moreno on Biorisk Management Workshop

Moreno II, conducted a full-scale 1-day workshop on biorisk management  entitled Empowering Medical Technologists Towards Global Advancement, which follows the convention’s theme.

There was a total of 92 enthusiastic participants coming from different major parts of the Philippines (National Capital Region, North and South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) who attended the workshop. The workshop was well represented because the participants came from primary, secondary, and tertiary laboratories.

Different topics that are pertinent in  biorisk management were explored. These include: Laboratory Safety Program, where a basic review in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity underlie; also, two tools were introduced to the participants to help them in their assessment of risks in their laboratory: the Activities-based 5×5 Risk Management Matrix and the BioRAM by Sandia National Laboratories.

BRAP has been living out its vision and mission by delivering significant seminars and workshops throughout the Philippines. Since its inception last September 2015, BRAP has had 4 major workshop and seminars carried out, and numerous speaking engagements regarding biosafety, biosecurity, and biorisk management, and there are still more brewing come 2017. If you are interested to become a member of BRAP, please check the BRAP’s website. Directions for bank payment are likewise explained.

Thank you to PAMET National President Mr. Ronnie Puno, CPD Chair Dr. Leila Florento, PAMET National Officers, Regional Directors, and Chapter Presidents for your collaboration.