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

The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), in partnership with the Malaysian Biosafety & Biosecurity Association (MBBA), is inviting applications for a Government of Canada Global Partnership Program (GPP) funded grant to certify the technical competency of individuals engaged in biorisk management practices in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. This grant will provide funding to cover costs associated with participation in a training workshop and examination session geared towards obtaining an IFBA Professional Certification in Biorisk Management.

The first session is tentatively scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur in April 2017 and will be offered in the English language. Successful candidates will then be eligible to apply for additional grant opportunities to obtain their certification in Biosecurity and other technical disciplines currently offered by the IFBA. Certified individuals achieve a high standard of excellence, earn international recognition among colleagues and bring increased value to their employers by demonstrating competence to carry out their responsibilities.

For more information about the Certification program, please visit www.internationalbiosafety.org.

Individuals who are interested in applying for the grant are requested to fill out the application form (obtain from the BRAP Secretariat: bioriskassociationphilippines@gmail.com) and forward it by email together with a copy of their curriculum vitae to the IFBA Secretariat at: secretariat@internationalbiosafety.org. The deadline to submit your completed application is Friday February 3, 2017.

Please note that this grant opportunity is only available to candidates who…..

1. are English speaking;
2. are currently based in the Association of South East Asian Nations ASEAN region;
3. possess general knowledge of, and have some experience in the field of biorisk management;
4. have responsibility for biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management programs; and
5. are familiar with the IFBA’s Professional Certification in Biorisk Management Examination Content, Sample Questions and References.

In behalf of the Officers and members of BRAP, we greet all our partners, collaborators, sponsors, benefactors and all ye readers out there a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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.