Professional Development Courses
All times listed are in CENTRAL TIME ZONE .
Advanced Level Courses
For those with experience or looking for a challenging course.
October 13-15, 2023
CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Saturday, October 14, 2023, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Room 208
7. Animal Research for Biosafety Professionals – Advanced
This course builds on general principles presented in the introductory class (Animal Research for Biosafety Professionals—An Introduction) and focuses on complex animal and research-based scenarios that present unique and challenging safety concerns. Topics include viral vectors; patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and humanized animals; nanoparticles; cytotoxic drugs; arthropod containment within a vivarium; aquatic animal models; wildlife species; biosecurity challenges; facility design; animal imaging; high-containment; animal program disaster planning; and management of chemical and biological wastes (e.g., bedding and carcasses). Proven strategies for optimizing safety program outcomes through constructive partnerships between various disciplines, including safety professionals and key animal program representatives will be presented. The course will be highly interactive and focus on problem-based learning through scenarios and interactive exercises that illustrate “real world” examples in research facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and teaching programs that use animals. Participants will practice developing strategies to identify potential hazards, assess the magnitude and extent of induced risks, learn about case-specific variables that can influence management options, and implement effective and cost-efficient control measures that protect the safety of workers, animals, and the environment.
Objectives:
- Review hazard identification and risk assessment strategies as they pertain to a variety of animal models, including aquatics and wildlife, and complex animal facility environments
- Apply effective control strategies for unique animal hazards through proactive experimental design and facility management procedures
- Identify ways safety professionals can partner with animal program personnel to address new and emerging safety issues associated with animal-based research
Suggested Background: Basic knowledge of, and experience with, identifying and managing common hazards found in animal research (Animal Research for Biosafety Professionals – An Introduction)
Target Audience: Experienced Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, Experienced IACUC and Safety Committee Members
PDC Level: Advanced
COURSE FACULTY
Susan Harper, DVM, DACLAM, DACVPM, RBP(ABSA)
Deputy Director
Office of Animal Care and Use
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD
Dr. Susan Harper received her DVM from Louisiana State University and worked in large animal practice for several years before enrolling in a post-doctoral residency in comparative medicine at the Penn State University College of Medicine. She served on the Penn State faculty for 2 years following graduation, before accepting a position with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has worked at several different Departments and Agencies during her federal career and currently serves as the Deputy Director for the NIH Office of Animal Care and Use in Bethesda, MD. She is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine (ACVPM); a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) through ABSA International; and serves on the AAALAC International Council on Accreditation.
Lesley Colby, DVM, DACLAM
Professor
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
Dr. Lesley A. Colby is a Professor at the University of Washington (UW) in the Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM). In addition to her clinical, instructional, and research activities, her responsibilities include oversight of the daily operations of DCM-managed animal research facilities as well as coordination of the renovation, design, and construction of animal research facilities. Dr. Colby also serves as Director of the UW BSL3/ABSL3 Select Agent Facility and is a member of the UW Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Dr. Colby earned her BS in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and both her DVM and MS from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM). After working as a small animal practitioner in Montana, she returned to VMRCVM to complete a postdoctoral training program in Laboratory Animal Medicine. She then joined the faculty at the University of Michigan’s Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine for 10 years during which time she served as Assistant Director as well as Director of their clinical laboratory animal medicine post-doctoral training program and Director of the University’s BSL3/ABSL3 Select Agent Facility. Dr. Colby is board certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and is a member of the AAALAC International Council on Accreditation. She frequently collaborates with health and safety professionals in numerous aspects of her position and has special interest in facility design, biological containment, teaching, and occupational health and safety.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 1.0 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 7.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Room 207
14. Advanced BSL-3 Facility Operations
This advanced course is a follow up to the BSL-3 Facility Operations and Management and will focus on detailed aspects of biocontainment operations of BSL-3, ABSL-3 and enhanced BSL-3 laboratories. It will cover developing risk assessments for biocontainment equipment; facility operations and maintenance SOP’s; maintenance personnel training requirements; solid and liquid waste decontamination equipment, procedures, validations and cycle developments; area decontamination methodologies, procedures and validations; filtration systems and their validation and testing process; ventilation control methodologies and ventilation equipment configuration; facility testing during normal and failure conditions of the ventilation system; test documentation and record keeping.
Objectives:
- Explain the facility verification process in detail, including recommended test methodologies
- Identify the methodologies for decontamination of areas, equipment, filters and waste
- Describe the elements of biocontainment equipment risk assessments
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Experienced Biosafety Professionals
PDC Level: Advanced
COURSE FACULTY
John Henneman, MS, RBP(ABSA)
Senior MEP Manager
Gilbane Building Company
Cleveland, OH
John Henneman has worked in scientific research and then managed the day-to-day facility operations of high containment research laboratories since 1983. He currently serves as Senior MEP Manager, Gilbane Building Company, providing his expertise in building new laboratories. In the past, John has served as Director, Biocontainment Operations, Biocontainment Facility Engineer, Biosecurity Research Institute, Kansas State University for over five and a half years, manager of The Pennsylvania State University’s (PSU) Pell Laboratory for Advanced Biological Research for almost six years, and for fifteen and a half years at Battelle Biomedical Research Center, he started up a ABSL-3, added two additions, coordinated and oversaw facility maintenance and worked with research staff members and numerous contractors to schedule and carry out maintenance activities safely and efficiently. His expertise includes the design, construction, commissioning, engineering, biorisk management and operation of biocontainment facilities, along with the unique ability to understand researcher needs and equip the facility to accommodate them. John has served as Chairman of an Environment, Safety, Health, and Surety Committee, served on PSU’s Institutional Biosafety Committee and Process Safety Management Focus Group, and is an ABSA International (American Biological Safety Association) Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP). He has also been an instructor or lecturer on research building operations for ABSA and the Eagleson Institute. He served as one of ABSA’s representatives to the NIH Design Requirements Manual revision committee, as a leader of the ABSA task team supporting ABSA’s involvement in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committee to revise the national standard for the verification of BSL-3 facility performance (ANSI Z9.14-2020). John also participated with the non-government review team to provide a revised version of Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) Appendix D – Agriculture Pathogen Biosafety, for the 6th edition of the BMBL. He currently serves on the ABSA Credentialing Evaluation Board (CEB).
Miguel Grimaldo, DSc., MEng
Assistant Professor | Director
Department of Pathology | Institutional Biocontainment Resources
University of Texas Medical Branch—Galveston, Galveston, TX
Miguel Grimaldo is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Pathology and the Director of Institutional Biocontainment Resources at the University of Texas Medical Branch—Galveston (UTMB), Galveston, Texas. He is also the Director of the Biocontainment Engineering Division for the Galveston National Laboratory. His responsibilities include reviewing all design, construction, commissioning, and operation of UTMB’s containment laboratories. He also ensures regulatory compliance and conducts ongoing evaluation and recertification on all critical containment features, equipment, and operations for Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3), Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL3), and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) laboratory facilities at UTMB. He also is a member of the UTMB Institutional Biosafety Committee. Dr. Grimaldo obtained two Bachelor of Science degrees in the fields of Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University (USA), his Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from the University of Louisville (USA), and his Doctorate in Applied Biochemistry from the Federal University of Vicosa, Minas Gerais (Brazil). Before coming to UTMB in 2005, he worked for 13 years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the US Embassy in Panama. He was involved with USDA’s Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Program and the Screwworm Eradication Program. Dr. Grimaldo has served as a Committee Member for the development of the ANSI Z9.14-2014 Standard – Testing and Performance-Verification Methodologies for Ventilation Systems for Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) Facilities as well as for the 2016 Edition of the National Institute of Health (NIH) – Design Requirements Manual (DRM) for Biomedical Laboratories and Animal Research Facilities. Currently, Miguel serves as Project Lead for the re-write of the chapter on Biosafety and Biosecurity of the Manual for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals for the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and Member of the Senior Expert Team for Bio-risks Management in the ZODIAC National Laboratories (ZNLs) for the International Atomic Energy Agency. He routinely serves as Biorisk and Biocontainment Advisor for containment laboratories nationally and internationally on design, construction, and operations.
J. Paul Jennette, MS, PE, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Biosafety Engineer
Director of Biocontainment Operations
Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca, NY
Paul Jennette holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Environmental Engineering from Cornell and the University of Massachusetts, respectively, and is both a Registered Professional Engineer and a Certified Biological Safety Professional. Since 1999, he has held the position of Biosafety Engineer at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and has also been the Director of Biocontainment Operations there since 2013. Paul’s responsibilities include: design, verification, operation, decontamination, and program management related to Cornell’s BSL-3, ACL-3, and ABSL-3 facilities, which include both research & diagnostic laboratories as well as a BSL-3 large animal necropsy; training all Cornell BSL-3 scientific and support staff and providing direct, in-containment support for BSL-3 diagnostic operations; directing the operations of Cornell’s medical and pathological waste treatment facility, which includes a 5,000-lb/batch carcass digester; serving on Cornell’s Institutional Biosafety Committee and directing the Cornell Vet College Rabies Risk Management Program. Paul serves on biosecurity teams for Select Agent Labs at the Cornell Vet College and provides technical support for the College’s effluent decontamination systems. He served as the American Biological Safety Association’s representative on the ANSI committee to develop a national standard for the verification of BSL-3 facility performance, is a reviewer and lead author of a technical column for the Applied Biosafety journal, and is a member of ABSA’s Professional Development Team. He is a former co-chair of ABSA’s Principles & Practices of Biosafety class as well as a regular instructor for BSL-3 courses offered by the Eagleson Institute and ABSA. In addition to his position at Cornell, Paul provides biocontainment operations consulting services to a variety of academic, governmental, and pharmaceutical clients.
Daniel Cook, LEED AP
Director of Critical Projects
Cornerstone Commissioning, Inc.
Boxford, MA
Dan Cook is the Director of Critical Projects with Cornerstone Commissioning, a firm dedicated to transforming the delivery of high performance facilities through its hands-on commissioning process. Dan oversees all documentation and process for the firm, along with all aspects of commissioning biocontainment laboratories and mission critical facilities. Dan is an instructor at the Eagleson Institute – Verifying BSL-3 Performance and has spoken at national conferences for BCxA – Building Commissioning Association, ABSA – American Biological Safety Association, CDC – Center for Disease Control and Prevention Biosafety Symposium, and ASHRAE – American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineers on the topic of biocontainment commissioning. Dan is a LEED-accredited professional with twenty three years of experience in the building controls and commissioning industry. He served six years in the US Navy working on shipboard weapon direction systems.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 1.0 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 7.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Room 210
15. Advanced Risk Assessment
In this advanced and interactive course, participants will evaluate a variety of challenging scenarios based on actual research protocol submissions and real-world events from multiple risk perspectives. Participants will work in teams to conduct risk assessments on a diverse selection of scenarios that will include multiple systems used in research as a research project progresses from discovery to cell culture, to small animal models using recombinant materials, and human clinical trials. Risk assessments will focus on the likelihood of exposure and the severity of consequences from exposure to the multitude of hazards encountered in increasingly complex research as well as the surprises that may come across the biosafety officer’s desk. Participants will be challenged to consider additional risks aside from infection and how best to mitigate them. Participants should have a thorough understanding of pathogenic microorganisms, rDNA principles, other infectious substances and the link between biosafety, risk assessment, and risk mitigation for this advanced course. There is an emphasis on the interactive nature of the risk assessment process and differing views of risk tolerance will be considered; participants should be prepared to participate in discussions and bring interesting or difficult examples of interest to them to discuss with the class.
Objectives:
- Prioritize risks based on the likelihood and consequences of an occurrence
- Identify risks requiring mitigation and mitigation strategies to minimize the unacceptable risks
- Identify institutional and external partners to help implement mitigation strategies
- Evaluate mitigation strategies for effectiveness, adjust strategies as warranted
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology; Basic Risk Assessment, Principles & Practices of Biosafety
Target Audience: Experienced Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
PDC Level: Advanced
COURSE FACULTY
In fond memory of our friend and colleague
March 2, 1978 – June 23, 2023
Angela Birnbaum, MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM)
While lost far too young, Angie leaves behind an indelible mark on the world through both her career and personal life. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1996, followed by receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001. Angie married Josh Alvies in their hometown in December 2002.
In 2004, Angie and Josh left their home to start Angie’s career in Biological Safety at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. Angie went on to earn her Master’s of Public Health Degree in 2011. Angie later moved to Massachusetts to continue her career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
Later, Angie moved to Kansas to serve as a Biosafety Officer at MRI Global, where she and Josh also welcomed their daughter Caillen in 2011, followed by another time in Massachusetts at Harvard University as the Director of Biological Safety and finally to Mandeville, Louisiana to serve as Executive Director of Biosafety, Biocontainment Operations, and Quality Assurance for Tulane University and Director of Biocontainment for the Tulane National Primate Research Center. At Tulane, she oversaw a university-wide biosafety program involving research using recombinant DNA and synthetic nucleic acids, clinical trials, and research with high-risk pathogens. She was the Responsible Official for the Tulane National Primate Research Center Select Agent Program.
Angie was a Registered Biosafety Professional, Certified Hazardous Material Manager, Certified Biological Safety Professional, and a Specialist Microbiologist in the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists. Since 2007, Angie has been a member of ABSA International, and has participated in several working groups, provided numerous conference platform presentations for ABSA International and several regional affiliates. She has served on the ABSA Awards Committee since 2009, served as the Co-Chair of the Biological Select Agent Community Advocate Committee from 2017-2020, served as Co-Chair of the 2nd Biosecurity Symposium Executive Steering Committee, served as a Co-Chair of the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory Biological Safety Sub-Committee. She was a member of the Massachusetts Society of Medical Research and has provided numerous conference sessions. She had over 20 years of experience working in academic institutions and contract research organizations. Angie had a proven record of biosafety and biosecurity program implementation, complex risk assessments for emerging technologies, high containment building design, and biosafety team building. She most recently served as the Co-Investigator of the Coordinating Center for Non-Human Primate Research in COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics, coordinating practices and procedures amongst the 7 regional primate research centers.
Beyond her career at these world-renowned institutions, Angie volunteered her time and knowledge to the Departments of State and Defense for training colleagues from the Middle East and North Africa, traveling to nations like Jordan, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Morocco to spread best practices for biological safety worldwide. She previously served on the board of the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research, served as both Vice President and President of the Southern Biosafety Association, and remained on the board, and held many positions for ABSA International, most recently as a Councilor.
For all that in her professional life, Angie considered her daughter Caillen to be her greatest achievement, and to everyone who knows her family, they will notice the striking similarities between the two in appearance, ambition, and their persistent desire to support anyone in need.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Angie may be made to the American Diabetes Association at Diabetes.org/, Northshore Humane Society in Covington, LA (from where she adopted her beloved cats) at NorthshoreHumane.org/give, or to Caillen’s educational fund at www.ugift529.com with code J8J-58D.
Caillen would also love to receive memories of her mom from childhood, school, work, or any other friendship from all of the people who loved her dearly; please feel free to bring your memories for Caillen to the course in an envelope and the instructors and ABSA’s Director of Education will be sure they get to her, or you are welcome to use the online guestbook available at www.GraceNorthshore.com.
Rachel Gamble, DrPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Associate Director of Biosafety and Biosecurity
Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Dr. Rachel Gamble is the Associate Director, Biorisk Management Programs within Science & Technology in the Life Sciences practice at Merrick. Rachel has 15+ years of experience directing and managing safety programs for two biomedical research institutions with focused experience in biological safety and select agent regulations. She previously served as the Director of the Office for Environmental Safety as well as the director for the high containment/select agent research facility at Baylor College of Medicine. During this time, she also held faculty appointments at The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in the Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences department and Baylor College of Medicine in the Molecular, Virology, and Microbiology department. She is currently assisting with the stand-up of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in addition to various projects for government and academic institutions both domestic and international.
Rachel has been an ABSA member since 2006 and currently serves on the Training Tools and Resources Committee and the Scientific Program Committee. In addition to being an active ABSA member, she is active in her regional ABSA affiliate, the Southern Biosafety Association (SBA) and has held previous positions as the treasurer, vice president, president, and past president. Currently, Dr. Gamble is serving another term as the SBA’s vice president and a reviewer for Applied Biosafety—The Journal of ABSA International.
Katie George, PhD, MPA, RBP(ABSA)
Associate Partner and Human Gene Therapy Biosafety Officer
Clinical Biosafety Services
Chesterfield, MO
Katie George lives in Missoula, Montana and is currently an Associate Partner and Human Gene Therapy Biosafety Officer for Clinical Biosafety Services (Chesterfield, MO) working with clinics, universities, and hospitals in the United States and Canada prepare for IBC review of Human Gene Therapy (HGT) clinical trials.
Katie holds a BS in Biology from the University of Iowa, a PhD in Biochemistry from Northwestern University, and an MPA from Purdue University. After obtaining her PhD, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health researching mycobacterial pathogenesis. After her post-doctoral position, she served as faculty at the University of Montana teaching and leading a research team studying organophosphate pesticide toxicology. Later, she taught medical students at the Medical University of the Americas (Nevis, West Indies). During her career, Katie has worked as a toxicology consultant for the State of Montana Public Defenders and the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Katie has been an ABSA member since 2020 and a Registered Biosafety Professional since 2021. She currently serves on the Distance Learning Committee for ABSA International.
David Harbourt, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM)
Safety and Occupational Health Manager
Office of Management, Center for Veterinary Medicine
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Dr. David Harbourt is a Safety and Occupational Health Manager for the Center of Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to his current position, he served as the Program Director of the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP) at the National Institutes of Health. Before that, he served in a variety of roles at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) including Biosafety Officer, Chief of the Biosafety Division and Deputy Director of the USMARIID Transition Office (2012-2021). Prior to working at USAMRIID, he was a fellow in the NBBTP. Preceding the fellowship, he graduated with his B.S. in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech (’05) and his Ph.D. in Toxicology from UNC-Chapel Hill (’09).
Dr. Harbourt has been an active member of ABSA International since 2010; has previously served as the Chair of the Preconference Course Committee and Chair of the Training Tools and Resources Committee; and currently serves as a member of the Exam Development Board for the CBSP Exam. He has also been a member of the Standards Committee, Professional Development Team, and BSAT Community Advocate Committee for ABSA. He has recently been named Co-Chair of the ABSA Ambassadors Committee. Locally within the Chesapeake Area Biosafety Association, Dave has been a Councilor, Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for its annual symposium, and Chair of the Pre-Symposium Committee. Previously, Dr. Harbourt served as Chair of the DoD Biosafety and Scientific Review Panel.
Dr. Harbourt has published several articles on topics relevant to biosafety including bacteriology, virology, agent inactivation, effluent decontamination systems, and risk assessment. He has also taught courses both at ABSA and at local universities on biosafety, risk assessment, emergency management, and effluent decontamination systems. Dave is a Registered Biosafety Professional and Certified Biological Safety Professional through ABSA International and a Specialist Microbiologist (NRCM) through the American Society of Microbiology.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 1.0 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 7.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.