In-person Professional Development Courses
All times listed are in MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME
November 1-3, 2024
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, Phoenix, Arizona
Basic Level Courses – For those new to the profession or would like training in a particular topic.
Intermediate Level Courses – For those with basic knowledge or would like to learn more.
Advanced Level Courses – For those with experience or looking for a challenging course.
Friday, October 24, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
1. BSL-3 Operations and Management
This course will review the important aspects of BSL-3 Operations and Management from two points of view; “hardware” (i.e., facilities & equipment issues) and “software” (i.e., administrative controls). It will cover various aspects you need to consider in order to operate a BSL-3 facility, such as training, maintenance support, occupational health, waste management, maintenance, performance verification, and emergency response. The instructors will encourage interaction and the exchange of experiences among the attendees. Regulatory aspects from any specific country, or planning, design, or construction-related issues will not be covered.
Objectives:
- Describe the elements of BSL-3 Operations and Management (risk management, primary barriers, annual performance verification, emergency response, etc)
- Recognize institutional, management, and user responsibilities
- Summarize approaches to developing manuals, SOPs, and training
Suggested Background: Basic Risk Assessment and familiarity with BSL-3 Concepts
Target Audience: Safety Professionals, BSL-3 Managers, Containment Engineers, Lab and Scientific Directors
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
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.
Carrie A. Smith, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Carrie Smith has served as a biosafety professional for over fourteen years in academia, the government, and the private sector. In her current role, she serves as a Senior Scientist with Merrick & Company, specializing in biosafety and laboratory operations planning for new laboratories, renovations, and laboratory transitions. Prior to her role at Merrick, she served as BSO and ARO at Oklahoma State University, a biosafety specialist and trainer at University of Wisconsin—Madison, and BSO and ARO at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. Carrie earned her undergraduate degree in Biology with a concentration in Biotechnology from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Genetics from North Carolina State University. Her research included work with recombinant bacteria, viruses, fungi, and plants as well as biological toxins. As a biosafety professional, Carrie has managed both small and large biosafety programs and her expertise includes BSL-3/ABSL-3 oversight, atypical animals in biocontainment, select agent program management, recombinant technology, plant biosafety, diagnostic labs, and on-line and in-person training development. She serves as Co-Chair and Instructor for ABSA’s Principles & Practices of Biosafety Course and is a member of the Preconference Course Committee.
Dee Zimmerman
Biosafety Consultant
ABSA Past President-2019
Galveston, TX
Dee Zimmerman retired from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Environmental Health and Safety. She was the university biosafety officer, director of the health, safety and training core for the University of Texas Medical Branch—Galveston (UTMB) National Laboratory, senior environmental health and safety consultant in the Biological Safety program and served as the university’s select agent program alternate responsible official, IBC member and coordinator. Her duties include working closely with research staff in BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-4, ABSL-2, 3, and 4 laboratories working closely with research scientists, biocontainment engineers, facility staff and occupational health. Dee was with the University of Texas Medical Branch from 1982 until retiring in 2017. She attended Inter-American University in Puerto Rico and was the lab and safety coordinator for the Marine Ecology Division, Center for Energy and Environmental Research at the University of Puerto Rico. Dee is the 2019 Past President of ABSA International.
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.
Friday, October 24, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
2. Infectious Substance Shipping Certification
This course is appropriate for those who have some experience with infectious substance handling or shipping but may not have been certified within the past three years. The course utilizes several facilitated learning activities. Attendees have opportunities to mark, label, package and complete documentation for a variety of infectious substances shipments (Category A, Category B, Exempt Patient Specimens). This course would be appropriate for those responsible for packaging, marking, labeling shipments of all categories of infectious substances, dry ice and liquid nitrogen. Attendees have both an online exam (score at least 80%) and practical exercises to complete to demonstrate competency. Successful completion of the course will qualify attendees for IATA/DOT certification.
Objectives:
- Demonstrate competency to meet IATA infectious substance shipping certification requirements
- Restate and demonstrate how to properly package, mark/label, document and prepare shipments of category A and B infectious substances and other non-regulated biological materials
- Paraphrase any regulatory changes over the past several years and apply them to meet regulatory re-training requirements
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, New Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Eric Cook, MPH
Senior Member – Technical Staff
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM
Eric Cook is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in the International Biological and Chemical Threat Reduction Program at Sandia National Laboratories where his work focuses on promoting global laboratory biorisk management. He serves as one of the program’s lead trainers. Eric served as the Biosafety Officer for Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH for five years where he managed the Biosafety Program and Institutional Biosafety Committee. Prior to working at Dartmouth, Eric was an Assistant Biosafety Officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for six years. While at MIT, Eric completed his Master’s Degree in Public Health at Boston University with a focus on Environmental Health. Eric has a B.S.in Molecular Biology from Brigham Young University where he worked in a recombinant DNA lab for two years assisting with work in phylogenetics. He is certified by the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists as a Specialist Microbiologist in Biological Safety Microbiology and previously by ABSA International as a Certified Biological Safety Professional. Eric has particular expertise in dangerous goods and infectious substance shipping. He worked for three years at Saf-T-Pak, Inc. developing training programs and packaging for shipping infectious substances.
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.
Friday, October 24, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
3. Preparing for and Responding to Laboratory Emergencies – Are you prepared?
Biosafety professionals often provide fundamental training for research and healthcare staff to work safely and respond to potential emergencies involving a wide range of biological hazards. Training employees to proactively identify and take appropriate actions to minimize the likelihood and impact of these types of incidents helps to minimize the development of serious and/or irreversible consequences. This course reviews the process for developing an effective emergency response plan, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive and well-coordinated training program for laboratory staff, institutional incident response team members, and local first responders (e.g., emergency management services, fire, police, emergency dispatchers) when biological hazards are involved. Specific topics to be addressed include: the basic components of a comprehensive institutional emergency response plan; laboratory-specific contingency plans, emphasizing unique considerations for emergencies that involve biological hazards; staff roles and responsibilities during emergencies; communication strategies and protocols during an emergency event; and training and effective preparedness exercises to ensure a coordinated response effort.
Objectives:
- Review key components of the emergency management cycle as it applies to research institutions and laboratories
- Identify the various roles and responsibilities that are critical to an effective response
- Summarize ways to coordinate and communicate effectively with institutional and local authorities during an emergency
Suggested Background: Biosafety and Biosecurity Training Course (BBTC®), Fundamentals of Biosafety
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, New Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Susan Harper, DVM, MS, DACLAM, DACVPM, RBP (ABSA)
Private Consultant
Shepherdstown, WV
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.
Deborah Howard, MPH, CBSP(ABSA)
Global Environment, Health, and Safety Biological Materials Manager
BASF
Durham, NC
Deborah Howard is the Expert, Global Environment, Health & Safety Biological Materials Manager for BASF where she has oversight of greenhouses, laboratories, inoculant, & fermentation sites. She has been the Biosafety Manager at BASF since May 2014. Deborah has extensive experience with IBC’s, IACUC, Select Agent regulations, exporting, greenhouse, arthropods, genetically modified plants, & animals. She has over 30 years of experience in health and safety & knowledge of regulations including NIH, OSHA, EPA, APHIS, & USDA. Previously, she was the Biosafety Manager at UNC Chapel Hill where she was the IBC Administrator for 6 years.
Anita Harrell, BS
North America Biosafety Manager
BASF
Durham, NC
Anita Harrell has 10 years of experience in the fields of Occupational Safety, Biological Safety and Laboratory Safety. She has worked at BASF for 35 years and is currently the North America Biosafety Manager. Prior to joining BASF, Anita worked at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. She received a degree in Botany from NCSU in 1983. Anita currently oversees the North American Biological Safety Programs. She works with site biosafety representatives to oversee these areas. She participates and several global biosafety teams at BASF.
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.
Friday, October 24, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
4. Intersection of Biological Safety and the Clinical Environment
Clinical environments present unique challenges, including fast-paced patient care, exposure to unkown biological agents, and high-risk procdures like autopsies and HAZMAT responses. These settings are regulated by accreditation bodies such as the Joint Commission (TJC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) for accreditation of their spaces, personnel, work practices, and most importantly safety. At large academic teaching hospitals, the Biological Safety Office often collaboratores with groups like Infection Prevention, Hospital Epidemiology, Fire and Life Safety, Engineering and Operations, Clinical Engineering, and Emergency Response to ensure compliance. These challenges require a holistic, risk-assessment based, coordinated response and increasingly the biosafety professional is called upon to play a key role in the clinical environment. This course will provide an overview of various clinical environments—inpatient units, primary and specialty care clinics, and clinical laboratories, including BSL-3—highlighting their specific risks and strategies for effective collaboration with other safety groups to mitigate the risks. This course combines interactive case studies and real-life scenarios to engage adult learners in group exercises focused on clinical risk assessment. Attendees will practice identifying and mitigating risks specific to various clinical environments. Through these exercises, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the collaborative roles of safety groups and develop the skills needed to lead clinical teams toward a state of readiness and accreditation compliance.
Objectives:
- Describe the various clinical environments and how they differ from a traditional research environment
- Develop a working knowledge of collaborate with the various safety groups within the clinical environment
- Perform risk assessments using case studies to determine appropriate biosafety actions in clinical environments
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB), Risk Assessment
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, All Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Andrea Vogel, PhD, CBSP(ABSA)
Duke University Health System
Durham, NC
Dr. Andrea Vogel is currently a Safety and Health Specialist in the Biological Safety Division of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at Duke University Health Systems. She is also an Alternate Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. The Biological Safety Division oversees programs implemented for mitigating biological hazards at Duke University, Duke University Hospital and Clinics. Programs she oversees include the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program, Tuberculosis Control Program, and the BSL-3 Laboratory Program. Dr. Vogel has been a member of ABSA International since 2021 and is an active member of the Journal Board, Finance Committee, Awards Committee, and Pre-Conference Course Committee. Her interests include biosafety/biosecurity program management, risk assessment of emerging infectious diseases and technologies, and application of technology to enhance understanding in training programs. Dr. Vogel received her PhD in Genetics from North Carolina State University, and was a NIH NBBTP Fellow. She has authored several papers ranging from validation of hydrogen peroxide vapor to facilitate re-use of N95s to animal behavior and group coordination.
Sarah Mikati, RN, MSNDuke University Hospital
Durham, NC
Sarah Mikati is the Environment of Care Performance Specialist in the Biological Safety Division of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at Duke University Hospital System. Sarah administers the Environment of Care program, which includes evaluating all clinical areas twice a year. She also oversees the Tuberculosis Program and collaborates with Infection Prevention and Control closely on clinical biosafety concerns. Sarah’s background is in clinical nursing on the cardiothoracic unit, followed by clinical research on new therapeutic devices before she joined the Biological Safety Division. She finds that her clinical background grants her a unique perspective to biosafety and recognizing the complexities of the clinical environment. Her interests include biosafety in the clinical setting, creating best practices for clinical environments, and training other professionals in biological risk assessment. Sarah received her Bachelors of Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Masters of Science in Nursing from Duke University.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
5. Facilities Fundamentals for Biosafety Professionals
This course is aimed at strengthening biosafety professionals knowledge of how facility operations support overall biocontainment operations. Through a mixture of presentations from experts in the field and interactive exercises, attendees will reinforce their knowledge of facility system function and their roles in facility design, construction, and operation. The target audience for the course is biosafety professionals who come with backgrounds other than facilities, and it is open to both newcomers and seasoned veterans in the field. The first portion of the course will familiarize attendees with the general concepts biosafety-related facility design and their roles in it, along with the fundamentals of HVAC system operation in the context of BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities. Topics in this portion of the course include: the role of biosafety personnel in biocontainment facility design, renovation, and operations, understanding design drawings and related construction documents, what the relationship is of facility features to biosafety levels, and HVAC components and their function relative to biocontainment. This section will end with the introduction of an interactive exercise on reviewing design drawings. The instructors will lead interactive exercises and discussions of more detailed aspects of containment facilities and their operation, including: specific infrastructure, equipment, and systems related to operation of a biocontainment facility; autoclave function, waste management, associated facility infrastructure; room decontamination in relation to facility components; interactions between facilities and containment equipment; security, operations, and biosafety.
Objectives:
- Restate the roles of biosafety professionals in facility design and operation
- Explain practical approaches for reviewing design documents.
- Describe the function of discrete facility infrastructure, equipment, and systems related to biocontainment facility operations
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB), Risk Assessment
Target Audience: All Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
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.
Stephen Helgren, AIA, NCARBArchitect, Lab Planner & Programmer
Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Stephen Helgren is a Senior Architect and Laboratory Planner for Merrick & Company, with over 24 years of diversified experience in complex life science facilities and extensive expertise in laboratory programming, planning, design, and construction. He has experience with BSL-3 facilities for private companies, public universities, the USDA, and Canadian clients.
Fahim Manzur, RBP(ABSA)Senior Commissioning Specialist
Life Sciences Commissioning Group
Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Fahim Manzur is a Senior Commissioning Specialist within the Life Sciences Commissioning Group at Merrick and Company. Fahim has 16+ years of experience in facility engineering, facility/laboratory operations and maintenance, laboratory/equipment commissioning and decommissioning, biological safety, and select agent regulatory compliance at high-containment biological laboratories. Notable work includes projects for USDA, DHS, and Mexico (University and Federal) biocontainment facilities. Prior to joining Merrick, Fahim worked as a consultant and operations & maintenance biological compliance engineering supervisor for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) for over 13 years. While at PIADC, Fahim oversaw facilities upgrades, supported biocontainment construction and commissioning projects, led decontamination and decommissioning efforts for containment spaces, and managed the effluent decontamination system building. Fahim is currently primarily providing support for PIADC terminal decontamination and decommissioning efforts at PIADC with Merrick. He holds a Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) through ABSA. Fahim has been a member of ABSA since 2009 and has participated in multiple conferences through poster sessions and platform presentations over the years.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
6. Beginners’ Guide to Comprehensive Biorisk Management: Integrating Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices
This course provides attendees with a comprehensive foundation in biorisk management by integrating biosafety and biosecurity principles within a unified risk assessment framework. Centered around the AMP (Assessment, Mitigation, Performance) model, the course delivers practical tools for identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks associated with the handling of biological agents and toxins. Attendees will gain a solid understanding of biosafety and biosecurity risk assessments and learn how to apply core assessment strategies effectively. Through a dynamic mix of lectures, real-world case studies, and hands-on group exercises, attendees will explore both foundational and emerging issues in biorisk management. The course emphasizes actionable strategies that can be tailored to diverse institutional environments and translated into improved safety and security practices. Attendees will conclude the course with enhanced awareness of complex biorisk scenarios and the skills to implement risk-informed mitigation measures within their own organizations.
Objectives:
- Describe the AMP model of biorisk management and utilize it to address biological risks
- Develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies including engineering controls, administrative controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment
- Summarize how the five pillars of biosecurity support biorisk programs, inform performance evaluation and stakeholder engagement to stregthen safety culture
Suggested Background: Micro/Molecular Biology 101
Target Audience: New Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Antony Schwartz, PhD, SM(NRCM),CBSP(ABSA)
Director of Biological Safety
Assistant Director of Occupational and Environmenal Safety Office
Duke University
Durham, NC
Dr. Antony Schwartz is the Director of Biological Safety at Duke University, where he serves as the Institutional Biosafety Officer, Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program, and Institutional Contact for Dual Use Research (ICDUR). In these roles, he ensures institutional compliance with federal regulations governing biosafety, biosecurity, and dual-use research oversight. He also holds an appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Schwartz and his team oversee biological hazards across research laboratories and healthcare settings, including the Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), clinical trials and microbiology labs, autopsy and gross anatomy labs, phytotrons, and arthropod containment facilities. His oversight spans BSL-1 through BSL-3/ABSL-3 spaces, including BSL-2+ and ABSL-2 environments. Prior to Duke, Dr. Schwartz was the Responsible Official for the National Institutes of Health Select Agent Program in Bethesda, Maryland. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow in the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP), a competitive, in-residence fellowship at NIH designed to prepare professionals to manage BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories handling high-risk pathogens such as Ebola, Monkeypox, and Nipah virus. He has also served as a BSL-4 instructor and course facilitator at NIH and NIAID facilities. Dr. Schwartz holds a PhD in Microbiology with a minor in Technology Commercialization. A Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) through ABSA International, Dr. Schwartz has held numerous leadership roles in the organization, including Councilor, Chair of the Pre-Conference Course Committee, Vice Team Lead for the Regulatory and Technical Affairs Team, Journal Board Reviewer, and Co-Chair of the inaugural Biosecurity Symposium Steering Committee. He remains actively engaged in biosafety and biosecurity through research, publications, professional outreach, and mentorship.
Andrea Vogel, PhD, CBSP(ABSA)
Duke University Health System
Durham, NC
Dr. Andrea Vogel is currently a Safety and Health Specialist in the Biological Safety Division of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at Duke University Health Systems. She is also an Alternate Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. The Biological Safety Division oversees programs implemented for mitigating biological hazards at Duke University, Duke University Hospital and Clinics. Programs she oversees include the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program, Tuberculosis Control Program, and the BSL-3 Laboratory Program. Dr. Vogel has been a member of ABSA International since 2021 and is an active member of the Journal Board, Finance Committee, Awards Committee, and Pre-Conference Course Committee. Her interests include biosafety/biosecurity program management, risk assessment of emerging infectious diseases and technologies, and application of technology to enhance understanding in training programs. Dr. Vogel received her PhD in Genetics from North Carolina State University, and was a NIH NBBTP Fellow. She has authored several papers ranging from validation of hydrogen peroxide vapor to facilitate re-use of N95s to animal behavior and group coordination.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
7. Engineering for the Biosafety Professional Part 2
Proactive biosafety professionals need to be involved and knowledgeable in the operation, maintenance and certification of their containment facilities and building systems. Frequently, the biosafety professional is called upon to participate in the planning, design, and validation of a new biocontainment laboratory or renovation of an existing facility. For the biosafety professional to participate in these activities, they need a foundation of engineering fundamentals, develop skills to ask questions in engineering terms, and have the confidence to question the answers. This course provides engineering principles that are useful in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of a BSL-3 or high containment facility. The principles are expanded to BSL-4 or maximum containment facilities for clarity between BSL-3 and BSL-4 requirements. The information covered in this course is specific to NIH, CDC, and BMBL 6th ed. requirements.
Objectives:
- Discuss engineering principles
- Apply engineering assessment tools for architectural and engineering drawings
- Implement engineering solutions
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Operations and Maintenance Staff
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Juan Osorio, IE
World BioHazTec
Pasadena, MD
Juan Osorio provides consulting in engineering with a focus in high and maximum containment laboratories (BSL-3 and BSL-4), biomedical facilities, hospitals and research facilities. In this role, he consults with clients regarding laboratory planning, programming, commissioning, validation and third party certification activities for significant biocontainment, laboratory, vivarium, safety and healthcare projects. Mr. Osorio has consulted, reviewed, validated, and certified biocontainment laboratories, mission critical government institutions, vivaria, and world-class medical facilities. He has vast experience in the high- and maximum containment fields and participates on biocontainment projects in the United States, Asia, and South America. Mr. Osorio contributes to the design, construction, validation, third-party certification, and maintenance of such facilities. He has served frequently as a consultant for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for industrial engineering issues in biocontainment, general laboratory, hospital, and vivarium projects. He has assisted in the development of high- and maximum containment government guidelines and regulations for the NIH.
Theodore Traum, PE, CCP, DGCP
Principal Engineer and Board Member
World BioHazTec Corporation
Pasadena, MD
Theodore (Ted) Traum has over thirty years of experience in engineering with a focus in high- and maximum containment laboratories (BSL-3 and BSL-4), biomedical facilities, hospitals and researchfacilities. In this role, he consults with clients and oversees laboratory planning, programming, commissioning, validation, and third-party certification activities for significant biocontainment, laboratory, vivarium, safety and healthcare projects. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mr. Traum received a considerable influx of biosafety and biocontainment projects to combat bioterrorism. Capitalizing on his niche expertise in this fast growing industry and its previous work with the JCAHO statement of conditions, Mr. Traum focused his business development efforts towards developing acertification program for biocontainment laboratories, their design, construction, operation, biosafety consultation, and maintenance through World BioHazTec (WBHT). Being one of the only few firms in the United States with a significant level of expertise and previous success in niche projects for the healthcare and research laboratories, Mr. Traum became sought after nationally and internationally as the premier consultant for oversight, management, and certification of biocontainment facilities. Mr. Traum has consulted, reviewed, validated, and certified biocontainment laboratories, mission critical government institutions, vivaria, and world-class medical facilities. He is a highly respected professional engineer in the high- and maximum containment field and is sought worldwide for his experienceand expertise in design, construction, third-party certification, and maintenance of such facilities. He has served frequently as a consultant for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for HVAC, mechanical, and industrial engineering issues in biocontainment, general laboratory, hospital, and vivarium projects.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
8. Emergency Planning for Biological Incidents in High-Containment Labs
Planning for emergencies in biocontainment labs is challenging and requires a specialized approach due to the presence of high-consequence pathogens and complex response needs. This course is designed for emergency managers, laboratory personnel, and response teams focusing on preparedness for biological incidents at your facility. Attendees will explore the regulatory requirements outlined in U.S. federal compliance with the Federal Select Agent Program and OSHA guidelines for developing and implementing a comprehensive incident response plan. An efficient and responsive emergency management program closely integrates with biosafety and biosecurity professionals, as well as local emergency management agencies, health departments, and first responders/receivers, to ensure an effective collaborative response. Through hands-on training, attendees will gain practical skills in incident response planning for biocontainment laboratories. Using interactive activities and case studies, participants will learn to conduct risk assessments, develop and implement comprehensive incident response plans, and coordinate effectively with local emergency management agencies. The course emphasizes a systematic planning process—guided by frameworks like FEMA’s 6-step methodology—to help attendees create tailored, compliant, and proactive emergency response strategies. This training enhances both facility preparedness and community safety in the face of biological incidents.
Objectives:
- Identify and prioritize biological risks and hazards in high-containment environments
- Apply structured emergency planning principles to support laboratory leadership decision-making
- Coordinate response efforts with internal stakeholders and external support agencies
Suggested Background: Recommend completion of the web-based course FEMA Independent Study Course IS-230 – Fundamentals of Emergency Management (for familiarization; exam not required)
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, All Biosafety Professionals, Emergency Management and Health Preparedness Professionals
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Garth Phoebus, MS
Emergency Manager
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
Fort Detrick, MD
Garth’s career in emergency management is built on a foundation of 13 years of service as a Senior Intelligence Analyst in the Marine Corps. After transitioning to the civilian sector, he applied his skills and expertise as a County Emergency Planner, where he developed and implemented emergency response plans to protect communities from natural disasters and other hazards. He then joined the Department of the Army as an Installation Emergency Manager, overseeing emergency management programs and operations at the installation level. Currently, Garth serves as an organizational Emergency Manager, providing strategic guidance and expertise to ensure the readiness and resilience of his organization in the face of emergencies and disasters. He is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College Advanced Course, the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy, and the Planner Practitioner Program at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute. Garth holds a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from National University and a Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis from The Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
9. Nanoparticles in Modern Science—Understanding Hazards, Controls, and Safe Practices
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing many areas of modern life, offering innovative solutions across medicine, science, engineering, and technology. Nanoparticles (NPs), with their unique properties, are defined by composition, size, shape, and surface characteristics, hold significant promise in these fields. However, these same properties present challenges in recognizing, evaluating, and mitigating potential environmental, health, and safety risks associated with the production and application of nanoparticles. This course introduces the types, properties, production and synthesis of nanoparticles, focusing on their interactions with biological systems and associated chemicals, as well as potential implications of radiolabeled nanoparticles. This understanding is crucial for developing effective risk assessment and mitigation strategies for both in-vivo and in-vitro applications. It covers biosafety, biosecurity, and occupational health risks, emphasizing hazard identification, control measures, and knowledge gaps in nanotechnology. Through case studies and interactive exercises, attendees will explore best practices for safe handling, waste management, exposure assessment, and transport of nanoparticles. These hands-on activities will reinforce key concepts, fostering peer learning and collaboration.
Objectives:
- Identify common types of nanoparticles and their key properties
- Evaluate potential risks and safety concerns associated with the production and use of nanoparticles, including occupational exposure and environmental impacts.
- Develop and implement effective risk management strategies for laboratory projects involving nanoparticles, including hazard identification, exposure controls, and best practices for safe handling, waste disposal, and transport
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, Animal Caretakers
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Maya Nair, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
University of North Texas Science Center
Fort Worth, TX
Dr. Maya Nair is the Director of Biological Safety at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth, Texas, where she also serves as the Biosafety and Assistant Radiation Safety Officer. In this capacity, she oversees a broad range of safety programs, including biosafety, radiation safety, DEA-controlled substances, animal safety, laser safety, and risk management.Dr. Nair has been instrumental in establishing and leading the UNTHSC Biosafety Program and has served as the Biosafety Officer for the past 18 years. She has also held the role of Reviewing Official for the institution’s Increased Control Program. With over 25 years of experience in biomedical research, Dr. Nair’s scientific background is focused on nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. She has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences and has authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on the application of nanoparticles in the biomedical field.In addition to her scientific contributions, Dr. Nair is passionate about education and training. She has developed and taught graduate-level safety courses for public health students and has mentored many students in the field of Environmental Health and Safety. She is an active member of UNTHSC’s Institutional Compliance Group, contributing to policy development and review, and collaborates with key committees such as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB). Dr. Nair also serves as an external reviewer for Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) at other institutions.Dr. Nair has been an active member of the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) International since 2007, serving on various committees and task force. She served as the Chair of the Training Tools Committee for 2020-2025. She is also a member of the Southern Biosafety Association. Her professional interests include the effective management of comprehensive safety programs and exploring the impact of emerging technologies on safety and security.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
10. The Big Bright Beautiful World of BSL-2
Ever wondered why handling human blood samples and culturing infectious influenza both require BSL-2 containment? Or the defining characteristics between BSL-2 and BSL-1 or BSL-3? This course transforms biosafety from a checklist into a strategic risk management framework, adaptable to any facility or resource level. We’ll go beyond textbook scenarios, tackling the gray areas of BSL-2 where critical thinking and adaptability are key. Starting with a rapid refresher on core biosafety principles, we’ll explore how to adjust BSL-2 containment ‘levers’ for real-world applications, even in non-ideal or resource-limited labs. This course isn’t just about following rules—it’s about understanding why they exist. Attendees will explore key topics in biosafety, including distinctions and special considerations of BSL-2 and ABSL-2, the critical difference between regulations and recommendations on lab operations, compare global biosafety guidelines with the BMBL, safe handling of RG-3 agents in BSL-2 settings, emerging BSL-2+ practices, and real-world case studies—such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2—through interactive activities. This course empowers new biosafety professionals to move beyond a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. Attendees will develop the confidence to make informed, customized containment decisions—becoming strategic biosafety leaders in their field.
Objectives:
- Utilize the BMBL as a framework and move beyond a checklist approach and apply adaptive biosafety practices in diverse laboratory settings, including resource-limited or non-ideal facilities
- Explain BSL-2 containment principles and practices and how this relates to “BSL-2+” containment and allows for the handling of Risk Group 3 agents under BSL-2 conditions
- Adapt the foundation necessary to confidently make non-textbook containment recommendations that will meet BSL-2 recommendations and keep researchers safe
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: New Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals, Animal Caretakers
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Heidi Page, MS, RBP(ABSA)
Azelia Labs
Pepper Pike, OH
Heidi has extensive experience in, and passion for, the ‘grey zone’, intertwining regulation, safety and human behavior to find the best overall solutions to the safety and compliance challenges we face when doing research. Heidi has 15+ years of experience in the field of biosafety and has over 7 years of experience serving as the Biological Safety Officer and Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Case Western Reserve University. She earned a BS in Organismal Biology from the University of Kansas, a MS in Cell and Molecular biology from University of Missouri—Kansas City and is a Registered Biosafety Professional with ABSA International. In her role as the Director of Sabai’s Shield Consulting group, Heidi has the opportunity to work with varied clients from academic institutions, CROs, startup biotechs, large pharma, and healthcare institutions. Outside of work Heidi is often found trying her hand at something new, be it gardening, cooking, raising chickens or keeping bees. She feels passionately that there is always something new to learn.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
11. Writing Effective Standard Operating Procedures
This course will offer attendees an understanding of key principles for writing effective standard operating procedures (SOPs). An introduction to the importance of SOPs in achieving desirable and consistent outcomes and issues that must be considered in the SOP writing process will be presented. Examples will include some of the most common human behavior considerations such as compliance, behavioral evolution, complaisance, and strategies to address behavioral concerns that may arise. Attendees will engage in guided discussions about the benefits of an effective SOP writing process and the most common mistakes made by the authors of SOPs. The course will take attendees through the process of writing feasible standard operating procedures (SOPs) including SOP evaluation and validation. Through group interactions, attendees will develop examples of SOPs to illustrate effective writing concepts, present their SOPs to the class, and evaluate each other’s SOPs for feasibility. Instructors will guide attendees through the process by providing critical feedback on the SOP writing process as they progress. The goal of this course is to increase attendees’ awareness of issues that arise when writing standard operating procedures and how these issues affect SOP compliance. Furthermore, the course will provide examples of well-written SOPs that contribute to overall SOP compliance at an institution. The course is intended for those who want to be able to lead or aid in the creation of feasible and effective SOPs in order to enhance both biosafety and biosecurity at their institution.
Objectives:
- Summarize the range of issues that must be considered when writing effective standard operating procedures (SOPs), including human behavior
- Identify strategies for writing effective SOPs
- Illustrate how good standard operating procedures (SOPs) work to enhance both biosafety and biosecurity
- Recognize the value of “feasible” and therefore effective standard operating procedure (SOP) in promoting biosafety and biosecurity best practices
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, New Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, International Attendees
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Natasha Griffith, MS, MPH, RBP(ABSA)
CEO
SOTER BioConsulting
Roswell, GA
Natasha Griffith is the CEO of SOTER Bio Consulting, where she leads different national and international projects in response to health emergencies. She also serves as Associate Director, High Containment Core at Georgia State University (GSU) where she leads a multidisciplinary team to support safe operations and maintenance (O&M) of all high-containment facilities (BSL-3, ABSL-3, and BSL-4) at GSU. Natasha earned her Master of Science degree in Microbial Pathogenesis and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics from UCLA as well as Master of Public Health in Paris, France. With over 20 years of experience, Natasha has led numerous international missions in response to infectious disease outbreaks. Before joining GSU, Natasha was the Branch Chief of Quality and Safety Systems, DLS, CSELS at the CDC where she led quality and safety staff to support the development of standards, guidelines, recommendations, and tools for improved quality and safety in clinical and public health laboratories. While at the CDC, Natasha also implemented and managed international projects in response to outbreaks of infectious diseases in various countries. These projects included development of program initiatives for a variety of local, national and international public health institutions in both English and French. Prior to her work at CDC, Natasha established and operated a state-of-art Tier 1 Select Agent high-containment program at UCLA. For over a decade, Natasha directed all high-contaminant facilities and served as the Responsible Official (CDC DSAT) for all select agent research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
William Arndt, PhD
Senior Biosafety Officer
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA
William (Bill) Arndt is Senior Biosafety Officer (BSO) at Georgia State University where he oversees biosafety and biosecurity for the GSU research community and leads a multidisciplinary team to support safe research at GSU. Bill earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Microbiology from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from South Dakota State University. Bill is virologist by training and subject matter expert in areas of disease surveillance, infectious disease diagnostics, incident/outbreak response, vaccine development/production, high-containment laboratory operations, biorisk management, and dual-use research of concern (DURC). He has supported the US Government health security and capacity building initiatives for 12+ years across Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Before joining GSU, Bill was a Biosafety Team Lead and International Program Lead in the Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS), CSELS at the CDC where he was responsible for managing multi-member teams and projects related to providing support to public health and clinical laboratories and development of national biosafety and biosecurity legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines development. Prior to his work at CDC, Bill was a Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia national Laboratories where he led various activities related to laboratory design best practices and outbreak response.
Md Asadulghani, PhD
International Centre of Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dr. Asadulghani has been working in the field laboratory systems strengthening using One Health platform in Bangladesh since 2010, with 14 years’ experience of research in the field of Molecular Genetics and Bacteriophage Biology, at home and abroad, since 1993. He has an MSc and MPhil in the field of Molecular Genetics, from the University of Dhaka. He has a PhD, in the field of post-transcriptional regulation of genes expression, from the Saitama University, Japan in 2004. Completing his postdoctoral research as a Research Associate and JSPS Postdoc Fellow, at the University of Miyazaki, Japan, he joined as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Microbiology and continued working in the Microbial Whole Genome Sequencing Group, Japan. Since September 2009, he has been working as the Head of Biosafety, leading biosafety and biosecurity program, at the International Centre of Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). Side by side, he is leading the nationwide Biosafety and Biosecurity (BSBS) program, as well. He is leading strengthening AMR laboratory capacity program under the First Fleming Fund Country Grant to Bangladesh. He is also the lead for “Qualifying Workforce for AMR Surveillance in Asia and Africa” in Bangladesh. He is the initiator of the BSBS program in Bangladesh and working for strengthening country status. He has been working for ISO 15189 accreditation of Clinical Laboratory Services at ICDDR,B since 2010, and solely contributing to ISO 15190 accreditation of the same since 2016. He is a member of the ISO Biorisk Management working group ISO/TC 212/WG5 representing IFBA. He is the Chairman and Coordinator of Training of BBBS and President of the FABA. Furthermore, he is the EXCO member of A-PBA for 2024 to represent Bangladesh. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of IFBA until September 2020. Currently, he is a member of the ABSA International Engagement Committee.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
12. Integrating Cyberbiosecurity into Laboratory Biosecurity Programs: Addressing Emerging Threats in the Digital Age
As laboratories adopt AI, digital data systems, and networked instruments, cyberbiosecurity—the intersection of cybersecurity and biosecurity—has become vital. This interactive course introduces cyberbiosecurity as an essential discipline, equipping attendees with the knowledge and strategies to safeguard laboratory Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Operational Technologies (OT), and data assets against evolving cyber threats. Attendees will explore the fundamentals of cyberbiosecurity by diving into key concepts such as identifing laboratory assets, mapping data, and assessing vulnerabilities. Attendees will learn how to conduct comprehensive threat and vulnerability assessments and apply these principles to reinforce biosecurity programs through structured guidance and practical activities. As cyber threats continue to evolve, biosecurity programs must stay agile—capable of identifying, mitigating, and recovering from cyberattacks. This course presents strategies for strengthening cyberbiosecurity resilience through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that blends technical skills, professional roles, and oversight responsibilities. Through interactive activities, group discussions, and mapping exercises, participants will evaluate real-world risks and co-develop tailored solutions for laboratory settings. At the end of the course, attendees will be equipped with practical tools to embed cyberbiosecurity into their biosecurity frameworks, ensuring their labs remain secure and adaptable in a dynamic threat environment.
Objectives:
- Define and identify laboratory cyberbiosecurity assets, threats, vulnerabilities, and risks
- Apply threat and vulnerability assessment techniques and develop risk mitigation strategies to enhance laboratory resilience
- Develop a team-based approach to cyberbiosecurity management as an emerging critical component of an overall biosecurity program
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: Laboratory Workers, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Drew Fayram, MS, CBSP(ABSA), RBP(ABSA)
Senior Scientist—Biosafety and Biosecurity
Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Drew Fayram is a Senior Scientist in Biosafety and Biosecurity for Merrick & Company. He consults on international and domestic projects related to laboratory planning, design, operations, biosafety, and biosecurity. Drew’s expertise includes containment laboratory operations and program management, public health laboratory testing, biosafety, biosecurity, and training. He currently serves on the Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee for the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and is an instructor for ABSA International’s Principles and Practices of Biosafety (PPB) course. Drew holds the Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) and Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) credentials through ABSA International and is registered as a biosafety officer (RBSO) with the Canadian Association for Biological Safety.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
13. A Scenario-Based Introduction to Agricultural Biorisk Management
This course will review general concepts and considerations for assessing and managing risks encountered in research programs that involve animals, plants, pathogens, pests, facilities, equipment, and work practices relevant to agriculture. The focus will be on hazard identification, risk assessment (qualitative and quantitative), and the strategic use of mitigation practices designed to minimize risks in a wide range of agricultural research applications. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice these skills, using real-world scenarios that demonstrate some of the unique challenges and hazards routinely encountered in an agricultural environment. Exercises will be highly interactive and guide attendees through the entire biorisk management process. Emphasis will be given to key factors that influence selecting effective biocontainment and biosecurity measures; ensuring worker safety; protecting local and regionally-important agricultural commodities (livestock, poultry, crops); preserving the environment (plants, wildlife, water systems); and maintaining public health.
Objectives:
- Review hazard identification and risk assessment techniques appropriate for an agricultural research environment
- Identify practical control strategies to successfully manage hazards and risks relevant to agriculture
- Restate the need for effective biosecurity when working with high-consequence agricultural pathogens and pests
Suggested Background: BSL-3 Operations and Management, Fundamentals of Biosafety, Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB), Risk Assessment
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Animal Caretakers, Experienced Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Susan Harper, DVM, MS, DACLAM, DACVPM, RBP (ABSA)
Private Consultant
Shepherdstown, WV
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.
Deborah Howard, MPH, CBSP(ABSA)
Global Environment, Health, and Safety Biological Materials Manager
BASF
Durham, NC
Deborah Howard is the Expert, Global Environment, Health & Safety Biological Materials Manager for BASF where she has oversight of greenhouses, laboratories, inoculant, & fermentation sites. She has been the Biosafety Manager at BASF since May 2014. Deborah has extensive experience with IBC’s, IACUC, Select Agent regulations, exporting, greenhouse, arthropods, genetically modified plants, & animals. She has over 30 years of experience in health and safety & knowledge of regulations including NIH, OSHA, EPA, APHIS, & USDA. Previously, she was the Biosafety Manager at UNC Chapel Hill where she was the IBC Administrator for 6 years.
Travis McCarthy, PhD, RBP(ABSA)Biosafety Manager
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Centers for Animal Health
Ames, IA
Dr. Travis McCarthy is currently serving as the Biosafety Manager at the USDA National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa, a position he has held since May 2022. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wartburg College in 2000, prior to pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of Iowa and earning a Ph.D. in Microbiology in 2006. Following graduation, he started his professional career as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he worked from December 2006 to December 2009. In January 2010, he transferred to the University of Missouri where he served as Facility Manager and Lead Biological Safety Professional until assuming his current position at the USDA. Dr. McCarthy holds the credential of Registered Biosafety Professional, issued by the American Biological Safety Association in January 2013, which underscores his expertise and commitment to maintaining the highest standards of biosafety in research environments. Throughout his career, Dr. McCarthy has demonstrated a strong focus on biosafety management and infectious disease research, making him a highly valued asset to the USDA National Centers for Animal Health.
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 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
14. Facility Commissioning and Recommissioning for the BSL-3 Laboratory
The biosafety professional can assist with the start-up or maintenance of laboratory operations in support of their biosafety programs by understanding the commissioning and recommissioning processes. Laboratory commissioning, identified in containment guidance documents, is a quality assurance process for the effective functioning of biocontainment laboratories. The biosafety officer and other decision makers benefit by having a basic understanding of the commissioning and recommissioning processes and resulting documentation. This course will review the phases of the new facility commissioning process and similar process for recommissioning. This knowledge base allows the biosafety professional to recognize how commissioning assists in providing and documenting a properly operating facility. A review of the secondary containment features of the BSL-3 laboratory will be disucssed and note specific issues typically observed. There will be a focus on two issues, the reversal of directional airflow and sealing of surfaces and penetrations. Attendees will consider methods to identify the issues and present some specific mitigations of these issues; can actively participate in the commissioning/recommissioning processes and understand the methodology, the tools, results, and their interpretation; will know their facility operates correctly, its limitations, and the risk when it does not. This knowledge allows the biosafety professional to check or back check the containment spaces’ performance and use this knowledge to perform daily inspections for maintenance or replacement and control risk to the lowest level. The biosafety professional can identify required features in a new laboratory or review an existing lab with a better understanding of typical issues to assure safe reliable operations.
Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the overall commissioning and recommissioning processes for containment labs
- Articulate the engineering controls required and effectively participate in the processes
- Identify typical issues observed during commissioning/recommissioning of the laboratory secondary containment barriers and the options for practical solutions to those issues
- Demonstrate a knowledge base and provide documentation to better perform daily inspections to reduce risk for safe and reliable laboratory operations
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, Operations and Maintenance Personnel
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Joby Evans, Professional Engineer, CSCP, CACU
Commissioning Engineer/Technical Lead
Georgia Engineering LLC
Atlanta, GA
Joby Evans has over 35 years in facilities commissioning, support, design, engineering, energy management, and processes for consulting engineering firms, performance contracting group, natural gas distributor, and an international architect/developer. Mr. Evans is proficient in commissioning and in recommissioning high-containment facilities, analyzing the interaction between designs and energy consumption in commercial and industrial facilities and has extensive experience in building commissioning and system design and coordination. He has performed commissioning for BSL-4, BSL-3Ag, BSL-3 laboratories using BMBL, NIH, WHO, ANSI biosafety guidelines. His work has been in the United States and in international locations. Mr. Evans has performed re-commissioning and retro-commissioning on many non-containment facilities including headquarters facilities, hangers, office buildings, etc. He is a Registered Professional Engineer, Licensed Mechanical Contractor, Certified Building Commissioning Professional, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Green Building Engineer, and Guiding Principles Compliance Professional.
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 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
15. Advanced Risk Assessment
In this advanced and interactive course, attendees will evaluate a variety of challenging scenarios based on actual research protocol submissions and real-world events from multiple risk perspectives. Attendees 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. Attendees will be challenged to consider additional risks aside from infection and how best to mitigate them. Attendees 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; attendees 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
Audience Level: Advanced
COURSE FACULTY
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.
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.
Berenice Arriaga, BS, MBA, SM(NRCM), CBSP(ABSA), ASPAssistant Director | Biosafety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas
Berenice Arriaga works at The University of Texas at El Paso, as the Assistant Director and Biosafety Officer in the office of Environmental Health and Safety. She received her bachelor’s in science (BS) in Microbiology and a master’s in business administration (MBA) with a Nursing concentration from The University of Texas at El Paso. Being a native from El Paso, TX, she started her career pretty early on volunteering in a Chagas Disease laboratory at UTEP. She later became the Laboratory Coordinator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grant at UTEP. Here she oversaw the Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics (PMG) and Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) courses. Her biosafety career started in 2010 when she became the Biocontainment Safety Manager for the Biosafety Level 3 laboratories at UTEP. In this position, she was promoted to Biosafety Officer and obtained her Specialist Microbiology (SM) certification from the National Registry of Certified Microbiologist (NRCM). She is credentialed as well as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) through ABSA and an Associate Professional through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
She currently oversees the Biosafety, Food Safety, Occupational Health, Indoor Air Quality, Ergonomics, Laboratory Safety Inspection and Workers Compensation Programs at UTEP. As an active member of ABSA, she serves currently in the Distant Learning Committee (DLC) and is currently serving as a Board member in the Southern Biosafety Association (SBA). This year 2024 she hosted at UTEP the first International Symposium in joint collaboration with SBA, AMEXBIO and ABSA. This was the first biosafety symposium between the USA and Mexico both hosted in person/virtual and in English/Spanish.
Berenice Arriaga, BS, MBA, SM(NRCM), CBSP(ABSA), ASPAssistant Director | Biosafety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas
Berenice Arriaga works at The University of Texas at El Paso, as the Assistant Director and Biosafety Officer in the office of Environmental Health and Safety. She received her bachelor’s in science (BS) in Microbiology and a master’s in business administration (MBA) with a Nursing concentration from The University of Texas at El Paso. Being a native from El Paso, TX, she started her career pretty early on volunteering in a Chagas Disease laboratory at UTEP. She later became the Laboratory Coordinator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grant at UTEP. Here she oversaw the Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics (PMG) and Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) courses. Her biosafety career started in 2010 when she became the Biocontainment Safety Manager for the Biosafety Level 3 laboratories at UTEP. In this position, she was promoted to Biosafety Officer and obtained her Specialist Microbiology (SM) certification from the National Registry of Certified Microbiologist (NRCM). She is credentialed as well as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) through ABSA and an Associate Professional through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
She currently oversees the Biosafety, Food Safety, Occupational Health, Indoor Air Quality, Ergonomics, Laboratory Safety Inspection and Workers Compensation Programs at UTEP. As an active member of ABSA, she serves currently in the Distant Learning Committee (DLC) and is currently serving as a Board member in the Southern Biosafety Association (SBA). This year 2024 she hosted at UTEP the first International Symposium in joint collaboration with SBA, AMEXBIO and ABSA. This was the first biosafety symposium between the USA and Mexico both hosted in person/virtual and in English/Spanish.
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 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
16. ISO35001 Implemenation Workshop
In 2019, ISO published a new biorisk management standard that many biomedical research laboratories all over the world are adopting. This workshop will provide presentations, facilitated discussions, and tools to introduce concepts related to biosecurity and biosafety (biorisk) management systems. Attendees will gain a deep understanding of biorisk management (BRM) systems and learn to apply the ISO 35001 framework as a strategic planning tool. The course guides participants in mapping their current systems to the ISO standard, identifying gaps, and prioritizing improvements to enhance biosafety and biosecurity practices. Using the ISO 35001 as a planning and mapping tool, will enable institutions to effectively identify, assess, control, and monitor the laboratory biosafety and biosecurity risks associated with hazardous biological materials using the concept of continual improvement through the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) principle.
Objectives:
- Identify the key elements of a BRM system based on the review sections of the ISO 35001 BRM system standard
- Map existing BRM systems to the ISO 35001 and identify both strengths and opportunities to improve existing system
- Prioritize elements or areas that need improvement
- Select an area for improvement and identify a simple, short term, project idea to help strengthen one element within the existing system
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: Experienced Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Advanced
COURSE FACULTY
Eric Cook, MPH
Senior Member – Technical Staff
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM
Eric Cook is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in the International Biological and Chemical Threat Reduction Program at Sandia National Laboratories where his work focuses on promoting global laboratory biorisk management. He serves as one of the program’s lead trainers. Eric served as the Biosafety Officer for Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH for five years where he managed the Biosafety Program and Institutional Biosafety Committee. Prior to working at Dartmouth, Eric was an Assistant Biosafety Officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for six years. While at MIT, Eric completed his Master’s Degree in Public Health at Boston University with a focus on Environmental Health. Eric has a B.S.in Molecular Biology from Brigham Young University where he worked in a recombinant DNA lab for two years assisting with work in phylogenetics. He is certified by the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists as a Specialist Microbiologist in Biological Safety Microbiology and previously by ABSA International as a Certified Biological Safety Professional. Eric has particular expertise in dangerous goods and infectious substance shipping. He worked for three years at Saf-T-Pak, Inc. developing training programs and packaging for shipping infectious substances.
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 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
17. Lessons Learned to Improve Biosafety
Preventing laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) is a challenge for laboratory managers and biosafety professionals, especially when dealing with an emerging pathogen. It is extremely important to quickly determine if there has been an exposure, how many may have been exposed, what steps need to happen next, including any prophylaxis, root cause analysis, gaps in the biosafety plan, and additional mitigation measures that need to be implemented. This interactive course will examine published papers from the ABSA LAI Database on laboratory acquired infections and exposures to determine what we can learn to prevent future exposures. Attendees will thoroughly examine the literature on the history of lab-acquired infections, review specific published articles, utilize the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) ‘Laboratory Exposure Assessment and Symptom Monitoring Guide’ (exposure assessment tool) to assess exposures, analyze data to identify root causes of exposures, discuss identified gaps, and establish additional steps required to mitigate risks. Attendees will be equipped with the skills to assess and mitigate exposure risks using the APHL Exposure Assessment Tool. Attendees will engage in scenario-based group exercises, applying a structured process to evaluate potential exposures, conduct root cause analyses, identify procedural gaps, and develop effective mitigation strategies. Through hands-on practice and guided instruction, attendees will also learn to incorporate published data on laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) to enhance biosafety protocols. Special emphasis will be placed on applying these tools to safely manage risks associated with emerging pathogens.
Objectives:
- Describe how the ABSA LAI database can be used for biosafety training and determining how to safely work with emerging pathogens
- Utilize the APHL exposure assessment tool to assess real-life laboratory incidents for potential exposures and to help guide prophylaxis if indicated
- Analyze actual laboratory incidents to determine the root cause and what steps are necessary to mitigate future incidents
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Risk Assessment
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Michael Pentella, PhD, SM(ASCP), CIC, D(ABMM)
State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa
Coralville, IA
Dr. Pentella is a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health and Director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory. His experience spans over forty years in clinical microbiology and public health laboratories. He is certified as an American Board of Medical Microbiology Diplomate, a specialist in microbiology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology and certified in infection control through the Association of Professionals in Infection Control. Dr. Pentella is a member of the APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, Antibiotic Resistance Lab Workgroup, the Infectious Disease Committee, and the Respiratory Viruses Subcommittee. He has made several contributions that have improved the practice of clinical microbiology and biosafety. He has written over 50 articles and twenty book chapters.
Erin Bowles, BS, MT(ASCP)
Laboratory Network Coordinator
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Madison, WI
Erin Bowles is the Laboratory Network Coordinator for the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s Communicable Disease Division, where she provides outreach and education to more than 125 laboratories in Wisconsin in order to ensure a coordinated statewide response to any biological threats of public health importance. Her background in clinical microbiology and expertise in biosafety serve her well as a member of APHL’s Workforce Development Committee, the Sentinel Laboratory Outreach and Partnership Subcommittee, and the Sentinel Laboratory Training Special Interest Group. Some of the committee projects that she has contributed to are revisions to the ASM Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Guidelines and the development of risk assessment training and biosafety tools such as the “Clinical Laboratory Preparedness and Response Guide”.
Shoolah Escott, MS, MT(ASCP)
Biosafety and Biosecurity Trainer
Lexington, MA
Shoolah Escott is currently an independent, Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Bioterrorism Preparedness Trainer and a COVID-19 Contact Tracer with Partners In Health. She was the Biosafety Manager and ARO at the MA State Public Health Laboratory for over 2 years where she provided biosafety training and support to over 50 clinical laboratories and to internal public health laboratory staff. She worked for APHL/CDC National Laboratory Training Network, CDC Laboratory Training Branch for over 17 years developing, implementing, delivering, and presenting national training programs in biosafety, biosecurity and bioterrorism preparedness. She has a strong background in clinical microbiology and was the safety officer for the Memorial Hospital clinical laboratory. Currently, she serves on several ABSA and APHL committees. Here are a few key biosafety accomplishments: What Constitutes an Effective Biosafety Plan at the World Microbe Forum; Biosafety and Biosecurity: Minimizing the Risks in the Laboratory and Clinical Laboratory Biosafety Risk Assessment seminars presented nationally multiple times; and the lead on the initial development and revision of the Clinical Laboratory Preparedness and Response Guide.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
18. Flipping the Table: Effective Tabletop Exercise Design and Execution
Tabletop exercises (TTXs) are an essential part of a biosafety professional’s toolkit. It offers a safe, efficient way to “stress test” the resilience of an organization’s protocols in the face of hypothetical worse-case scenarios, making them particularly valuable for reinforcing staff training, enhancing coordination and communication between teams and team members, and identifying opportunities to improve plans and procedures. Additionally, TTXs can be used to help develop new processes and procedures in support of the stand up or expansion of activities, serving as a platform for identifying critical supporting processes and procedures that need to be in place for the activity to be completed effectively. The effectiveness of tabletop exercises (TTXs) in identifying areas for improvement can be undermined by poor planning, weak execution, and insufficient follow-up. In this course, attendees will develop an understanding of when and why they should consider conducting a TTX, participate in the development of a mock exercise, and propose appropriate follow-up actions to their exercise.
Objectives:
- Identify when, why, and what type of TTX would be useful to achieve a specific outcome
- Analyze the effort needed to design and conduct an effective TTX
- Describe appropriate follow-up actions to a TTX that ensure the continual improvement of the process or program test
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: New Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Sharon Altmann, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
MRIGlobal
Gaithersburg, MD
Dr. Sharon Altmann is a Capability Manager II/Principal Scientist supporting biosafety and global engagement as part of the Integrated Health, Surveillance, and Diagnostics unit at MRIGlobal. She received her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and currently holds both RBP and CBSP credentials from ABSA International. With MRIGlobal, Dr. Altmann has supported multiple international engagements, including BSL-3 laboratory training in Kazakhstan; Ebolavirus outbreak response and survivor study activities; laboratory design and capacity building efforts in West Africa; BSL-4 facility standup and core laboratory support; pandemic-related return-to-work planning for schools and businesses; CLIA laboratory stand-up and operations; and biorisk management training program development for multiple clients. Dr. Altmann currently serves as a Councilor for the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association (ChABSA).
Scott Shearrer, RBP(ABSA)
Senior Engineer and Technical Lead
Biosafety and Global Engagement Team
MRIGlobal
Gaithersburg, MD
Scott Shearrer is a Senior Engineer and technical lead in the biosafety and global engagement team at MRIGlobal. He has over 25 years’ experience working in biosafety and biocontainment facilities overseeing the operations of BSL-4, BSL-3, ABSL-3 and BSL-2 laboratories. Mr. Shearrer has a degree in mechanical engineering and holds an RBP from ABSA International. Mr. Shearrer has supported multiple international engagements: First with a 2 year deployment to Kazakhstan providing technical assistance for the completion of two high containment laboratories, and second, assisting with operational support of mobile diagnostic laboratories in West Africa. Mr. Shearrer has previously been an ABSA course instructor on “Responding to Emergencies in Biosafety Laboratories” and has presented at multiple ABSA International-sponsored conferences. He is a current member of ABSA International’s International Engagement Committee.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
19. Boots on the Ground: Developing Field Laboratories in Resource-Limited Settings
This course provides attendees with the knowledge and practical skills needed to conduct research and clinical trials in international settings. It covers key aspects of fieldwork, including ethical considerations, cultural competency, regulatory requirements, data collection methods, and logistical challenges. Attendees will explore case studies and participate in hands-on training to develop strategies for navigating diverse healthcare environments, working with local stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with global research standards. Attendees will conclude the course equipped to design and implement field research projects in international contexts, addressing real-world health challenges while upholding scientific integrity and ethical responsibility.
Objectives:
- Design and Plan Fieldwork—Create a research or clinical trial protocol that includes logistics, site selection, stakeholder collaboration, and risk mitigation
- Manage Challenges in Global Research—Identify and develop solutions for common challenges such as regulatory approvals, weather emergencies, infrastructure limitations, and data security
- Implement Data Collection Methods—Utilize appropriate qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques suited for international and resource-limited settings
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience Laboratory Workers, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
Krystle Hensley, MPHTMBSL-4 Manager
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)
Manhattan, KS
Krystle Hensley is the BSL4 Manager at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a critical facility within the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. In this role, she helps facilitate the standup of the BSL4 program and maximum containment research related to zoonotic and emerging diseases and agricultural threats. Prior to joining NBAF she worked at the Integrated Research Facility – NIAID supporting international programs and clinical trials, as well as establishing laboratory capacity in West Africa. She holds a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University and has experience in BSL3 and BSL4 research laboratories. Krystle is dedicated to advancing knowledge and contributing to cutting-edge scientific efforts to protect against emerging infectious diseases and biological threats.
Gene Garrard Olinger, Jr., PhD, MBA
Director—GNL
Professor—Microbiology & Immunology
UTMB—Galveston
Galveston, TX
Dr. Gene Olinger is Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Director of the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) at UTMB, one of the largest maximum containment laboratories in the United States. A leading expert in biosafety and biosecurity, Dr. Olinger brings extensive experience in the safe operation and oversight of high- and maximum containment laboratories. He is ISO 35001 and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor trained, with a strong focus on biorisk management systems and quality assurance. Throughout his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams in developing and implementing biosafety practices that support research on high-consequence pathogens. As GNL Director, he continues to advance international standards for biosafety and biosecurity while fostering global collaborations to strengthen preparedness and response to infectious disease threats.
Chad Mire, PhD
Research Leader
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)
Manhattan, KS
Dr. Chad E. Mire serves as the NBAF Research Leader for the Foreign Anthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Prior to joining the USDA, Dr. Mire has worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Microbiology and Immunology (UTMB) for nearly a decade. Here, Dr. Mire took on several positions including Associate Professor and High-Containment Program Coordinator for Animal Research. As an Associate Professor, Dr. Mire developed research ideas in diagnostics, animal model development, vaccine, and therapeutic development in relation to emerging and zoonotic pathogens such as Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and Nipah virus. Dr. Mire received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rowan University, followed by receiving his Doctorate in Molecular Sciences with a focus on Virology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In addition to his educational and employment history, Dr. Mire has been internationally recognized for performing leading research on emerging pathogens to develop preventative measures against emerging and zoonotic pathogens.
Lisa Hensley, PhD, MSPH
Distinguished Senior Research Scientist Lead
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)
Manhattan, KS
Dr. Lisa Hensley serves as the research leader for the Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit, or ZEDRU, located at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), which is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Hensley’s team at NBAF focus research efforts on zoonotic and emerging pathogens in large livestock and look for ways to interrupt or stop diseases, which is something USDA scientists cannot do anywhere else in the U.S. at the highest level of biocontainment or BSL-4.Before joining the USDA team at NBAF, Dr. Hensley served as the associate director for science at the National Institutes of Health’s Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, where she was responsible for developing and managing a multidiscipline/multifaceted research portfolio supporting biodefense, potential pandemic pathogens, and emerging infectious disease research.Dr. Hensley also served as the director of regulatory science for the Medical Countermeasures Initiative in the Office of the Commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration and was the chief of Viral Therapeutics at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). She has an extensive background in public health, obtaining her doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in immunology and infectious disease from The Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. She spent the last 25 years developing and characterizing animal models for high-consequence and emerging pathogens, including Ebola and Marburg, SARs, MERs, Variola, mpox (formerly monkeypox) and other viruses. She used these models to develop, evaluate and help advance candidate countermeasures, including therapeutics, post-exposure prophylaxes, vaccines, and diagnostics to improve national and global health.Beyond the confines of the maximum containment laboratory, Dr. Hensley worked in remote locations such as West and Central Africa, where she established research laboratories to respond to outbreaks and conduct clinical trials in low-resource environments. She is considered one of the world’s leading subject matter experts on emerging diseases and high-consequence pathogens. She is one of few scientists with experience in the development of medical countermeasures from discovery topre-clinical evaluation and through clinical trials. Dr. Hensley has authored over 250 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters and holds multiple patents.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
20. No Resources? No Problem! A Dynamic Workshop for Improving Biosafety Program Visibility and Leadership Engagement
Building a holistic and comprehensive biorisk management program requires serious leadership commitment across your organization in order to drive successful mitigation strategies and compliance metrics. Biosafety Officers alone cannot develop, maintain, or continuously improve safety programs and require infrastructural support both within safety verticals as well as externally across divisions. It’s easy to lose sight of key objectives and results when faced with a mountain of operational issues, frustrated by a lack of resources, and feeling disconnected from leadership. Where do you begin when standing up a new biosafety program? What about implementing enterprise risk management solutions to mature an existing one? What are the pitfalls to avoid and how do you strategically engage leadership? This course will reinforce cornerstone pieces of biosafety program management with four highly interactive hands-on exercises to help drive solutions at your respective institutions. These exercises include leading indicator metrics, SOAR analysis, accountability and responsibility, and how to use appreciative inquiry as a tool for continuous improvement.
Objectives:
- Critique your respective biosafety program’s strengths and opportunities for improvement, both short and long term, and how to drive leadership engagement for support
- Establish a solutions-oriented approach that include leading indicator metrics based on SMART principles (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound).
- Participate in hands-on exercises (4) and a discussion to foment tangible strategies to bring back to your institution, with a special emphasis on responsibility and accountability in safety program management
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, All Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
COURSE FACULTY
AJ Troiano, PhD, MS, RBP(ABSA)
Global Director of Biosafety and Toxicology
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
Morrisville, NC
AJ serves as the Global Director of Biosafety and Toxicology at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and is part of the global quality leadership team. In this critical role, he oversees safety operations for both patients and workers across 6 campuses spanning Europe and North America, assisting in and harmonizing hazard identification, risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk monitoring strategies. AJ describes his role as a “safety diplomat” across the company’s operations landscape, with his core belief that a successful safety leadership position is predicated on collaborating with stakeholders across scientific, operational, quality and environmental health and safety (EHS) infrastructures, as well as both engaging and empowering leadership. Before joining FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, AJ worked in various capacities as a biosafety and operations consultant in the Greater Boston, MA area and across the United States. He has audited, inspected, or provided gap analyses for laboratories at numerous multinational life science corporations, academic institutions, biotechnology start-ups, as well as various government agencies. He received his BS in Microbiology and Classics from the University of New Hampshire, a PhD in Biomedical Science with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Biophysics from the University of Connecticut Health Center and a MS in Clinical Toxicology through the University of Florida. AJ is a Registered Biosafety Professional with the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA International), and a member of ABSA’s Scientific Program Committee. A passionate safety advocate, AJ is active in both biosafety and toxicology professional organizations globally, and lives in the Boston, MA area.
Colleen Kovacsics, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
Global Biosafety Officer
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
Morrisville, NC
As the Global Biosafety Officer for FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Colleen brings a wealth of experience and expertise in biorisk management, cell & viral gene therapy, and GMP operations. In this role, she serves as a centralized subject matter expert to assist in all aspects of contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) operations surrounding biologically derived therapeutics, specifically: new product introductions, risk assessments, training, and regulatory compliance. Colleen previously served as the Lead Biosafety Officer for Spark Therapeutics, overseeing capital investment projects like their new Gene Therapy Innovation Center, scaling their AAV commercial platform, and was a pivotal SME in the success of Luxturna®, the first ever FDA approved viral gene therapy for the treatment of inherited retinal dystrophy. Previous to this, she worked as the biosafety officer at the University of Pennsylvania where she partnered with Dr. Carl June on the first ever CAR-T Cell therapy, Kymriah®. Colleen has a B.S. in neuroscience from Penn State University, holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania, is a registered biosafety professional though the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA International), and is the chair of ABSA’s Scientific Program Committee. She currently lives in Philadelphia, PA with her husband and 7-year-old son, as well as their Boston Terrier puppy, Millie.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
21. Lessons Learned to Improve Biosafety
Preventing laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) is a challenge for laboratory managers and biosafety professionals, especially when dealing with an emerging pathogen. It is extremely important to quickly determine if there has been an exposure, how many may have been exposed, what steps need to happen next, including any prophylaxis, root cause analysis, gaps in the biosafety plan, and additional mitigation measures that need to be implemented. This interactive course will examine published papers from the ABSA LAI Database on laboratory acquired infections and exposures to determine what we can learn to prevent future exposures. Attendees will thoroughly examine the literature on the history of lab-acquired infections, review specific published articles, utilize the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) ‘Laboratory Exposure Assessment and Symptom Monitoring Guide’ (exposure assessment tool) to assess exposures, analyze data to identify root causes of exposures, discuss identified gaps, and establish additional steps required to mitigate risks. Afterwards, attendees will divide into groups and receive new scenarios from the database. Using the APHL exposure assessment tool, they will apply the process demonstrated earlier—from determining exposure to conducting root cause analysis, identifying gaps, and proposing mitigation steps to prevent recurrence. Attendees will then learn to utilize published data on lab-acquired infections and these tools to safely handle emerging pathogens.
Objectives:
- Describe how the ABSA LAI database can be used for biosafety training and determining how to safely work with emerging pathogens
- Utilize the APHL exposure assessment tool to assess real-life laboratory incidents for potential exposures and to help guide prophylaxis if indicated
- Analyze actual laboratory incidents to determine the root cause and what steps are necessary to mitigate future incidents
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Risk Assessment
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Michael Pentella, PhD, SM(ASCP), CIC, D(ABMM)
State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa
Coralville, IA
Dr. Pentella is a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health and Director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory. His experience spans over forty years in clinical microbiology and public health laboratories. He is certified as an American Board of Medical Microbiology Diplomate, a specialist in microbiology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology and certified in infection control through the Association of Professionals in Infection Control. Dr. Pentella is a member of the APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, Antibiotic Resistance Lab Workgroup, the Infectious Disease Committee, and the Respiratory Viruses Subcommittee. He has made several contributions that have improved the practice of clinical microbiology and biosafety. He has written over 50 articles and twenty book chapters.
Erin Bowles, BS, MT(ASCP)
Laboratory Network Coordinator
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Madison, WI
Erin Bowles is the Laboratory Network Coordinator for the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s Communicable Disease Division, where she provides outreach and education to more than 125 laboratories in Wisconsin in order to ensure a coordinated statewide response to any biological threats of public health importance. Her background in clinical microbiology and expertise in biosafety serve her well as a member of APHL’s Workforce Development Committee, the Sentinel Laboratory Outreach and Partnership Subcommittee, and the Sentinel Laboratory Training Special Interest Group. Some of the committee projects that she has contributed to are revisions to the ASM Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Guidelines and the development of risk assessment training and biosafety tools such as the “Clinical Laboratory Preparedness and Response Guide”.
Shoolah Escott, MS, MT(ASCP)
Biosafety and Biosecurity Trainer
Lexington, MA
Shoolah Escott is currently an independent, Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Bioterrorism Preparedness Trainer and a COVID-19 Contact Tracer with Partners In Health. She was the Biosafety Manager and ARO at the MA State Public Health Laboratory for over 2 years where she provided biosafety training and support to over 50 clinical laboratories and to internal public health laboratory staff. She worked for APHL/CDC National Laboratory Training Network, CDC Laboratory Training Branch for over 17 years developing, implementing, delivering, and presenting national training programs in biosafety, biosecurity and bioterrorism preparedness. She has a strong background in clinical microbiology and was the safety officer for the Memorial Hospital clinical laboratory. Currently, she serves on several ABSA and APHL committees. Here are a few key biosafety accomplishments: What Constitutes an Effective Biosafety Plan at the World Microbe Forum; Biosafety and Biosecurity: Minimizing the Risks in the Laboratory and Clinical Laboratory Biosafety Risk Assessment seminars presented nationally multiple times; and the lead on the initial development and revision of the Clinical Laboratory Preparedness and Response Guide.
Michael Perry, MS, MS Ed
Associate Director of the Biodefense Laboratory | Alternate Responsible Official
New York State Department of Health—Wadsworth Center
Albany, NY
Michael Perry is the associate director of the Biodefense Laboratory at the New York State Department of Health – Wadsworth Center. As the ARO, APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity committee member and a member of the Wadsworth Center institutional biosafety committee, Michael has extensive training and expertise in biosafety. As part of the Global Health Security Agenda, Michael was the lead trainer for APHL’s Global Health program, developing and providing trainings in the proper use, operation, and maintenance of biological safety cabinets and biorisk management for international public health laboratorians in Africa. Over the last 10 years, Michael has conducted numerous sentinel laboratory site visit which focused on the evaluation of both laboratory biosafety which a focus on assistance with risk assessments and risk mitigation strategies.
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
22. Navigating Regulatory Audits in Biosafety: Strategies for Success
In biosafety, regulatory compliance is paramount to ensure the safe handling of biological materials and maintain the integrity of research and healthcare activities. This course is designed to equip biosafety professionals, laboratory managers, and clinical research personnel with the knowledge and strategies to prepare for and successfully navigate regulatory audits. The course, filled with practical and applicable content, will cover critical regulatory frameworks relevant to biosafety, including those outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Attendees will gain insights into audit preparation techniques, documentation requirements, and best practices for ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and mock audit scenarios, attendees will learn how to identify potential audit pitfalls, address non-compliance issues, and implement corrective actions to strengthen their biosafety programs. Whether preparing for routine inspections or facing an unanticipated audit, this course will provide invaluable guidance and practical strategies to navigate regulatory audits confidently and successfully.
Objectives:
- Develop a comprehensive audit preparation plan incorporating documentation requirements outlined by regulatory agencies such as the CDC, NIH, and OSHA
- Demonstrate proficiency in identifying potential audit pitfalls and addressing non-compliance issues within a biosafety program
- Interpret audit findings and implement corrective actions to strengthen a biosafety program and improve regulatory compliance practices
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, New Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Worker
Audience Level: Intermediate
COURSE FACULTY
Sarah Ziegler, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM)Sitero
Coral Gables, FL
CONTACT HOURS
This course has been approved for 0.5 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 3.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.