Sunday, October 26, 2025

6:30 – 8:30 pm Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall

MONDAY SCHEDULE:
Scientific Program

October 27, 2025

All times listed will be Eastern Standard Time

7:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration

9:00 am – 4:00 pm Vendor Exhibits

8:00 – 8:15 am Welcome and ABSA International President’s Address
Sherry Bohn, PhD, CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM), University of Maryland—Baltimore, Baltimore, MD

8:15 – 8:20 am Local Arrangements Committee Welcome
Scott Alderman, MS, CBSP(ABSA), Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC

8:20 – 8:25 am Scientific Program Committee Welcome
Colleen Kovacsics, PhD, RBP(ABSA), FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Morrisville, NC

Sherry Bohn, PhD, CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM), University of Maryland—Baltimore, Baltimore, MDSherry Bohn, PhD, CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM)
University of Maryland—Baltimore
Baltimore, MD

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.

Session 1 | Arnold G. Wedum Memorial Lecture Award

8:25 – 9:15 am Title: TBD
Wondwossen Gebreyes, DVM, PhD, DACVPM, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

9:15 – 9:25 am Q&A Session

9:25 – 9:55 am | Exhibits, Posters, and Coffee Break

Session 2 | Applied Biosafety

9:55 – 10:10 am BSC MythBusters: All Airflow Monitors are Created Equal
Kara Held, PhD, Baker, Sanford, ME

10:10 – 10:25 am Heat Me with Your Best Shot
Shane Riddell, MSc, CSIRO, East Geelong, Victoria, Australia

10:25 – 10:40 am Cutting Edge Safety: Characterizing Sharps Use in the Research Laboratories
Sheryl Mansour, MPA, University of California—San Diego, San Diego, CA

10:40 – 10:55 am Q&A Session

Kara Held, PhD, Baker, Sanford, MEKara Held, PhD brings an extensive knowledge of Cell Biology, Pharmacology, and Biosafety to The Baker Company. Prior to her coming on board, she was a Lab Manager, Safety Officer, and Researcher at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. She earned her PhD at the University of Vermont Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and then completed her postdoctoral training at Yale University in the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program. Her recent experience in academic research brings a unique perspective, familiarity and hands-on knowledge base with laboratory science. As the Science Director for Baker, she has helped provide some clarity into the nuances of Biosafety through the use of Biosafety Cabinets.

Shane Riddell, MSc, CSIRO, East Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaShane Riddell has worked for CSIRO for over 15 years, and in the Biorisk Management group since 2015. Shane holds joint roles as both the Biorisk Pathogen Specialist and the BSL-4 Laboratory Manager and conducts research into validation of inactivation of Risk Group 3 and 4 viruses to enable staff to work safely at lower containment levels. Shane also conducts research and validation into decontamination of room spaces with newer technologies such as vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide, Fogging Peracetic Acid and Chlorine Dioxide.

Sheryl Mansour, MPA, University of California—San Diego, San Diego, CASheryl Mansour serves as the Biosafety Officer at the University of California—San Diego, where she plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community through comprehensive biorisk management. With her recent completion of a Master’s in Public Administration and years of experience, Sheryl brings a unique perspective by applying principles of public management to the specialized field of biosafety. Her integrated approach combines rigorous scientific standards with effective administrative practices to create sustainable safety protocols that protect researchers and the broader community.

10:55 – 11:00 am | Stretch

Session 3 | Poster Speed Talks

11:00 – 11:30 am

Implementing Risk-Based Stratified Controls for the Safe Use of Diphtheria Toxin
Mary Brock, CBSP(ABSA), CPBCA, Duke University, Durham, NC

Use of Hybrid Hydrogen PeroxideTM Vapor to Decontaminate a Small Hepa Housing with Hepa Filter Installed
Rachael Sullivan, MS, RBP(ABSA), Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

Tips & Tricks for Designing Studies with UV-Reactive Microorganism Simulants
Devin Boyles, MS, RBP(ABSA), CPH, MRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, MD

Mobilizing Biosafety — An Intro to Mobile Laboratories & Event Preparedness
Shoolah Escott, MS, MT(ASCP), Biosafety and Biosecurity Trainer, Lexington, MA

Developing Pharma Biosafety Professionals: The Right Mix of on the Job and Structured Training
Michelle Frondelli, PhD, RBP(ABSA), Johnson and Johnson, Raritan, NJ

Advancing Laboratory Safety: The Impact of Community Outreach and Training Initiatives at Boston Children’s Hospital
Madeeha Maqsood, MS, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Celebrating 50 Years of the Needlestick Prevention Act!
Crystal Fortune, MPH, RBP(ABSA), MT Laboratory Services Bureau, Helena MT

Efficacy of Current Vaccines Against Recently Isolated Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Type A South America (Venezuela) in Egypt 2022
Nermeen Shafik, PhD, Central Laboratory for Evaluation of Veterinary Biologics, Cairo, Egypt

Evaluating Biorisk Management Improvements: Re-Assessment of Life Sciences Laboratories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, Pakistan (FY19)
Muhammad Atif Jafar, DVM, MSC (HONS), Association for Biorisk Management, Peshawar, Pakistan

Mary Brock, CBSP(ABSA), is currently a Safety and Health Specialist serving as Assistant Biosafety Officer in the Biological Safety Division of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at Duke University Health System. She is also an Alternate Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. Mary has been a member of ABSA International since 2021. Mary is an active member of the Public Relations and Marketing Committee. Mary began her career as a researcher and safety professional with the Department of Defense before moving to Duke University.

Rachael is a Senior Laboratory Coordinator at the BRI. As a working supervisor, she works with the other Lab Coordinators to order PPE and supplies for the research labs, set up labs prior to research studies, decontaminate research spaces after project completion, and many things in between. The Lab Coordinators facilitate communication between different groups both in and out of the building, such as operations staff, biosafety staff, equipment vendors, EH&S, and researchers. Rachael also serves as a member of the BRI Project Coordination Committee which functions to schedule research projects in the facility. Rachael worked as a Biosafety Specialist at the BRI for seven years before becoming a Lab Coordinator. Prior to that, she worked in infectious disease research at the BSL-3 level with organisms such as Brucella Melitensis, Francisella Tularensis, and Yersinia Pestis. She enjoys teaching and implementing practical strategies for improvement in the constantly evolving research program at the BRI.

Devin Boyles, MS, RBP(ABSA), CPH, MRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, MDDevin is a Registered Biological Safety Professional (RBP) that serves as a staff scientist and technical developer for biorisk management and diagnostic training programs in support of various governmental, academic, and commercial clients. Previous to her work at MRIGlobal she spent two years in laboratory safety and biological import specialist positions at the University of Pittsburgh, and, before that, worked as a virology research technician in Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research where she studied the neurological and congenital effects of Rift Valley fever virus infection in rodents. Devin has a Master of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health and is Certified in Public Health.

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.

Michelle Frondelli, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
Johnson and Johnson
Raritan, NJ

Michelle Frondelli is an Occupational Toxicologist at Johnson and Johnson, specializing in biosafety and occupational toxicology. With a solid background in the pharmaceutical industry, her work focuses on the classification and risk assessment of new and cutting-edge biologic modalities. Prior to her current role, she has several years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program at the National Institutes of Health, where she underwent intensive training in high and maximum biocontainment. She holds a PhD from New Jersey Medical School/Rutgers University, an MS from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a BS from Rutgers University, all in Biomedical Engineering. Additionally, she most recently earned her Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) credential from ABSA International. Looking into the future, Michelle is eager to take on new challenges and make a meaningful impact on the field of biosafety and occupational toxicology.

Madeeha Maqsood, MS
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston, MA

Madeeha Maqsood, originally from Lahore, Pakistan, and raised in Arizona, USA, is the first in her family to pursue higher education. She holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Arizona State University. Currently, Madeeha serves as the Senior Biosafety Program Coordinator and Associate Biosafety Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). In this role, she conducts risk assessments, develops safety protocols, and oversees the biosafety program to ensure compliance with safety standards. She also serves as a voting member of BCH’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Madeeha actively promotes safety at BCH through educational initiatives, including organizing Lab Representative Town Halls, conducting Safety Audits, and leading the Annual RLSO Safety Fairs, all of which foster a culture of safe research practices across the institution.

Crystal Fortune, MPH, RBP(ABSA)
Montana Public Health Laboratory
Helena MT

Crystal serves as the Biosafety Officer at the Montana Public Health Laboratory, providing outreach and in-house biosafety consultation and overseeing sample packaging and transport for clinics and laboratories across the state. She has a strong track record of adherence to national quality assurance standards and compliance with OSHA, US DOT, and select agent program requirements. As such, she has also served as an Alternate Responsible Official with Montana Public Health Laboratory’s Select Agent Program, is a Registered Biosafety Professional with ABSA International and is co-chair of the ABSA Public Health Outreach Shared Interest Group. Her passion is to foster a culture of safety and excellence in laboratories and to support the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

Nermeen Shafik, PhD
Central Laboratory for Evaluation of Veterinary Biologics
Cairo, Egypt

Prof. Dr. Nermeen Gouda Shafik is professor research of Virology (Viral Large and Pet Animal Vaccines Evaluation Dept.) at the Central Laboratory for Evaluation of Veterinary Biologics (CLEVB). She is the head of evaluation for animal viral vaccines department since 1995. Her education includes a BSc in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University and MSc, and a PhD in Virology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University. She has twenty years of experience working in a lab setting (BSL-2) according to Laboratory Biorisk Management Standard CWA 15793:2008. She is responsible for the evaluation of viral large and pet animal vaccines, isolation and identification of different viruses (FMD, RVF, POX. Herps. BRSV, etc.), and performs serological and molecular testing. Additionally, research work on vaccine evaluation, vaccine production and vaccination strategy for viral endemic diseases. Her research interests include filling research gap for vaccine production and vaccination strategy for viral endemic diseases; development of alternative methods for vaccine evaluation; development of novel techniques for diagnosis of viruses; and studying and development approaches which serve biosafety in laboratory and animal facility.

Muhammad Atif Jafar, DVM, MSC (HONS)
Association for Biorisk Management
Peshawar, Pakistan

Muhammad Atif Jafar is a veterinarian by education and a biorisk management professional by training, certified by IFBA in Biorisk Management, Biosecurity, and Cyberbiosecurity. He is working with the Association for Biorisk Management (ABM) Pakistan designated as “BRM Program Manager” for the implementation of biorisk management best practices in the life sciences of Pakistan. His organization is a local implementor for Health Security Partners USA.

11:30 – 1:00 pm | Exhibits, Posters, and Lunch

Session 4 | Poster Session

12:00 – 1:00 pm Presenters must be available during the session.

Session 5 | Invited Speaker

1:00 – 1:45 pm Title: TBD
Matthias Gromeier, MD, PhD, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

1:45 – 2:00 pm Q&A Session

2:00 – 2:30 pm | Exhibits, Posters, and Coffee Break

Session 6 | Perspectives Beyond the Traditional Lab

2:30 – 2:45 pm Biosafety from the Field: Livestock to Public Health Laboratories
Eric Lundquist, RBP(ABSA), Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul, MN

2:45 – 3:00 pm Biosafety & Beyond in Marine Research
Shane Gillooly, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), CSP, University of Miami, Miami, FL

3:00 – 3:15 pm Developing CAR-T Therapies: Lessons Learned from a Biosafety Perspective
Edward David, MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), Bristol Myers Squibb, San Diego, CA

3:15 – 3:30 pm Greater than 10 Liters…What About 20,000 Liters? Large-Scale Biorisk Management at North America’s Biggest End to End Manufacturing Facility for Biologically Derived Therapeutics
AJ Troiano, PhD, RBP(ABSA), FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Morrisville, NC

3:30 – 3:45 pm Enhanced Laboratory Containment: Beyond Standard Biosafety Levels
Drew Fayram, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), Merrick & Company, Greenwood Village, CO

3:45 – 4:00 pm Q&A Session

Eric Lundquist, RBP(ABSA), Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul, MNEric Lundquist currently serves as the Biosafety Coordinator at the Public Health Laboratory-Infectious Disease Laboratory at Minnesota Department of Health. Eric is a current member of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee providing subject matter expertise to public health and clinical laboratories around enhancing and improving laboratory biosafety and biosecurity capacity. During his tenue on the committee, Eric has led the effort to develop a risk assessment guide for laboratories to assess their risk of exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) when testing raw milk samples. Eric is also a current member of the American Biological Safety Association. He currently is a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and is a Registered Biological Safety Professional.

Shane Gillooly, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), CSP, University of Miami, Miami, FL

Shane Gillooly is the Associate Director of EHS and Biosafety Officer for the University of Miami. He is a Vice Chair for Advarra and is currently pursuing a PhD in Molecular Biology. He is a CBSP, RBP, and CSP.

Edward David, MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), Bristol Myers Squibb, San Diego, CAEddie David is an Associate Director of EHS within the Safety Center of Excellence at Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to help patients fight serious diseases. At BMS, he has supported EHS programs at the Global, Regional, and site-based level with a focus on improving Biosafety. Prior to his work at BMS, he worked in Hospital/Healthcare as the Biosafety Officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in academia as the Biosafety Officer at the University of Southern California.

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.

Drew Fayram, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), 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.

4:00 – 4:05 pm | Stretch

Session 7 | Planning for the Future of Biosafety

4:05 – 4:20 pm Realigning Biosafety Biosecurity to the Modern Biological Order
Aparupa Sengupta, PhD, RBP(ABSA), Nuclear Threat Initiative, Washington DC

4:20 – 4:35 pm Oversight of High Consequence Research and Horizon Scanning for Emerging Risks from Synthetic Biology and Artificial Intelligence
Matthew Sharkey, PhD, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC

4:35 – 4:50 pm Building Resilience: Biosafety Planning in an Evolving Regulatory Climate
Heidi Page, MS, RBP(ABSA), Azelia Laboratories, Pepper Pike, OH

4:50 – 5:05 pm Q&A Session

Aparupa Sengupta, PhD, RBP(ABSA), Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), Washington, DCDr. Aparupa Sengupta serves as a Senior Program Officer for NTI’s Global Biological Policy and Programs team NTI | bio. In this role, she supports the Biosecurity Innovation and Risk Reduction Initiative (BIRRI) to reduce risks of biotechnology catastrophe. This includes efforts to advance the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science, a new international entity NTI is launching to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. Dr. Sengupta is an accomplished scientist and global health security practitioner with more than 15 years of research, regulatory, and training experience across the fields of infectious disease containment, biosafety and biosecurity, and global biological risk reduction. Prior to joining NTI in 2022, she served at the University of California-Merced campus, where she initiated and led their biosafety and biosecurity programs, first, as the campus biosafety-biosecurity officer since May 2018 and then as the Assistant Director for Environmental Health and Safety and Director of High Containment Research Laboratories. Dr. Sengupta is an active member of ABSA International, where she plays key leadership roles in multiple committees; to highlight- Chair, Publications Committee and Co-Chair, International Engagement Committee. She also teaches pre-conference courses in the field of gene editing and related to other emerging technologies, and she has been invited to give many talks in the U.S. and internationally, advocating for the safe and secure use of emerging recombinant technologies in the evolving field of biosciences. Dr. Sengupta holds a PhD in Microbiology & Applied Biochemistry and MS in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology from Michigan Technological University and a MSc in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, India. Sengupta is also a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) with ABSA International.

Matthew Sharkey, PhD, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (OPP, BIO), Washington, DCMatt Sharkey is a Biologist in the Emerging Threats Branch at the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, where he leads the review and oversight of high consequence research and horizon scanning for emerging risks from synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. Matt has a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Purdue University, and has authored fifteen publications on virology and biosecurity, including peer-reviewed articles, a U.S. patent, and federal biosecurity policies. For nearly ten years he was either a researcher or biosafety officer in high-containment laboratories, spending two years each overseeing a MERS-CoV lab and supporting the federal Laboratory Response Network. He also received fellowships for postdoctoral work from Ionis Pharmaceuticals and the National Research Council, the latter of which supported his work at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. Matt currently serves on the editorial board of Applied Biosafety and is an Adjunct Professor with the Georgetown University Medical Center.

Heidi Page, MS, RBP(ABSA), SABAI Global—Shield Consulting, Chesterfield, MO

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.

5:10 – Close | Members’ Business Meeting

Door prizes will be awarded—must be present to win.