Professional Development Courses
Intermediate Level Courses
For those with basic knowledge or would like to learn more.
In-Person Courses
October 10-11, 2026
Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center—Mobile, Alabama
(in-person courses are in Central Standard Time)
Saturday, October, 10, 2026, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
5. Risk Assessment to Reality: Translating Biorisk Assessment into Proportionate Controls and Facility Decisions
Biological risk assessment is a foundational requirement for biosafety and biosecurity programs; however, many organizations struggle to translate assessment outputs into defensible, proportionate, and sustainable controls. Too often, risk assessment remains a paper exercise, disconnected from operational decision-making, or leads to over-engineering solutions that strain resources without improving safety. This course offers a decision-driven, lifecycle-based approach that bridges the gap between biological risk assessment and real-world implementation. Attendees will learn how to convert biosafety and biosecurity risk assessment findings into practical control strategies, SOPs, training priorities, and infrastructure decisions that are fit for purpose and aligned with international expectations.The course integrates biosafety and biosecurity perspectives, addressing agent- and procedure-based hazards alongside threat and vulnerability considerations. Emphasis is placed on proportionality, justification of controls, and the avoidance of both under- and over-engineering. Through guided exercises and tabletop scenarios, attendees will practice translating risk characterization into engineering, administrative, and operational controls, including implications for laboratory design, containment features, and facility management. Designed for professionals working in laboratories, research institutions, and regulatory or oversight roles, this course equips attendees with tools to support defensible decision-making, enhanced institutional governance, and strengthened linkage between risk assessment, operational practices, and infrastructure planning.
Objectives:
- Analyze biological risks using integrated biosafety and biosecurity risk assessment frameworks that consider agents, procedures, exposure pathways, threats, and vulnerabilities
- Develop proportionate and defensible control strategies by translating risk assessment outputs into engineering, administrative, and operational controls
- Evaluate facility and infrastructure decisions to ensure they are fit for purpose, risk-informed, and aligned with institutional needs and international best practices
Suggested Background:
Fundamentals of Biosafety, Risk Assessment, Basic understanding of laboratory biosafety concepts, Prior exposure to risk assessment principles (formal or informal)
Target Audience:
All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Managers and Directors, Researchers and Principal Investigators
Audience Level:
COURSE FACULTY
Dr. Mafra is a veterinarian (Federal University of Viçosa, 1988) with a Master’s in Parasitology (UFMG, 1991) and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) from UFRGS (1998). He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, USA, focusing on biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. As a retired full professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UFV, he continues as a professor and advisor in the Applied Biochemistry graduate program. His extensive expertise includes biosafety, parasitic diseases, parasite biochemistry and molecular biology, bioinformatics, and molecular epidemiology, with research emphasis on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and the complex interactions among pathogens, vectors, hosts, and the environment. Dr. Mafra has held multiple leadership roles, including Vice-President of ANBio, President of the Brazilian Society for Biosafety and Biosecurity (SB3), and President of the Certification Body of IFBA (Canada). He is a member of several national and international working groups, such as Brazil’s Maximum Biocontainment Facility Workgroup and CEPI’s Biorisk Working Group (Norway). He collaborates with institutions, including the Ministry of Health, PAHO, iGEM Foundation, and the Galveston National Laboratory (UTMB). He has consulted for organizations like ABNT, CNPq, FINEP, FAPESP, and the OAS on bioterrorism. An active researcher, Dr. Mafra has authored over 70 scientific articles, multiple books, patents, and software registrations. He has also guided numerous theses and postdoctoral projects. His career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing biosafety, biocontainment, and public health, contributing to national preparedness and global biosecurity efforts.
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, 10, 2026, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
6. Pharmaceutical Biosafety Officer Training Course
The course is intended for Pharma Biosafety Officers (BSOs), BSOs with interest in the biopharmaceutical industry, and can be a complimentary course to ABSA International’s Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB). The curriculum begins with a comparison of academic and pharmaceutical biosafety models, examining U.S. and international regulatory frameworks and regional requirements, introducing the Biorisk Management Standard (ISO 35001) and related ISO safety standards, and highlighting core competencies for Pharma BSOs operating within complex organizations. Building on regulatory foundations, the course explores biosafety in biologics and novel pharmaceuticals—including antibody-drug conjugates, mRNA and lipid nanoparticles, viral vectors, and gene therapies. Key concepts include biosafety levels (infection risk management) and exposure control banding (potency/toxicity of ingredients) for managing infection risk, ingredient potency, and hybrid biological–chemical hazards, followed by alignment of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles with biosafety requirements; engineering topics cover HVAC analysis, workflow and equipment layout, Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), room pressurization, decontamination methods (e.g., autoclaves, HEPA filtration, kill tanks, chemical treatments), and process equipment containment through group exercises. Finally, attendees explore how organizational risk tolerance influences biosafety through a hands-on risk assessment workshop spanning research, manufacturing, and clinical settings, featuring simulated approval processes (e.g., Institutional Biosafety Committee), collaborative review, case scenarios, group discussion, and Q&A.
Objectives:
- Compare and contrast key regulatory frameworks, including the differences between academic and pharmaceutical biosafety models, essential USA and international regulations, the Biorisk Management Standard (ISO 35001), and recommended competencies for Pharma Biosafety Officers
- Apply biosafety principles to advanced pharmaceutical modalities such as biologics, mRNA technologies, antibody-drug conjugates, and gene therapies, including strategies for managing infection risk (biosafety levels) and chemical/biological hybrid hazards (exposure control banding)
- Integrate Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) with biosafety program requirements by analyzing engineering controls, facility design (HVAC, Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)), decontamination methods, and by conducting risk assessments in research, manufacturing, and clinical environments
Suggested Background:
Fundamentals of Biosafety, Micro/Molecular Biology 101, Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB), Risk Assessment, Virology/Viral Vectors
Target Audience:
All Biosafety Professionals, Pharma EHS Professionals interested in biosafety upskilling
Audience Level:
COURSE FACULTY
Leo Njongmeta is an Associate EHS Director and Global Biosafety Officer at Abbvie where he leads the Global R&D EHS Center of Excellence comprised of Biosafety, Vivarium Safety, Radiation Safety, Environmental Compliance and Dangerous Goods Shipping programs. His Team is responsible for providing strategic support to drive a Culture of Safety and Environmental Compliance in biomedical research, drug discovery, preclinical safety, and biologics manufacturing. Prior to a career in safety, Leo was a research scientist conducting biomedical research in the fields of immunology, animal models of infectious diseases and vaccine development. Leo possesses a B.Sc in Microbiology, an M.Sc in Molecular Biology, a Ph.D in Veterinary Science (Parasite Immunology) and an MBA in Leadership and Operations Management. Leo is currently an adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health. Leo holds board certifications in Safety (CBSP(ABSA), CSP), has been an active member of ABSA International serving in various committees which include current elected member of the ABSA Nominating Committee and leadership roles in the ABSA Pharma Biosafety Group.
Eddie 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.
Arif Peshimam is the Global Head of Biosafety for Sanofi, a Multinational Pharmaceutical Company. He is responsible for overall biosafety program management for manufacturing and R&D sites within the company. Prior to joining Sanofi, Arif was Corporate BSO for Southern Research, served as a Health Specialist/Industrial Hygienist in Health Safety & Environment at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology in Saudi Arabia, and was the Biosafety Officer and EHS Specialist in the Department of Environmental Health & Safety at the University of California—Riverside (UC Riverside). While at Case Western Reserve University, he implemented the Biological Safety and the Industrial Hygiene Programs from 2003 to 2008.
Arif is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) with ABSA International (American Biological Safety Association) and is trained in OSHA 24-hour HAZWOPER and the National Incident Management System. He holds an MD degree from Grant Medical College in Bombay, India. He received a Master of Public Health in Environmental & Occupational Health through the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health which includes Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo. He also received a Master of Science in Occupational Health, with a major in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Toledo. He earned a master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Case Western Reserve 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.
Sunday, October, 11, 2026, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8. 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 discussed 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
- Describe 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:
COURSE FACULTY
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, 11, 2026, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
11. Handling Critical Situations in Laboratories and Clinical Areas
Laboratories and healthcare environments operate in increasingly complex risk landscapes shaped by emerging pathogens, rapidly evolving technologies, global research collaboration, and changing epidemiological conditions. Regardless of location or resources, laboratories must be prepared to anticipate, prevent, and respond effectively to critical situations that may threaten personnel safety, institutional operations, and public health. This course provides a modern, risk-based framework for preparedness and response to emergencies in laboratory and clinical settings. While biological risk assessments help identify hazards and mitigation measures, they do not eliminate the possibility of incidents. Institutions must develop adaptive preparedness strategies supported by structured training, clear communication, and coordinated response procedures. Attendees will examine how emergency preparedness plans should function as living documents, continuously improved through lessons learned from incidents, evolving technologies, and international best practices. The course addresses a wide range of potential emergencies encountered in laboratories and healthcare facilities, including biological exposures, chemical or radioactive spills, medical emergencies, security incidents, natural disasters, and occupational injuries. Attendees will learn to integrate risk assessment into emergency planning while evaluating personnel readiness and strengthening institutional preparedness, with emphasis on communication, coordination, and decision‑making during critical situations. The course incorporates case studies, real-world incident analyses, and scenario-based exercises that allow attendees to apply risk assessment and emergency response principles to realistic situations while exchanging experiences across institutions and countries.
Objectives:
- Identify and categorize potential laboratory or clinical emergency scenarios, including biological, chemical, medical, security, and natural hazards
- Conduct risk assessments of laboratory and clinical processes to identify hazards, evaluate potential impacts, and assess personnel competence in recognizing and managing risks
- Apply risk-informed communication and decision-making strategies to support coordinated incident response and promote a culture of safety, preparedness, and continuous improvement
Suggested Background:
Fundamentals of Biosafety, Principles and Practices of Biosafety® (PPB), Risk Assessment
Target Audience:
New Biosafety Professionals, All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
Audience Level:
COURSE FACULTY
Mr. Ochoa currently serves as the High-Containment Lab/Pandemic Safety Manager and Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program for the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at Michigan State University. From October 2019 to June 2021, he worked as the Director of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Research Laboratory Network of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) and from March 2013 to October 2019 he served as BSL-3 Lab Coordinator at the National Reference Laboratory in Mexico. Prior to his current position, he received a Master´s Degree in Public Health Management focused on Biological Risk Management. He is currently the President of the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA-International) and has served as the Chair of the Publications Committee, member of the International Engagement Committee, member of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Working Group, and international editor for Applied Biosafety Journal. As one of the eighteen founding members and past President of the AMEXBIO, he has strengthened the network between biosafety professionals in the region and helped to create strategic alliances with international and national institutions. Additionally, Mr. Ochoa has served as a mentor of different mentoring programs for Sandia National Laboratories, the Next Generation Global Health Security Network, and the IFBA Mentorship Program. In addition, Mr. Ochoa is a Certified Biosafety Professional from IFBA in four disciplines: Biorisk Management, Biological Risk Assessment, Biocontainment Facility Design, Operations and Maintenance, and Biosafety Cabinet Selection, Installation and Safe Use.
Dr. Mafra is a veterinarian (Federal University of Viçosa, 1988) with a Master’s in Parasitology (UFMG, 1991) and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) from UFRGS (1998). He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, USA, focusing on biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. As a retired full professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UFV, he continues as a professor and advisor in the Applied Biochemistry graduate program. His extensive expertise includes biosafety, parasitic diseases, parasite biochemistry and molecular biology, bioinformatics, and molecular epidemiology, with research emphasis on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and the complex interactions among pathogens, vectors, hosts, and the environment. Dr. Mafra has held multiple leadership roles, including Vice-President of ANBio, President of the Brazilian Society for Biosafety and Biosecurity (SB3), and President of the Certification Body of IFBA (Canada). He is a member of several national and international working groups, such as Brazil’s Maximum Biocontainment Facility Workgroup and CEPI’s Biorisk Working Group (Norway). He collaborates with institutions, including the Ministry of Health, PAHO, iGEM Foundation, and the Galveston National Laboratory (UTMB). He has consulted for organizations like ABNT, CNPq, FINEP, FAPESP, and the OAS on bioterrorism. An active researcher, Dr. Mafra has authored over 70 scientific articles, multiple books, patents, and software registrations. He has also guided numerous theses and postdoctoral projects. His career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing biosafety, biocontainment, and public health, contributing to national preparedness and global biosecurity efforts.
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, 11, 2026, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
14. 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 learn to incorporate published data on laboratory acquired infections (LAIs) to strengthen biosafety protocols, with particular emphasis on managing 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:
COURSE FACULTY
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.
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 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.
Webinars
September 1 – November 19
(webinars are in Central Standard Time)
Although these courses are part of the Professional Development Program for the 69th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference, conference attendance is not required. Registration is open to all.
1V. ISO35001: A Stepwise Process to Assess and Improve Biorisk Management Program
August 21, August 24-25, and August 27-28, 2026
11:00 am – 12:40 pm CDT
Overview:
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
- Develop project ideas that will impact and improve existing systems
- Prioritize project ideas or areas that need improvement based on cost, impact, optics and precedencies
- Select an area for improvement and identify a simple, short term, project idea to help strengthen one element within the existing system
- Plan a project using the PDCA and GORRPI process (Goals, Objectives, Roles/Responsibilities, and Performance Indicators)
Suggested Background:
None
Target Audience:
All Safety Professionals, All Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level:
Course Logistics:
Course is five 100-minute sessions. Attendees will need to log on 10 minutes prior to the start time. To receive credit and a certificate, attendees must attend all the sessions and complete or access all course modules. The course materials are for registered participants only.
Although this course is part of the Professional Development Program for the 69th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference, conference attendance is not required. Registration is open to all.
COURSE FACULTY
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.
Kalpana Rengarajan is the Director of Research Safety at the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) and is the Senior Biosafety Officer for Emory University. EHSO has University-wide responsibility for all aspects of Environmental Health and Safety support, including Biosafety and EHS compliance support to Emory Healthcare. This includes biosafety support to the Emory Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU), which cared for 4 Ebola patients in 2014. The SCDU continues to be a major leader in the U.S. National Ebola Training Center. Her background includes a PhD in Immunology and she has worked as a Visiting Associate at the National Eye Institute, NIH. Prior to joining EHSO she worked as a Research Associate at the Emory Vaccine Center. Kalpana has a passion for Global Biorisk Management Public Health Preparedness and provides guidance internationally. She has a Masters of Public Health from Rollins School of Public Health (Emory University) and a Juris Masters of Law (Emory University). She is a Registered Biosafety Professional. Dr. Rengarajan serves on committees for the ABSA International (American Biological Safety Association) and the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Association (CSHEMA), to create professional development courses, and is a member of the technical writing team for ISO/TC 212/Working Group 5 (ISO Laboratory Biorisk management standard), and was a technical writer for the CEN Workshop Agreements relating to Biorisk Management Systems: CWA 15793:2011 and 16393: 2012. Dr. Rengarajan regularly teaches/facilitates and presents at ABSA and CSHEMA. She has also been teaching for the Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) program at CDC.
COURSE FEES
ABSA Members: $550 USD
Nonmembers: $735 USD
To receive the ABSA member rate, participants must be current ABSA members during the training year. Fees include course handouts, access to the ABSA International training site, and 8 hours of expert-led interactive instruction.
Confirmed, paid participants will be sent detailed information regarding the course within a few days prior to the course. Substitutions allowed with notice by 7/24/2026. There is a 15% processing fee for cancellations prior to 7/31/2026. No refunds after 7/31/2026.
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 clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 8.0 P.A.C.E.® contact hours. Course access links are unique and for individual use only. Sharing is prohibited. Duplicate logins or unregistered attendees will be removed from the webinar without a refund.
4V. Refresher IATA Shipping Certification
September 30 and October 2, 2026
11:00 am – 1:00 pm CDT
Overview:
This course is intended for those who are already experienced dangerous goods shippers. Professionals who wish to participate in this course must have completed an IATA Dangerous Goods certification course in the past 3 years. This refresher course updates participants on U.S. and international regulations affecting infectious substance shipping. It includes a brief review of regulations, shipper responsibilities, and the nine hazard classes, plus in-depth guidance on classification (Category A, Category B, and exempt materials) and requirements for packaging, marking, and labeling shipments—including those with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. Attendees will complete hands-on exercises, including marking and labeling packages, preparing shipper’s declarations and air waybills, and filling out required documentation. The course concludes with a review and certification test, requiring a minimum score of 80% to pass. Note that IATA certification is issued by the employer.
Objectives:
- Review of infectious substance shipping requirements: classification, packaging, marking/labeling, documentation and training requirements
- Summarize the regulatory changes in the US DOT regulations and IATA regulations
- Apply new regulatory changes to meet regulatory re-training requirements
Suggested Background:
Must have completed IATA shipping certification training in the past 3 years
Target Audience:
All Safety Professionals, Professionals needing recertification after two years for IATA shipping
Audience Level:
Course Logistics:
Course is two 2-hour sessions. Attendees will need to log on 10 minutes prior to the start time. To receive credit and a certificate, attendees must attend all the sessions and complete or access all course modules. The course materials are for registered participants only.
Although this course is part of the Professional Development Program for the 69th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference, conference attendance is not required. Registration is open to all.
COURSE FACULTY
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.
COURSE FEES
ABSA Members: $430 USD
Nonmembers: $330 USD
To receive the ABSA member rate, participants must be current ABSA members during the training year. Fees include course handouts, access to the ABSA International training site, and 4 hours of expert-led interactive instruction.
Confirmed, paid participants will be sent detailed information regarding the course within a few days prior to the course. Substitutions allowed with notice by 9/2/2026. There is a 15% processing fee for cancellations prior to 9/9/2026. No refunds after 9/9/2026.
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 clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 4.0 P.A.C.E.® contact hours. Course access links are unique and for individual use only. Sharing is prohibited. Duplicate logins or unregistered attendees will be removed from the webinar without a refund.
5V. Keeping it Going: Maintaining and Improving a Select Agent Program Over the Long Term
October 22 and October 29, 2026
11:30 am – 3:30 pm CDT
Overview:
Keeping a select agent program going can be difficult, especially in the face of ever-changing regulatory requirements and limited resources. Established procedures may suddenly become unacceptable, interrupting research and frustrating laboratorians. Likewise, a single unexpected adverse event can put an entire program at risk. Being prepared to deal with such changes and events is critical to maintaining a robust program. Anticipating future challenges can be even more advantageous, elevating a program from good to great. A proactive approach can minimize the impact of new requirements and reduce duration and frequency of crises sparked by sudden, unexpected requirements or events. This course will explore strategies for maintaining and improving an existing program, including how to anticipate and respond to new requirements. The focus will be on U.S. select agent requirements, although a small section on comparable requirements in the international community will be included. Strategies will be based on the instructors’ experience with their program with additional input solicited from class attendees during open discussions. Topics will include select agent program history; effective oversight; efficiently meeting ongoing requirements; reporting, responding to, and analyzing incidents; suitability program case studies; inactivation requirements, including “failure” investigation; and inspection preparation and response. The course will consist of topical presentations followed by group discussions aimed at facilitating application of presented strategies to attendees’ individual programs and providing a platform to capitalize on attendees’ collective experience.
Objectives:
- Identify strategies to efficiently maintain a compliant select agent program and anticipate future regulatory focus
- Develop effective approaches for preparing for inspections and implementing required changes
- Review a series of suitability program case studies and identify strategies for dealing with potential suitability concerns
- Summarize inactivation requirements and identify successful strategies for compliance
Suggested Background:
None
Target Audience:
All Safety Professionals, Select Agent Program Safety Professionals
Audience Level:
Course Logistics:
Course is two 4-hour sessions. Attendees will need to log on 10 minutes prior to the start time. There will be a 15-minute break each session. To receive credit and a certificate, attendees must attend the session and complete or access all course modules. The course materials are for registered participants only.
Although this course is part of the Professional Development Program for the 69th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference, conference attendance is not required. Registration is open to all.
COURSE FACULTY
Amy Vogler is an Associate Director at the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). She has worked at PMI since 1997 as a researcher and has been responsible for managing their BSL-3 Select Agent laboratory since 2009. She received her B.S. in Microbiology and Chemistry in 1999 and her Ph.D. in Biology in 2003 from NAU and is an author on 45 publications in the field of population genetics and molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens. She continues to conduct research on Yersinia pestis while also managing the BSL-3 laboratory. She received her RBP in 2012.
Shelley Jones is the Director of Biological Safety and Responsible Official at Northern Arizona University. She received her B.S. from Illinois State University and her M.S. from Arizona State University, both in environmental disciplines. Shelley has over 30 years of diverse experience in environmental health and safety. She has been a Responsible Official/Alternate Responsible Official for 19 years.
COURSE FEES
ABSA Members: $550 USD
Nonmembers: $735 USD
To receive the ABSA member rate, participants must be current ABSA members during the training year. Fees include course handouts, access to the ABSA International training site, and 8 hours of expert-led interactive instruction.
Confirmed, paid participants will be sent detailed information regarding the course within a few days prior to the course. Substitutions allowed with notice by 9/24/2026. There is a 15% processing fee for cancellations prior to 10/1/2026. No refunds after 10/1/2026.
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 clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. This course is approved for 7.5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours. Course access links are unique and for individual use only. Sharing is prohibited. Duplicate logins or unregistered attendees will be removed from the webinar without a refund.