About EBSA11 Conference - Florence

Thursday, 3 April 2008 

The Italian experience in facing emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases: the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" 
Maria R. Capobianchi , Antonino Di Caro, Vincenzo Puro, Carla Nisii, Giuseppe Ippolito National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Italy

Coffee break

10.30 - 11.00

Post polio eradication biosafety
Chris Wolff, World Health Organisation,  Switzerland

Lunch

12.05 - 13.00

Facility considerations
Jan Langermans, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands

This project concentrated on high containment facilities across Europe. Information was gathered from different European countries, from various expert groups and stakeholders. The responses showed a lack of harmonization on biosecurity regulations, biosafety standards with regard to classification, nomenclature and safety measures. In view of these findings, is there a need for harmonization and to what extent? What are the benefits of harmonization? High containment facilities are expensive to construct and maintain. Sufficient funding must be available to enable high standards for biosafety and biosecurity measures. Who defines the right safety level and where is the right cost - risk reduction balance? How can we ensure that a facility is safe and still cost-effective? Training of those involved in high containment activities is a key element of good biosafety/biosecurity management. How could a training programme best meet the demands of these facilities? What long term goal(s) could the biosafety community strive for?

Participants are invited to join the breakout session to share with the Biosafety Europe Project members their views and ideas on the project's topics.

B. Molecular tools for the surveillance of mandatory biosafety requirements
Moderator: Francisco Moreano, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany

European legislation regarding the use of viable genetically modified organisms (GMO) in contained systems covers a wide spectrum of biotechnological applications. GMO are currently applied in several fields of academic research as well as in numerous economic sectors including the agricultural, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In order to minimize any potential risk that may result from biotechnological applications, the implementation of biosafety measures at organizational, technical and experimental levels is mandatory. The extent and complexity of biosafety measures depend on the characteristics of the applied biological agents and on the risk assessment of the intended use. The use of biological agents that have the potential to produce deleterious effects on both human health and environmental integrity requires the highest biosafety standards.
This breakout group will elaborate on strategies for the assessment of the efficiency of biosafety measures. An especial focus will be given to analytical approaches that might be applied for the quality assurance of biosafety standards or for purposes of surveillance testing.

C. Laboratory registers of GMOs/pathogens/biological materials: what is good practice?
Moderators: Louis Seechurn, Manchester University, United Kingdom ;
Anton de Paiva, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

This break out session will debate the levels of knowledge required at the national, institutional and research group level of work involving biological agents being undertaken in European institutions. For example, is it reasonable and practical for every institution to be able to report on all current holdings and activities within their organisations? Is it feasible to achieve this when dealing with biological agents that are in themselves capable of replication from minute quantities. The difficulties associated with maintaining accurate registers is weighed against the ever increasing global concerns over biosecurity, and hence, on expectations that Governments, Institutions and individual groups know what skeletons they hide in the freezer.

D. Validation of laboratory disinfection procedures
Moderator: Peter Hoffman, Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom

This session will examine quality assurance issues in laboratory disinfection. How do you know that a particular disinfectant is performing effectively in the situation in which you are using it? How much can you rely on manufacturer's or published data? If you need to verify your particular procedures, how do you go about it?

This break-out session is intended to provide a forum to consider training requirements for support and maintenance personnel in connection with activities involving biohazards. The approach will be to identify the various types of worker and roles associated with the activities and to examine associated tasks. Training requirements and provision will be considered in the context of protecting personnel from infection, preventing dissemination within the facility and avoiding release to the environment.

F. EC Biopreparedness Green paper - next steps
Moderator: R. Nusdorfer, European Commission, Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security, Belgium

Through the Green Paper launched by the European Commission (EC) during 2007, the EC intended to stimulate a debate and launch a process of consultation at European level on how to reduce biological risks, and to enhance preparedness and response ("bio-preparedness"). After analysis of the results of this consultation, the EC is interested in discussing the next steps with the biosafety community. This session offers you the opportunity to discuss with a member from the EC proposed changes to enhance biosafety, laboratory biosecurity and bio-preparedness and present your opinions.

Decontamination validation of BSL3 agents in industrial facilities
J. Saluzzo , A. Pagat, I. Kuster, Sanofi Pasteur, France

Study of plasmochemical method to inactivate microorganisms of different groups
V.P. Kholodenko , V.A. Chugunov , E.N. Kobzev, N.A. Zhirkova, I.A. Irkhina, V.M. Tedikov, I.I. Martovetskaya, G.V. Kireev, I.A. Dyatlov, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Russia

AGM

Conference dinner

20.00 - 23.30

Friday, 4 April 2008

University of Cambridge biosecurity practices
Martin Vinnell, Cambrige University, United Kingdom

Biosafety and biosecurity and the biological weapons convention
Richard Lennane Head, Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Switzerland

Coffee break

New lines of on-going research on designing means of diagnostics of infectious disease in SRCAMB
I. Dyatlov, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Russia

Lunch

Closing remarks EBSA President 2008 - 2009

15.00