Thursday, 15th May 2014

08:30

Opening
EBSA President 2013-2014: T. De Kesel, Bayer CropScience, Ghent/B

 08:45

Welcome in Ghent
S. Van Rouverroij, Ghent University/B

08:50

Safety of GM crops: achievements and controversy
M. Van Montagu, Institute of Plant Technology, Ghent/B

09:30

Web-based information on biosafety: A 20-year success story with the Belgian Biosafety Server
D. Breyer, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels/B

10:00

Coffee break + Poster I

Crossing the border from contained use to deliberate release

10:30

Malaria fear in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe: how much can we blame the global warming?

M. Coosemans, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen/B

11:00

Containment of medical and veterinary pathogen vectors
S. Carpenter, U. Mueller-Doblies, The Pirbright Institute, Woking/UK

11:30

Deliberate release of genetically modified insects - experiences and challenges
C. Beech, Oxitec Ltd., Abingdon/UK

12:00

Public display of GMO containing materials in the Netherlands, a series of surprises
P. Staugaard, Biosafety Training & Consultancy, Utrecht/NL

12:30

Lunch

Human infection studies

13:30

Use of a human influenza challenge model for the study of modes of influenza transmission

J. Van-Tham, University of Nottingham/UK

14:00

A clinical trial using genetically-modified parasites; a novel vaccine against malaria

S.M. Khan, Leiden Malaria Research Group, Leiden University Medical Center/NL; R. Sauerwein, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen/NL;C.J. Janse, Leiden Malaria Research Group, Leiden University Medical Center/NL

14:30

A multipurpose, multiuser containment level 3 laboratory - can it work?
C. Robertson, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg/CDN

15:00

Coffee break + Poster II

Bridging the borders between legislations

15:30

Alkaline hydrolysis for animal carcass disposal: a regulatory challenge
K. van der Meulen, Ghent University/B; R. Custers, VIB, Ghent/B; K. Houthoofd, Ghent University/B; M-F. Humblet, Université de Liege/B; S. Loret; University of Namur/B; K. Quanten; CODA-CERVA, Brussels/B; P. Stroot; Xibios, Tournai/B

Chris Collins Lecture

16:00

Biosafety and the global community - What's next?
J. Welch, Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation, Kingsport, TN/USA

17:00

AGM - Annual General Meeting

19:30

Conference Dinner at Oude Vismijn (end ca. 23:00)

Friday, 16th May 2014

At the border of biosafety

08:30

Biosecurity and dual use research - debate and policy in the Netherlands

K. van der Bruggen, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences/NL

09:00

When does a misfolded protein become toxic?
J. Schymkowitz, VIB Switch Laboratory, KU, Leuven/B

09:30

Risk assessment challenges of synthetic biology
R. Mampuys, COGEM - Commission on Genetic Modification, Bilthoven/NL

10:00

Biosafety and legal considerations for organisms developed through new modification technologies
R. Custers, VIB, Ghent/B

10:30

Coffee break + Poster III

11:00

Break-out discussion groups

A. Discussion:
Moderators:

Biocontainment of equipment
J. Ott, TÜV Nord CERT GmbH, Hamburg/D
S. Parks, Public Health England, Porton Down/UK

B. Discussion:

Moderator:

What do you need to know before sending material to a third party?
P. Rüdelsheim, PERSEUS BVBA, Zwijnaarde/B
D. Muyldermans, Oostkamp/B

C. Discussion:
Moderators:

Working with plant quarantine organisms
B.J.M. Verduin, BioRiskManagement, Wageningen/NL
J.H. Heres, Plant Protection Organisation, Wageningen/NL

D. Discussion:

Moderators:

Maternity protection against biological risks - approach and policy in Belgium
B. Claesen, Groep IDEWE, Antwerp/B
A. Vandeputte, Groep IDEWE, Leuven/B

E. Discussion:
 

Moderators:

Crossing borders between contained use and deliberate release: How contained use can deliberate release and vice-versa

R. Custers, VIB, Ghent/B
D. Beeckman, Bayer CropScience, Zwijnaarde/B

F. Toolbox:

Moderators:

Cleaning up spills, donning and doffing of gloves and other PPE or how to stop your panic when it drips and splashes
P. Staugaard, Biosafety Training & Consultancy, Utrecht/NL
D. Kümin, Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, Spiez/CH

G. Discussion
Moderators:

High containment labs versus cleanrooms: synergy and conflicts E. Kampert, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven/NL K. Summermatter, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Mittelhäusern/CH

12:30

Lunch

Crossing the border from experiment to human infection (LAI)

13:30

Laboratory-acquired infections in Belgium (2007-2012) - an online survey
N. Willemarck, Institute of Public Health, Brussels/B

14:00

2008 laboratory-acquired Vaccinia infection: a retrospective
R.T. Leonard, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA/USA

14:30

Increase in TB cases in Georgia: possible link with medical waste management
L. Bakanidze, M. Natsvlishvili, Georgian Biosafety Association, Tbilisi/GE; N. Chakvetadze, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi/GE

15:00

Infection of an animal care taker with Ecthyma contagiosum, a parapox virus
K. Summermatter, U. Pauli, H.-P. Lüthi, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Mittelhäusern/CH

15:30

Closing:
EBSA President 2014-2015
+ announcement winners poster & picture contest
I. Hunger-Glaser, Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety - SECB, Bern/CH