Speakers at EBSA Conference 2024 and Preconference courses
EBSA Conference 2024 and Preconference courses
About the speakers
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Alina Teuscher
After finishing her PhD at the ETH Zurich in the field of molecular biology of aging, Alina changed her research direction and started working at the State Laboratory Basel-Stadt. There she works on projects for the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health on the integrity of the containment to prevent the release of genetically modified or pathogenic organisms into the environment. She is currently focusing on a project on the potential risks of handling replication-deficient lentiviral vectors used in medicine and research.Present Professional Position- Since 2021 Research Associate, Biosafety Laboratory, State Laboratory Basel-City, Switzerland.
Kantonales Laboratorium (bs.ch)
Academic Education and Degrees- 2016 - 2021 Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics of aging. Prof. Collin Ewald, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
- 2014 - 2016 M.Sc. in Biology, University of Cologne, Germany. Specialization in genetics and cell biology.
- 2010 - 2013 B.Sc. in Biology, University of Cologne, Germany.
- Since 2021 Research Associate, Biosafety Laboratory, State Laboratory Basel-City, Switzerland.
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Clara Posthuma
Clara Posthuma studied biology at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), and graduated in Molecular Biology. After obtaining her PhD at the University of Amsterdam in 2001, she worked for many years at the Leiden University Medical Center as postdoc and senior researcher in molecular virology. During this period, she worked on fundamental and applied research topics addressing various aspects of nidovirus replication. Amongst these were antiviral drug research against SARS- and MERS-CoV and fundamental research on viral RNA replication, using reverse genetics, biochemistry and next generation sequencing. In 2019, Clara joined the secretariat of the Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM). COGEM advises the Dutch government on risks to human health and the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), and informs the government of ethical and societal issues linked to genetic modification. As a scientific secretary, Clara coordinates the subcommittee of Medical and Veterinary Aspects.
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Giulio Zanaroli
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Hulda R. Jonsdottir
Professional experience:
Currently a Co-Principal Investigator at Spiez Laboratory in Spiez, Switzerland with a focus on Henipavirus-host interactions and antivirals, as well as a Visiting Lecturer in Medical Virology at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík, Iceland. Previous positions include post-doctoral fellowships in respiratory toxicology (2017-2019) and virology (2016-2017) at the University of Bern.Summary of research activities:
Dr. Jonsdottir's research activities span from developing in vitro culture systems for studying airway structure and function, focusing on the role of bronchial cells in fibrosis, to establishing transgenic organotypic airway cultures for respiratory virus research. She contributed to the initial characterization of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and has continued to contribute to identifying antivirals against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Her postdoctoral work in respiratory toxicology explored the effects of jet turbine exhaust on human airways using organotypic airway cultures. Currently, she investigates host responses to highly pathogenic viruses, focusing on Henipaviruses, and evaluates novel antiviral therapies and vaccines. Future goals include advancing three-dimensional cell culture systems for studying Henipavirus-host interactions and other highly pathogenic viruses.Education:
- Doctorate in biology, 2016 - ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
Thesis: Genetic modification of primary human airway epithelial cultures – a novel platform to study respiratory pathogens - Master’s degree in biomedical sciences, 2012 – University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
Thesis: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human lung epithelial cells • Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, 2010 – University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Skills:
- Containment training at both BSL-3 and -4 levels
- Expertise in molecular virology, genetic modification techniques, antiviral research, cellular assays, three-dimensional cell culture, histology, etc
- Experience in diagnostic processes for viruses and bacteria
- Proficient in multiple languages - Icelandic, English, Norwegian (fluent), Danish, Swedish, German (intermediate)
- Strong communicator with a keen interest in dissemination of scientific information
- Doctorate in biology, 2016 - ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Jaspreet Chana
Principal Consultant at ERM
Jaspreet is a Principal Safety Consultant, principally with a background in Chemical and Process Engineering, she has worked in high risk, critical consequences industries for over 15 years including nuclear, biosafety and oil and gas. She has a vast array of experience by working on a variety of different projects and taking on diverse roles. Her experience covers technical safety and loss prevention areas such as Process Hazard Analysis, Safety Integrity Level (SIL) studies, SIL verification studies and Functional Safety Management Systems
As the Biosafety Lead, her expertise lies in the management and implementation of process safety within the biocontainment industry specialising in the application of IEC 61511 in BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities in line with the ISO 35001 framework. She is uniquely placed in understanding the complexities associated with applying process safety in high containment facilities handling dangerous pathogens gaining knowledge and experience through site-based and practical application.
Qualifications:
- 2.1 Upper Class MEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering with Biochemical Engineering at University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Chartered Engineer with IChemE
- TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer (FS Eng)
- Biosafety Practitioner Level 1 (Accredited by ISTR)
- IChemE HAZOP Study for Team Leaders and Team Members
Key Areas of Expertise (within Biosafety):
- Process Safety
- Functional Safety
- Human Factors
- Risk Assessments
- ISO 35001 Framework
- Bow Tie Analysis
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Jonathan Kennedy
CURRENT POSITION AND ROLES- 2021-present: Reader in Politics and Global Public Health, QMUL
- 2021-present: Deputy Director, Centre for Public Health and Policy, QMUL
- 2019-present: Director, intercalated BSc Global Public Health programme, QMUL
PREVIOUS POSITIONS AND ROLES- 2019-21: Senior Lecturer in Global Public Health, QMUL
- 2019-21: Director, MSc and MRes Global Public Health programme, QMUL
- 2016-19: Lecturer in Global Public Health at QMUL
- 2013-16: Teaching Fellow in International Development, School of Public Policy, UCL
- 2012-14: Research Associate, Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge
EDUCATION- 2008-12: PhD, Department of Sociology, Cambridge University (passed with no corrections)
- 2007-08: MPhil in Modern Society and Global Transformation, Cambridge University (1st Class with Special commendation)
- 2005-07: MA in Global Studies, Freiburg University, KwaZulu-Natal University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (1.5 or “Very good”)
- 2001-04: BA in History, Nottingham University (1st Class)
BOOK- Jonathan Kennedy (2023): Pathogenesis: How germs made history. Penguin.
- Sunday Times, Amazon, Waterstones and Good Reads’ books of the year list for 2023; Washington Post, GQ Magazine, and Literary Hub's most anticipated books for 2023; Times and Financial Times’ best summer books 2023; and serialised on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week.
- Reviewed in The Economist, Financial Times, Washington Post, Sunday Times, Times, Observer, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Irish Times, Irish Independent, Spectator, Times Literary Supplement, Nature, New Scientist, New Statesman, Atlantic, New Republic, New Yorker, Boston Globe, Wired, Sydney Morning Herald, Strait Times and Haaretz.
- Has been or will be translated into 14 languages: Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Greek, Polish, Romanian, Estonian, Czech, Norwegian, and Dutch.
SELECTED ACADEMIC ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS- David McCoy, Stephen Roberts, Salma Daoudi, Jonathan Kennedy, (2023): ‘Global Health Security and the Health-Security Nexus: Principles, Politics and Praxis.’ BMJ Global Health.
- Obichukwu Iwunna, Jonathan Kennedy, Andrew Harmer (2023): ‘Flexibly funding WHO? An analysis of its donors’ voluntary contributions.’ BMJ Global Health 8(4): e011232
- Jonathan Kennedy and David McCoy (2020): ‘Malaria Eradication’, Lancet 395(10233): e70.
- Jonathan Kennedy, David McCoy and Joseph Gafton (2020): ‘The International Arms Trade and Global Health’, in Solomon Benatar and Gillian Brock (eds.) Global Health: Ethical Challenges (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press): 182-194.
- Andrew Harmer and Jonathan Kennedy (2020): ‘International Development and Global Health’, in Colin McInnes, Kelly Lee and Jeremy Youde (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Global Health Politics (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press): 217-236.
- Jonathan Kennedy, Marian Abouzeid, Samer Jabbour and David McCoy (2019): ‘Militaries and global health,’ Lancet 394(10202): 916-917.
- Jonathan Kennedy (2019): ‘Populism and vaccine hesitancy in Europe: An analysis of national level data,’ European Journal of Public Health 29(3):512-16.
- Jonathan Kennedy, Andrew Harmer and David McCoy (2017): ‘The political determinants of the cholera outbreak in Yemen’, Lancet Global Health 5(11): e970-71.
- Jonathan Kennedy and Domna Michailidou (2017): ‘Divergent policy responses to increasing vaccine scepticism in southern Europe’, Lancet Infectious Diseases 17(9): 900.
- Jonathan Kennedy and David McCoy (2017): ‘The WHO and the health crisis among the Rohingya people of Myanmar’, Lancet 389(10071): 802-803.
- Jonathan Kennedy (2017): ‘How Drone Strikes and a Fake Vaccination Program Inhibited Polio Eradication in Pakistan’, International Journal of Health Services 47(4): 807-825.
- Keertichandra Rajan, Jonathan Kennedy and Lawrence King (2013): ‘Is Wealthier Always Healthier in Poor Countries? The Health Effects of Income, Inequality, Poverty, and Literacy in India,’ Social Science and Medicine 88: 98-107.
- For a complete list of my publications see here.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL REPORTS- Centre for Public Interest Communications and the United Nations Verified initiative (2020). A practitioner’s guide to the principles of COVID-19 vaccine communications. (Named contributor)
- Kristi Arthur, Jonathan Kennedy and Anubha Prakash (2007): ‘A Case Study of the Community Monitoring Project: Raichur District, Northern Karnataka,’ UNICEF India Working Paper.
SELECTED RESEARCH FUNDING- 2020-24: ESRC/LISS-DTP, Global Health Governance in Syria and Yemen (£120,000, PhD studentship for Aida Hassan)
- 2019: Butterfield Award for Research on Japan (£3,600, PI)
- 2018-19: QMUL Global Challenges Research Fund Internal Networking Grant for building links with American University of Beirut (£12,000, PI = David McCoy)
- 2018: London Bridge Terror Attack Response Evaluation (£13,000, Co-PI)
- 2015: UCL Grand Challenges grant to cover fieldwork costs in Syria and Pakistan for project looking at public health provision in countries affected by civil war (£5,000, PI)
- 2014: Cambridge University Philomothia Social Sciences Research Grant to employ a research assistant to help collect data for project on farmers’ suicides in India (£1,000, PI)
TEACHING- US-UK Fulbright Commission’s Global Challenges Teaching Award 2022-23. One of 3 UK based winners. For developing a virtual exchange between global public health students and pre-med students at UC Santa Cruz focused on the theme of pandemics.
- QMUL ‘President and Principal’s Prize’ for development of the virtual exchange. With Danielle Thibodeau of QM Academy and Ceri Bevan of QM Global Opportunities Office in 2023.
- I currently teach modules on ‘Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Health’ (MSc) and ‘Global Health, International Law and Governance’ (levels 6 and 7).
MEDIA- I have written on politics and health op-eds for a variety of media outlets including The Guardian, London Review of Books, Readers Digest, Al Jazeera, El Pais, Les Echos, Project Syndicate, and Politico.
- I have given TV interviews for CNN, BBC World TV, and Al Jazeera, and radio interviews for BBC Radio 4’s World at One, The World Tonight, and Inside Science, RTE Radio 1’s Ray D’Arcy Show, RNZ’s Saturday Mornings with Kim Hill, CBC’s Sunday Magazine, Public Radio International’s The World, Sveriges Radio (Swedish National Radio), and Yle (Finnish National Radio).
LANGUAGE SKILLS- English – Mother Tongue
- German and Norwegian – Basic conversational and reading
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Julia Rieger
Technical Head of the BSL 3 Laboratory and dissection room for high-risk pathogens, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz
Work experience
Since 2024 Professional Course in Biorisk Management
Since 2023 Deputy biosafety officer, Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz
Since 2021 Technical Head and Quality Management Officer of the BSL 3 environment, Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz
Since 2020 Fire protection officer for the BSL 3 Laboratory, Institute of Pathology
Since 2019 Part of the research group Prof. Dr. Kurt Zatloukal, Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz
2016-2019 Employment Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Karl-Franzens University Graz
Since 2015 Studies in „Environmental and Systems Sciences with focus on Natural Sciences Technologies“ NAWI Graz2012-2014 Plastics engineer, Greiner Packaging, Kremsmünster
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Karen Gjendal
Educational qualifications
Dr. Gjendal Gmünder holds an MS Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Lifescience from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.Current Position
Currently, Dr. Gjendal is the Biosafety Officer at Bavarian Nordic A/SExperience
Karen Gjendal is the Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer at Bavarian Nordic, a leading vaccine company with a commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Kvistgaard, Denmark. Bavarian Nordic specializes in the production, analysis, and release of sterile vaccines for human use, adhering to stringent EU cGMP standards. The product portfolio includes vaccines for Smallpox, Rabies, and Tick-Borne Encephalitis, with several innovative, life-saving vaccines currently in development.
Karen is responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive Biorisk management program. This involves implementing and optimizing protocols to mitigate safety and security risks associated with the handling, storage, and disposal of biological agents and toxins within the production facility. Additionally, she ensures that all implemented Biorisk Management processes comply with GMP requirements, thereby safeguarding both the products and the personnel.
Karen specializes in Biorisk Management training across site, performs risk assessments, give input to optimizations of systems supplying the facility, equipment or training programs.
Member of:
Danish Biorisk management ERFA network
Nordic Biosafety Network Forum
ABSA & EBSA Membership -
Karen van der Meulen
Academic Education and Degrees
- Doctor in Veterinary Science (2003), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- Doctor in Veterinary Medicine DVM (1998), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
Present Professional Position
Senior Biosafety Manager at 3Bio (https://3bio.eu/biosafety/)
Perseus offers efficient solutions for biorisk management and regulatory compliance.
Biorisk management covers all aspects of biological safety and security such as risk assessment, containment requirements, training, audit, transport, waste handling and emergency preparedness. Perseus experts can act as external biosafety officers to your organisation. Perseus integrates technical background with an in-depth knowledge of the European regulatory requirements for biological material, including genetically modified organisms. We assist clients in complying with complex regulatory requirements on e.g. contained use, workers protection, import and export, emergency planning, deliberate releases such as field trials and clinical trials, as well as commercial applications.
Special Remarks
- Senior expert in biosafety and biotechnology regulation
- Long term expercience in R&D in life sciences
- Active member of key biosafety associations and working groups
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Kathrin Summermatter
Head of Biosafety Center
Managing Director of the Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory, Institute for Infectious DiseasesThe Institute for Infectious Diseases of the University of Bern combines diagnostics, teaching and research under one roof and covers the entire spectrum of microbiological diagnostics.
Kathrin Summermatter is heading the Biosafety Center and is the managing director of the BSL3 at the Institute for Infectious Diseases. She has been involved in Biosafety for more than 20 years. From 2002 -2019 she was the head of the biosafety department and the deputy director of the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), the Swiss reference lab for highly contagious animal diseases (Biosafety Level 3 and 3Ag Laboratories). In addition, she was the coordinator of BIOSAFETY-Europe. She has been a long-standing member of the European Biosafety Association (EBSA) and the American Biosafety Association (ABSA). In 2003/2004 she was the president of EBSA. She is a member of the International Veterinary Biosafety Workgroup and a board member of the Swiss Biosafety Network (SBNet). She is the chair of the Technical Advisory Biosafety Board (TAG-B) of the WHO and a member of the WHO's Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). She is also the director of the WHO-Collaborating Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity.Academic Education and Degrees
PhD in Biology -
Mieke Jansen
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Mirjam Schuijff
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Ngoc Hoa Chung
Ngoc Hoa Chung is part of the Biosecurity Office team at the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) in the Netherlands. She is a public health professional and works as a policy officer at the Centre for Environmental Safety and Security at the RIVM. She has a background in biomedical sciences and expertise in emerging infectious diseases in virology, high containment and CBRN.
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Patrick Rüdelsheim
Trained as a biologist, Patrick Rüdelsheim started his career in a Dutch seed company. He then joined Plant Genetic Systems N.V., Ghent, Belgium. After being in charge of Product Development and Registration, he was appointed Director Regulatory Affairs and Member of the Board.
Following the acquisition of PGS, he became Global Head of Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs for the AgrEvo group and remained in this function during the subsequent creation of Aventis S.A. and the acquisition by Bayer. In this function, he ensured the scientific argumentation for Product Safety and Quality as well as the compliance with all regulatory acquirements related to genetic engineering.
In 2003, he founded and became General Manager of Perseus BV, a service company focused on bio-safety and related regulatory requirements. Mid 2015, he was co-founder and served as Senior Regulatory Advisor for ABS-int, a multi-disciplinary initiative dedicated to Access and Benefit Sharing requirements for genetic resources. Since 2023, Perseus and ABS-int operate together as 3Bio, in which he acts as Director and Chief Regulatory Officer. In this capacity he offers his extensive and global experience in every aspect of biosafety and biotechnology regulation to a range of users and developers. He lectures on biosafety and regulations at the University of Ghent and the University of Antwerp.
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Paul Odinot
Academic Education and Degrees
- Master in Medical Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (1991)
- PhD in Medical Microbiology: Molecular diagnosis and characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica infection, Radboud UMC/University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (1998)
Present Professional Position
- Biosafety coordinator / Biorisk Management Advisor, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 1998 - present
Special Remarks
- President BVF platform, The Netherlands, 2007 - 2012
- Chair Education committee, BVF platform, 1999 - 2008
- Member Disinfection committee, BVF platform, 2010 - present
- Developer of GRiMaS, Webbased database for registration of GMO riskassessments and legal requirements in The Netherlands
Dr. Paul Odinot has over 25 years of experience in biosafety, biosecurity and focusing on the legal requirements for e.g. working with (GMO) biological materials, animal byproducts, CITES, the Nagoya protocol and Biocidal Products Regulation.
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René Custers
Academic Education and Degrees
Msc in molecular sciences, Wageningen university, The Netherlands
Present Professional Position
René Custers is regulatory & responsible research manager at VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology), Belgium. He has more than 25 years of experience in regulatory affairs, biosafety, and the societal and ethical aspects of modern biotechnology. He is an expert in the legislation and safety of GMOs and genome edited organisms and has been very active in the European debate on the regulatory status of genome edited organisms. At VIB he coordinates the institutes’ policies on regulatory compliance, (bio)safety, ethics and integrity. He is also involved in science communication activities to a wider audience. He is a member of the Belgian Biosafety Advisory Council, and member of the board of EU-SAGE (European Sustainable Agriculture through Genome Editing).
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Rik Bleijs
Dr. Rik Bleijs is head of the Biosecurity Office at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands. In 2006 he joined the RIVM and started at the department of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Office where he was involved in the biosafety aspects and the environmental risk assessment of medical and veterinary gene therapy studies. Since 2009 he is involved in the political and scientific implementation of a coordinated biosecurity policy in the Netherlands and the installment of a Biosecurity Office (2013). As head of the Biosecurity Office his main tasks are to advise the different ministries on biosecurity issues, to act as a bridge between the scientific biosafety and biosecurity professionals and the government, and to increase biosecurity and dual-use awareness among students, scientist and laboratory professionals. As a biosecurity expert he is also involved in various international biosecurity projects and initiatives (EU CBRN action plan, Global Health Security Agenda, Global Biosecurity Dialogue, G7, European Biosecurity Regulators Forum, Biological Weapons Convention), thereby supporting the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2021 he is co-chair of the International Experts Groups of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators (IEGBBR) representing the Netherlands and EU region. In the recent years he organized several capacity building workshops and meetings in Europe, Asia and Africa in the context of international projects to strengthen biosecurity and dual-use assessment global.
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Sandhya Dhawan
Current Employment
2023 - Present
Consultant
Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention
World Health Organization
Headquarters, GenevaEducation
2023 - 2026
PhD (candidate)
Doctor of Philosophy
(Field of study: Biosafety and biosecurity/Infectious disease epidemiology)
The Open University, United KingdomConferences
2023
WHO EPP, WPE/WHE Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulatory Framework Strengthening, Bucharest, Romania, Oral Presentation
2023
WHO EPP, WPE/WHE Technical Advisory Group for Biosafety (TAG-B) Meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, Oral Presentation
2022
WHO SEARO Meeting to Review Progress of Implementation of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) Funds in South-East Asia Region (SEAR), New Delhi, India [Hybrid]
2019
2nd Asia Pacific Rickettsia Conference, Chiang Rai, Thailand (APRC2) Poster and Oral Presentation
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Suzanne Loret
Academic Education and Degrees:
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- Degree in Biological Sciences (Option: Biochemistry) - UNamur, 1982
- PhD D Thesis in Sciences (Physiology and Biochemistry) - UNamur, 1990
- Specialized Diploma in Biosafety Management HEP Rennequin Sualem, in collaboration with the Scientific Institute of Public Health (ISP), 2006
- IFBA Certification “Biosafety Professional” - July 2016
Scientific expertise:
Molecular and Cell Biology (including the use of lentiviral vectors)
Present Professional Position: Biosafety Officer (since 2005)Teaching experience of Biosafety:
- Annual training of UNamur students and staff
- Invited instructor for staff training in Biosafety at the Biotech Analis
- Coordinator and instructor of a 5-days Biosafety course – in French -for professionals at UNamur
(6 editions: Sept 2014, January 2016, March and December 2017, Sept 2018 and Sept 2019) - Invited Instructor at the 5-day international course “Basic Principles of Biosafety” (Ghent - Sept 2015; Antwerp – Sept 2019)
- Instructor of a 3-days biosafety course at the National University of Rwanda (February 2016)
- Instructor of a 5-day biosafety course for master students of the St Xavier’s College Kolkata (September 2016)
- Instructor at the 2019 EBSA pre-conference courses (course M – Disinfection and Disinfectants)
Involvement in Biosafety associations:
- Regular member of BBP (Belgian Biosafety Professionals) and EBSA since 2006
- BBP steering team member for 6 years
- EBSA council member in 2017 and 2018
- ETWG member since April 2018
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Timo Kehl
Timo Kehl has been heading the Biological Safety department at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany since 2018. In addition, since February 2020, he has been leading the DKFZ's Corona task force to manage the coronavirus pandemic situation at DKFZ. Timo Kehl studied biology at the University of Heidelberg and completed his doctoral thesis on "Pancreatic Cancer" in the Department of Genome Modifications and Carcinogenesis at the DKFZ in 2009. He then spent two years as a laboratory head at the Technical University of Munich before returning to the DKFZ in 2011 as a postdoc in the field of applied tumor virology. After two years as a postdoc, he joined the "Biological Safety" department at the DKFZ as a Biosafety Officer in 2013. -
Ursula Jenal
Working address:
Jenal & Partners Biosafety Consulting,
Magdenerstrasse 1
4310 Rheinfelden
Switzerland
Academic Education and Degrees
PhD in Microbiology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH, Zürich,
Post Doc in Environmental Engineering and Sciences at Stanford UniversityAttendance of numerous biosafety trainings ABSA, EBSA
ISO9001 certified lead auditorPresent Professional Position
Since 2001, executive manager of Jenal & Partners Biosafety Consulting advising industry, academia and authorities on an international level on all issues related to biosafety and biosecurity: risk assessment of contained use activities; risk assessment of nano-bio-materials; environmental risk assessment for gene and cell therapy and recombinant vaccine clinical trials and market authorisation applications; guidelines on safe use of cell cultures, plant pathogens, transport, waste treatment; ISO35001 biorisk management systems and audits, crisis management, ISO140001 certification audits, biosafety training, safe procedure design, project management. She has been involved in capacity building projects in South East Asia.
1996-2000 senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment acting as co-author of the Swiss Biotechnology Regulations harmonised with the corresponding EU directives.
Member of EBSA since 2001, acting as secretary for 4 years, member of the Education and Training Working Group until 2018 and representing EBSA at the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention meetings.
Member of the certification body of IFBA representing EBSA 2016 – 2020.
Co-chair of the CEN workshop process to develop the CWA16335 on BioSafety Professional (BSP) competence, and project leader for the development of ISO Technical Specification TS5441 Competence Requirement for Biorisk Management Advisors.
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Vibeke Halkjaer-Knudsen
Current Position
Independent BRM consultant
Experience
30 years in the biorisk management field, involved in BRM training and lab design in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
With a multifaceted expertise spanning animal welfare, GMP, stem cells, GMOs, environmental health, and safety, Vibeke excels in conducting comprehensive impact and risk assessments. Her extensive experience encompasses laboratory, plants, and animal facility design, emphasizing sustainable solutions across global locations.
Since 2006, Vibeke has offered her services as a GMP and Biorisk Management Consultant, balancing consultancy with her regular employment until dedicating herself to private consulting full-time in autumn 2022. She aids clients worldwide in making informed risk decisions for designing sustainable laboratories, production facilities, and animal centers.
Her focus is multifaceted, from supporting and mentoring individuals from early career professionals – who need to get a foothold in the containment field, to seasoned BRM officers – who might need additional templates and systems to be effective. She supports institutions during hard times when additional skills and support are needed and inhouse capacity is missing, and she assists if the inspections failed and the project needs to get back on track.
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Yaël Vanden Abeele
E D U C A T I O N
- BSc / Biomedical Laboratory Sciences HOWEST University-College 2014 – 2018
- Advanced BSc / Bioinformatics HOWEST University-College 2018 – 2019
- MSc / Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2019 - 2022
E X P E R I E N C E
- Interim Laboratory Technician Dublin City University / Dublin, Ireland / February 2018 – June 2018
Professional bachelor internship on topic “Immunomodulating properties of Fasciola hepatica derived exosomes”.- Explant cell culturing: murine bone marrow derived macrophages
- Protein extraction and analysis: BCA assay, Western Blot, ELISA
- Molecular techniques: PCR & qPCR
- Animal Caretaker VUB / Brussels, Belgium / Summer 2021
Summer job at the VUB Animal Facility to acquire hands-on experience on acquired degrees for laboratory animal science.- Animal health checkups (mice) + humane endpoint evaluation
- Logistics of animal facility
- Junior biosafety and regulatory specialist Perseus / Ghent, Belgium / Summer 2022 – current day
Started from an intern summer position to fully pledged junior biosafety advisor at Perseus, aiding academia, and companies alike to meet their biosafety requirements.- Team-based literature surveillance and biosafety-related research
- Drafting biosafety documentation for national and international players
- Auditing laboratories