Events

Overview:

On behalf of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Sandia National Laboratories Global Chemical & Biological Security (SNL/GCBS), we are honored to have the opportunity to facilitate this training event.  This is the first of a four-part training program to expand our network of biorisk management trainers in North Africa.  This training is designed to provide human and animal lab personnel with a foundational level of training in order to gain skills related to lab biorisk management.  Objectives for this training event include:

• Introduce biorisk management topics through foundational level training. The training will aim to develop participants’ understanding of BRM concepts to include risk characterization, risk mitigation, biosecurity and risk & hazard communication
• Provide a basis of learning and a platform for developing BRM programs at individual labs.

The desired outcome of this four-part engagement will be a strong core team of collaborative trainers that is capable of designing, developing, and delivering biorisk management training in an independent manner.

Draft Agenda:

Pilot Africa CDC Regional Training and Certification Program for Selection, Installation, Maintenance and Certification of Biological Safety Cabinets

On behalf of the Department of State’s Biological Security Engagement Program (DOS/BEP) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Biological Threat Reduction Program (DTRA/BTRP), Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) is pleased to partner with Africa CDC’s Southern Regional Diagnostic and Demonstration Centre (RDDC) hosted at South Africa’s National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to offer the pilot Regional Training and Certification Program for Selection, Installation, Maintenance and Certification of Biological Safety Cabinets.

Overview

One 10-day in person workshop on selection, installation, maintenance, and certification of biological safety cabinets. The in-person class with occur 8-19 May 2023 at the Southern RDDC hosted at South Africa’s National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesburg, ZAR.

The 10-day in person workshop is 5-days of didactic lecture reviewing the theoretical foundations to understand biosafety cabinet functionality and performance followed by 5-days of demonstration and hands on practice. At the conclusion of the workshop participants may sit for the Africa CDC Level-1 Af-BSCCP certification exam.

 There will be an online community of practice starting the week of 6 February 2023 on Zoom.

Instructional language

• The workshop will be in English with French and Somali interpretation.
• Workshop materials will be available in English/French and English/Somali.

In-person Workshop 8-19 May 2023 for Level 1 Competency

Programme Pilote Régional de Formation et de Certification du CDC pour la Sélection, l’Installation, l’Entretien et la Certification des poste de sécurité microbiologique (PSM) 

Au nom du Department of State’s Biological Security Engagement Program (DOS/BEP) du Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Biological Threat Reduction Program (DTRA/BTRP), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) est heureux de s’associer au Southern Regional Diagnostic and Demonstration Centre (RDDC) des CDC d’Afrique du Sud, hébergé à National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) de l’Afrique du Sud, pour offrir le programme pilote de formation et de certification régionale pour la Sélection, Installation, Entretien et Certification des poste de sécurité microbiologique.

Vue d’Ensemble

Un atelier de 10 jours en personne sur la sélection, l’installation, l’entretien et la certification des poste de sécurité microbiologique. Le cours en personne aura lieu du 8 au 19 mai 2023 au RDDC du Sud, à National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) d’Afrique du Sud, à Johannesburg, ZAR.

L’atelier de 10 jours en personne consiste en 5 jours de cours didactiques examinant les fondements théoriques pour comprendre la fonctionnalité et le rendement des enceintes de biosécurité, suivis de 5 jours de démonstration et de exercice pratique. À la fin de l’atelier, les participants peuvent passer l’examen de certification CDC Africa Level-1 Af-BSCCP.

Langue d’Enseignement

• L’atelier sera en anglais avec interprétation en français et en somali.
• Le matériel de l’atelier sera disponible en anglais/français et en anglais/somali.

 Atelier en Personne du 8 au 19 mai 2023 pour les Compétences de Niveau 1

On behalf of the U.S. Department of State Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction Biosecurity Engagement Program, Sandia National Laboratories is hosting a webinar series to raise awareness of the potential for bioscience research institutions to be targeted by sophisticated actors for access to bioweapons-applicable knowledge, material, and expertise. This webinar series will provide an overview of security threats and introduce mitigations to safeguard valuable knowledge, material, and expertise.

This webinar series will be held via the Zoom platform. Registrants will be notified of any date and/or time changes via email. Below is the schedule of events.

• Session 1 – 16 February 2023 at 06:00-08:00 MST / 08:00-10:00 EST / 15:00-17:00 EET / 17:00-19:00 GMT+4
• Session 2 – 2 March 2023 at 06:00-08:00 MST / 08:00-10:00 EST / 15:00-17:00 EET / 17:00-19:00 GMT+4
• Session 3 – 16 March 2023 at 07:00-09:00 MDT / 09:00-11:00 EDT /  15:00-17:00 EET / 17:0-19:00 GMT+4  *daylight savings time will push the webinar an hour later for us but will be at the same time for our participants*
• Session 4 - 30 March 2023 at  07:00-09:00 MDT / 09:00-11:00 EDT /  15:00-17:00 EET / 17:0-19:00 GMT+4 

To register for the webinar series, please provide your information below. Sandia National Laboratories will follow up with a confirmation of your registration and a meeting invitation. For inquiries or questions, please email Celine West cnwest@sandia.gov.

Thank you for your interest and support!

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