Midwest Area Biosafety Network
We represent a group of professionals dedicated to the field of biosafety within the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Great Plains regions of the United States.
Announcements
NIH Biosafety Modernization Initiative
NIH recently announced it was beginning a year-long process to modernize and strengthen the oversight of biosafety. Key to this effort is obtaining feedback from individuals on what they think should be included in a 21st century biosafety policy. NIH is currently launching an intensive community engagement program that will include six regional listening sessions and smaller engagements with individuals throughout the United States. We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to make their voice heard on this important issue. Great ideas sometimes come up at unexpected times. This is why NIH has established a portal where anyone can come and share their thoughts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While comments submitted through the portal below can relate to any aspect of biosafety oversight, NIH is particularly interested in hearing individual opinions regarding:
- Appropriate scope for NIH’s biosafety policy
- Types of research that may require less local or NIH oversight based on accrued safety data or due to oversight by other federal authorities
- Other comments on NIH’s biosafety oversight
Click on the image below to be taken to the comment submission portal.
MABioN Events
Links and Resources
ABSA International
We are an official affiliate of ABSA International. Find out more about that organization here.
American Society for Microbiology
The American Society of Microbiology is a professional society for microbiologists. https://asm.org/
Health Canada Pathogen Safety Data Sheets
Health Canada has created pathogen safety data sheets similar to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals for many human pathogens.
National Institutes of Health - Office of Science Policy
Life sciences research is essential to protecting global health security by helping us to understand the fundamental nature of human-pathogen interactions and informing public health and preparedness efforts, such as the development of vaccines and medical countermeasures. OSP develops policies to preserve the benefits of this research while minimizing its potential misuse.
Access the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) as well as Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential Policies at this site.
NIH Office of Science Policy – Biosafety and Biosecurity Policy
Biosafety in Biomedical and Microbiological Laboratories (BMBL)
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) has served as the cornerstone of biosafety practice in the United States since its initial release in 1984.
Federal Select Agent Program
The Federal Select Agent Program is jointly comprised of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Division of Regulatory Science and Compliance and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins. The Federal Select Agent Program oversees the possession, use and transfer of select agents and toxins, which pose a threat to public, animal or plant health.
