RAV3N/ABSA applied biosafety and biorisk gap assessment workshop

The RAV3N Biocontainment Laboratory Network recently partnered with ABSA International and Gryphon Scientific to hold an applied biosafety and biorisk gap assessment workshop. Global subject matter experts were tasked with identifying and describing topic areas where the lack of applicable data or experiential evidence is an obstacle to improving our understanding of biorisk management and biosafety practices.  Once potential gap areas were identified, the participants outlined and prioritized them into a list and suggested applied research that could be undertaken to address them. The report of the workshop findings will be published with the intention of providing expert recommendations to policy-makers and funding agencies for resource allocation to ensure that biorisk management practices, guidance, and regulations for containment laboratories are based on the best available science. This workshop was co-sponsored by USDA and US Department of State.