67th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference

November 1-6, 2024
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge
Phoenix, Arizona

  • Intensive professional development courses to educate and inspire
  • Three full days of state-of-the-art keynotes, papers, and panels highlighting best practices and hands-on skills crucial for today’s biosafety and biosecurity professionals
  • In-person exhibits showcasing the latest in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity products and services
  • Invaluable networking opportunities to share and learn from other biosafety and biosecurity professionals

The ABSA International Conference is the largest biosafety and biosecurity conference in the world! The conference will provide solutions to tackle your most challenging issues, present fascinating case studies, and showcase the latest developments in biosafety and biosecurity. ABSA International’s educational sessions offer insights into the ever-changing world of biosafety and biosecurity, keeping you updated on the latest techniques and best practices. You’ll have opportunities to network with your peers and discuss common issues, share advice, and exchange ideas. There will also be commercial exhibits showcasing the latest technologies in biosafety and biosecurity.

Featured Sponsor

The Elizabeth R. Griffin Program at Georgetown University
In 2018, the Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation selected Georgetown University to advance its research and education missions, launching a new era as the Elizabeth R. Griffin Program (ERG). ERG at Georgetown builds on the 20-year legacy of the Foundation’s work and the Georgetown University Medical Center’s mission of excellence in research, education, and the improvement of human health and well-being. The ERG Program works to enhance and sustain leadership in the expanding field of global health science and security. Through collaborative research, training, and education, ERG at Georgetown promotes evidence-based biosafety and biosecurity practices to protect the health and safety of researchers as well as the workers on the front lines of disease detection around the world.

Call for Course Proposals and Platform/Poster Abstracts

Course Proposals
Submission Deadline: April 15, 2024

Platform/Poster Abstract
Submission Deadline: May 6, 2024

Attention Students!

Robert I. Gross Memorial Award

If you are a student currently in a degree granting program at the baccalaureate or graduate level, consider submitting an abstract for the Robert I. Gross Memorial Award.  The award shall help support travel, conference registration, and ABSA International membership for the upcoming year. The recipient is selected by the Scientific Program Committee from among the student applicants who submit abstracts.

Thank you for attending!

66th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference, October 13-18, 2023, CHI Health Center Omaha, Nebraska

66th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference

October 13-18, 2023
CHI Health Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Online Access

If you attended the 66th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference you will have access to the online site and all of the recordings for 12 months.

Didn’t Attend the Conference?

(A link to the recordings will be provided within 10-business days of purchase.)

2023 Biosafety Honor Awards

Arnold G Wedum Distinguished Achievement
Barbara Johnson, PhD, RBP(ABSA)

Everett Hanel Jr Presidential Award
Marian Downing, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)

John H Richardson Special Recognition Award
Theodore Traum, PE

Diane Fleming Leadership Award
Angela Birnbaum, MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA) (posthumous)

2023 Annual Recognition Awards

HASH Service Award
Matt Anderson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
          Scientific Program Committee
Sylvie Blondelle, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
          Credentialing Maintenance Board
Jenna McKenzie, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
          Local Arrangements Committee
Anthony Sambol, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
          BSAT CA Committee
Endah Sulistijo, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
          Advanced Biosafety Training Series Working Group
Robin Tobias, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
          PR Marketing Committee

Griffin Lecture Award
Addressing Biosafety and Biosecurity Issues at Research and Diagnostic Laboratories: Building Local Capacity—A Big Challenge
Halima Benbouza, PhD, National Council of Scientific Research and Technologies, Algiers, Algeria

Eagleson Lecture Award
Evolving Responses to Emerging Disease Threats
Lisa Hensley, PhD, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS

Richard Knudsen Award
Autoclaving as a Routine Method for the Decontamination of Animal Carcasses in a Biosafety Level 3 Facility 
Hermann Schildorfer, PhD, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria

Arnold G. Wedum Memorial Lecture Award
Mpox Outbreak: Preparedness Efforts, Laboratory Response and Ongoing Efforts
Christina L. Hutson, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Poster Awards

Scientific Poster Award
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK DISTRIBUTION OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SHIRAK REGION, ARMENIA IN 2016-2022 (ID #31)

Armine Andryan, Ruben Danielyan, and Lilya Khachatryan, National Center Disease Control and Prevention, Gyumri, Armenia; Gayane Melik-Andreasyan, National Center Disease Control and Prevention, Yerevan, Armenia

Informational Poster Award
VALIDATION PROCESS FOR AUTOCLAVE DECONTAMINATION OF ASBESTOS ABATEMENT WASTE LEAVING A HIGH CONTAINMENT LABORATORY (ID #20)

Wendy P. Kilthau, Bobby Parchuri, Rachel Smith, Megan Murray, Edward Krisiunas, and Fahim Manzur, ASRC Federal Field Services, Orient Point, NY

2023 Biosafety Month Promotional Awards

The Biosafety and Biosecurity Promotional Awards have been created to recognize ABSA International members in their efforts in promoting biosafety through marketing initiatives. A first and second place award in each category shall be given, when merited. These awards was presented during the 66th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Hybrid Conference.

First Prize:
University of Southern California BSC Video (Youtube)
Submitted by the USC Biosafety Team
Brent Pantell, Alex Alviar, Jerome Williams, Erick Guandique, Prashan De Zoysa, Filiberto Palacios, Deona Willes, Dick Sun

Second Prize:
Biosafety Bulletin- Biosafety Month 2023(pdf)
Submitted by Matt Stinoski, West Virginia University with contributions by Ali Elliott

ABSA International: 2023 Biosafety Month Promotional Award, 2nd place, safety Bulletin- Biosafety Month 2023

Honorable Mention:
October Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Flyer(pdf)
Submitted by: Randy Albrecht, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with contributions by Sarah Rosa and Lokendrasingh Chauhan

ABSA International: 2023 Biosafety Month Promotional Award, honorable mention, October Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Flyer(pdf)