Happening Now
HSP and the BioRisk Association of the Philippines Successfully Cohosted the First Event in a Three-Phased Training on Biosecurity Risk Assessment and Mitigation
On July 20th, Health Security Partners and the BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015) cohosted the first event in a three-phased training on biosecurity risk assessment and mitigation. Seventeen participants from Philippine laboratories handling high consequence pathogens gathered virtually to kick-off the three-day workshop. Lecturers covered the basics of biorisk management systems, the importance of biosafety and biosecurity, threat identification, and biosecurity plans during … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Phase One of HSP/BRAP2015's Biosecurity Risk Assessment and Mitigation Training Set to Begin July 20th
Health Security Partners and the BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015) are pleased to begin Phase One of a three-phased training on biosecurity risk assessment and mitigation. Participants from Philippine laboratories handling high consequence pathogens will gather virtually on July 20th to kick-off the three-day initial workshop. During Phase One, lead trainers will cover topics including the basics of biorisk management systems, the importance of biosafety and biosecurity, threat … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
HSP and the Indonesian Biorisk Association (IBA) Held a Follow-up to the May 2022 Introductory Workshop for Producers and Users of Mobile Laboratories
On July 1, 2022, HSP and the Indonesian Biorisk Association (IBA) held a follow-up to the May 2022 introductory workshop for producers and users of mobile laboratories in Indonesia. Participants of this hybrid workshop, including mobile laboratory facilities managers, employees, safety officers, and engineers from around the country, convened in Bogor, Indonesia. After reviewing key highlights from the previous workshop, participants were introduced to a mobile laboratory auditing checklist … Continue Reading
July 11, 2022
HSP and PBSA kick off IFBA Biorisk Management Exam Preparatory Course
Health Security Partners is pleased to collaborate with the Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA) to prepare 133 laboratory professionals, scientists, faculty members, and students from Pakistan for the IFBA Biorisk Management (BRM) certification exam through an eleven-week long preparatory course. This preparatory course consists of webinars, multiple quizzes and weekly reading assignments. The 133 participants will be prepared for the exam in four groups. Each participant will … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
HSP Pakistan Vet Cohort Conducts Professional Development Training, June 14-18
A 5-day training on “Disease Surveillance and Response” was smoothly organized by Health Security Partners staff with enthusiastic participation from the 19 veterinarians and microbiologists of the Pakistani Vet Cohort from KP and Baluchistan, Pakistan, in Lahore from June 14 -18, 2022. The training kicked off by covering significant disease surveillance topics, touching on the basics of surveillance, types of surveillance, disease mapping, and outbreak investigations, and also included … Continue Reading
July 06, 2022
HSP is Excited to Announce HSP BRM Challenge Grants Have Been Awarded
HSP is excited to announce HSP BRM Challenge Grants have been awarded to the following partner institutions to implement biosafety and biosecurity projects to minimize toxins threats - the Institute of Technology Bandung, the Bogor Agricultural Institute, the Indonesian Biorisk Association, and the University of the Philippines - Manila. Projects will focus on the development of a white paper for Indonesian government agencies to strengthen policies on toxins and related threats, development … Continue Reading
July 02, 2022
HSP colleague, Dr. Muhammad Usman Zaheer, Becomes First Veterinarian From Pakistan to Earn the Status of Diplomate ACVPM
HSP congratulates our colleague, Dr. Muhammad Usman Zaheer, as the first veterinarian from Pakistan to earn the status of Diplomate ACVPM by passing the certification examination of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Dr. Zaheer leads HSP’s animal health surveillance efforts for the Fleming Fund Country Grant Team in Pakistan where he is working to strengthen a sustainable health system for preventing and controlling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dr. Zaheer’s efforts … Continue Reading
June 27, 2022
HSP and BRAP2015 to Conduct Three-Phased Training on Biosecurity Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Health Security Partners is pleased to partner with the BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015) to deliver a three-phased training on biosecurity risk assessment and mitigation. Biosecurity implementation is a key element of biorisk management. Recently published international biorisk management standards (ISO 35001:2019) and the WHO Biosafety Manual 4th Edition require robust biosecurity risk assessments as part of implementation and compliance. Taken together, there is an urgent … Continue Reading
June 20, 2022
HSP and the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine to Develop and Deliver a Virtual Program in Biorisk Management
HSP has kicked off conversations with the BioRisk Management Office (BRMO) at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in the Philippines to develop and deliver a virtual program in biorisk management for laboratories across the country. This project will convert RITM’s proven biorisk management training program from an in-person training to a modular virtual course hosted on a learning management platform. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, RITM saw a need for this course in the … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
HSP and the Indonesian Biorisk Association Come Together to Discuss and Educate How to Conduct Self-Audits of Mobile Labs
HSP and the Indonesian Biorisk Association (IBA) will bring together producers and users of mobile laboratories to discuss a biorisk management checklist that participants will use to conduct self-audits of mobile labs. This event, scheduled for the end of June, is an in-person follow-up to the virtual Biorisk Management for Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories Workshop that was jointly hosted by HSP and IBA on 17-18 May 2022. These audits will help participants who use these mobile laboratories … Continue Reading
June 07, 2022
HSP Staff Member, Alle, Travels to Thailand to Observe Progress on SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Efforts Among Animals
Late last month HSP staff member, Alle Taylor, was able to travel to visit our international partners for the first time in two years! Alle, along with members of the U.S. CDC, visited Bangkok, Thailand to meet with university collaborators to observe progress on SARS-CoV-2 surveillance efforts among animals. In particular, the Faculty of Veterinary Science @ChulalongkornU (CU) is working with HSP and CDC to conduct surveillance for Covid-19 among captive wildlife in zoos. While in Thailand, … Continue Reading
June 05, 2022
HSP Supports Infectious Substance Shipping Certification in the Philippines in Response to Monkeypox Outbreak
In response to reports of suspected cases of monkeypox in the Philippines, HSP and its partners at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health Philippines (RITM) are working together to provide urgent specimen packaging and transport training for a group of biosafety officers at labs across the Philippines. Samples of suspected cases of monkeypox will need to be shipped abroad for confirmatory testing, requiring shippers to be certified in infectious substance packaging … Continue Reading
May 27, 2022
HSP Publishes Paper on International Biorisk Management Mentorship Project
Earlier this month, HSP and international partners published a paper in the Health Security Journal detailing methodology used to implement an international mentorship project bringing together Pakistani and Philippine partners to strengthen institutional biorisk management. The project methodology was developed in 2019 when Health Security Partners and the Pakistan Biological Safety Association developed a biorisk manual writing project in partnership with experts from the BioRisk Association … Continue Reading
May 26, 2022
HSP and IBA Host Biorisk Management for Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs) Introductory Workshop in Indonesia
From March 17 - 18, HSP and the Indonesian Biorisk Association (IBA) conducted a successful two-day virtual workshop to introduce biosecurity and biosafety risks and best practices for manufacturers and users of Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs) in Indonesia. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in RRMLs across Indonesia and the Southeast Asia region to provide increased diagnostic testing for the pandemic response. These new laboratories include RRMLs that are fully mobile, as … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
HSP & BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015) will be Conducting a Sample Transport Mapping Survey at Human and Animal Health Laboratories in the Philippines
HSP in partnership with the BioRisk Association of the Philippines (BRAP2015) will be conducting a sample transport mapping survey at human and animal health laboratories in the Philippines. This survey will be to assess current mechanisms for transport of biological materials and samples, both formal and informal, and identify strengths and areas for improvement in sample transport security. BRAP2015 has selected an impressive pool of 12 volunteer surveyors from both the human and animal … Continue Reading
May 10, 2022
HSP-Led GAIHN-HAI Network Begins COVID-19 Variant Surveillance in Indonesia
HSP and Indonesian partners at Dr. Soetomo Hospital and the Institute of Tropical Diseases, Universitas Airlangga (ITD) have started COVID-19 variant surveillance in health care workers and hospitalized patients. As a result, these partners will be able to identify and characterize existing and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and support national and global response to the pandemic. This effort is part of HSP’s support for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global … Continue Reading
May 07, 2022
HSP Will Join the Indonesian Biorisk Association to Conduct a Two-Day Virtual Workshop From May 17th-18th
From May 17th - 18th, HSP will join the Indonesian Biorisk Association (IBA) to conduct a two-day virtual workshop to introduce biosecurity and biosafety risks and best practices for manufacturers and users of Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs) in Indonesia. Because RRMLs have been increasing in usage and rapidly commissioned in Southeast Asia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HSP and IBA want to engage both manufacturers and users of RRMLs to discuss threats and mitigation … Continue Reading
May 05, 2022
HSP Turkey Chemical Security Fellows Meet to Discuss Science Diplomacy
Last week, HSP Turkey Chemical Security Fellows met to discuss science diplomacy. The session featured Rector Dr. Yusuf Baran of Izmir Institute of Technology, providing his insights on how science collaboration connects the researcher to solve shared global challenges. The cadre of 32 Fellows highlighted the importance of science diplomacy in its various forms particularly in times of conflict to promote peaceable solutions. Following this discussion, the Fellows will continue improving … Continue Reading
May 02, 2022
Consultant Opportunity - Network Data Manager, Indonesia
Position Description: Health Security Partners (HSP) is looking for a skilled professional with experience in data management, analysis and interpretation to support health-associated infection (HAI) surveillance in Indonesia as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN). The Network Data Manager will work in collaboration with HSP and CDC to manage data generated within a network of health care facilities (HCF) for infectious … Continue Reading
May 02, 2022
HSP's Dr. Muhammad Usman Zaheer Appears on National Television to Speak About Importance of Vaccinations
Last week was World Immunization Week. Our team here at HSP would like to highlight one of our own, Dr. Muhammad Usman Zaheer, who leads HSP’s animal health surveillance efforts for the Fleming Fund Country Grant Team in Pakistan, who appeared on national television in Pakistan on April 25. He highlighted the importance of using vaccinations against food-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin disease (LSD), in food-producing animals. These vaccinations ensure food security and food safety, … Continue Reading