Welcome to EBSA

Instructors
Felix Gmünder (CH) and Timo Kehl (De)

The planning, design, construction and performance review of high containment facilities, including BSL-3, ABSL-3 and BSL-3Ag, requires a well thought out approach if the outcome is to meet the intentions of the owner or client and the users.  

Instructors
Wendy Shell (AUT) and Chris Pirson (UK)

This one-day classroom based, interactive course will give participants an insight into the key technical skills for a successful career in biosafety or biosecurity. For those starting out in the role or considering a career as a Biosafety professional it is necessary to demonstrate competency in several key areas, as defined in Technical Standards such as CWA 16335 and ISO/TS 5441. Through case studies, interactive group exercises and taught learning this course will ensure attendees are able to develop their own training pathway to becoming a Biosafety professional. It will enable individuals to identify gaps in current knowledge, skills or experience and the development opportunities to address these, along with accreditation schemes to demonstrate competency.

Instructors
Adam Stevenson (UK) and Heidi Auerswald (IT)

This highly interactive one-day course equips biosafety professionals, laboratory supervisors, and institutional trainers with practical tools to evaluate, strengthen, and embed biosafety competence beyond traditional tick-box training models. Participants will unpack the distinctions between, training, compliance, and competence, and work through hands-on methods to translate those insights into practice. Using a step-by-step improvement plan, each participant will identify key challenges in their home institution and design a 3-month roadmap for upgrading how competence is assessed, reinforced, and sustained. The course draws from ISO 35001, CWA 16335, ISO/TS 5441, and WHO LBM4, and links theoretical frameworks to actionable strategies: job safety analysis, SOP analysis, job specification evaluation, behavioural reinforcement, observation checklists, and building psychological safety. The course is especially valuable for institutions looking to strengthen internal competency frameworks, onboarding, or coaching programs. 

Instructors
Karin Darpel (DE) and Sophie Duraffour (DE)

When outbreaks of high-consequence viral pathogens emerge, rapid diagnostic and research activities are often pushed to the front lines - directly into the field, at the heart of the epidemic. But what biosafety precautions are essential in these high-stakes environments, and how can they be effectively applied under demanding, real-world conditions? 

Instructors
Suzanne Loret (BE) and Filippo De Franceschi (CH)

This course is intended for novices to practitioners in contained use. 

After introducing the basic concepts about safety equipment (collective and personal equipment), the training will focus on biosafety cabinets (BSC) with particular attention to defining the protection range of each type of BSC and some ways to decontaminate the BSC work surface and HEPA filters. The first course day will also cover personal protective equipment (PPE), focusing mainly on facial masks and gloves. Besides explaining the criteria to consider when selecting the appropriate PPE. 

2 days of EBSA pre conference courses on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 June 2026

2 days of EBSA conference on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 June 2026.

Instructors
Jane Shallcross (UK) and Rik Bleijs (NL)

This full-day course offers a comprehensive introduction to laboratory biosecurity, focusing on the practical implementation of biosecurity policies, guidelines, and risk assessments. Participants will explore the importance of robust biosecurity measures for global health, and learn to identify and address risks across the eight pillars of biosecurity: leadership and governance, risk assessment, personnel reliability, physical security, information security, material control and accountability, transport security, and emergency response.