Welcome to EBSA

Upcoming meetings

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    02 June 2026

    Pre conference course D - Biosafety in Action: theory and best practices on safety equipment, with lab demonstration and exercises

    Bruges and Brugge

    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. 

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    02 June 2026

    EBSA Conference 2026 and Preconference courses

    Bruges and Brugge

    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.

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    03 June 2026

    Pre conference course A - Practical Implementation of Biosecurity

    Bruges and Brugge

    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. 

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    03 June 2026

    Pre conference course C - Fundamentals of Process Safety in Laboratories

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Jaspreet Chana (UK) and Dan Thomson (UK)

    Laboratories are dynamic environments where chemical and biological hazards intersect. While occupational safety focuses on protecting individuals from immediate harm, process safety is about preventing incidents that could escalate into major accidents, equipment damage, or containment breaches. 

    This one-day course is designed to bridge the gap between traditional lab safety practices and process safety principles commonly applied in industrial settings. Through a mix of theory, case studies, and interactive workshops, participants will learn how to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls that go beyond complianceensuring resilience and reliability in laboratory operations. 

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    03 June 2026

    Preconference course F - The Biocontainment Challenge: BSL2 to BSL3 Upgrade Simulation Game

    Bruges and Brugge

    Instructors
    Vips Halkjaer-Knudsen (DK) and Faye Litherland (UK)

    Upgrading an operational BSL2 laboratory to BSL3 is a significantly different process than designing a brand-new BSL3 facility, where budgets, expectations, and design principles are established from the beginning. Retrofitting presents an entirely different challenge. Many initiatives start with internal enthusiasm, often from scientific staff who believe the upgrade mainly involves adding a pass-through autoclave or creating a curved floor-to-wall transition. The shift from “minimise release” to “prevent release” is much more complex than it seems, and the hidden complexities, costs, and constraints of old infrastructure are easy to underestimate. This immersive simulation game places participants in the role of biosafety consultants tasked with navigating exactly these challenges.

Upcoming external meetings

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    29 January 2026

    Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) Mythbuster Webinar: "Do Heat Sources in a BSC Compromise Protection?"

    In this session, we’ll explore the impact of heat-generating equipment inside a BSC and uncover what the science truly says about airflow, contamination risk, and user protection.

    Hosted by Baker

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    27 August 2026

    20th Applied Biosafety Meeting

    The 20th Biosafety Meeting will take place over two days in Luzern on August 27th and 28th 2026.

News

  1. Apr 23, 2025

    Risk assessment

    The European Biosafety Association (EBSA) recognizes that risk assessment is a fundamental component of biorisk management. Best practices require that every procedure with biological hazards includes an assessment of the risks associated with the performed activities, including a definition of mitigation measures working with biological agents.

    Read more about "Risk assessment"

  2. Nov 7, 2024

    EBSA represented at ABSA

    EBSA at the 67th annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference of ABSA International in Phoenix, Arizona

    Read more about "EBSA represented at ABSA"

  3. Oct 18, 2024

    EBSA conference 2025

    Submit your poster or presentation proposal now!

    Read more about "EBSA conference 2025"