USDA ARS 2nd International Biosafety and Biocontainment Symposium

February 4-7, 2013

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center                         

Registration Now Open!

ABSA will be the managing partner of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 2nd International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium - Agriculture Research and Response for Field and Lab. The Symposium will be held February 4-7, 2013, in Alexandria Virginia at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. The Symposium will include ten pre-symposium courses and 2½ days of scientific presentations. There will also be exhibits showcasing the latest agricultural biosafety and biocontainment products and services. Registration, sponsors, and details for this event are available at http://arssymposium.absa.org.
Pre-Symposium Courses: (4 hours each)
Plant Pathology 101: Introduction of Principles on Plant Pathology

Program Outline (Subject to Change)

Pre-symposium Courses: (4 hours each)

Monday February 4, 2013

• Plant Pathology 101
• Plant Containment
• Intro to APHIS regulatory oversight
• APHIS Permitting
• Integrated Pest Management & Biocontrol
• Agrodefense
• FBI Biosecurity for Lab Research
• GMO – International Perspective on Biological Safety
• Biocontainment Techniques beyond the Biosafety Cabinet
• Food Defense

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

• Session I – Food Safety, Defense, and Security Research and Biosafety/Biocontainment Challenges
• Session II – Containment and Research Challenges for Work on Plant Pathogens, Pests, GMOs, and Biocontrol AgentsWednesday, February 6, 2013

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

• Session III – Regulatory and Oversight Issues
• Session IV – LAIs

Thursday, February 7, 2013

• Session V – Animal Health

The Symposium will consist of sessions covering a variety of topics including containment and security challenges, GMOs, and agroterrorism. There will be a roundtable discussion on the culture of responsibility and security and another on LAIs and break in containment. Keynote speakers will open the program on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In addition to the valuable courses and sessions, you will have the opportunity to network with professionals from the biosafety and scientific research industries, organizations, and agencies.
Register soon as space is limited. http://arssymposium.absa.org