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UNIDO e-Biosafety

UNIDO e-Biosafety. A novel approach to Biosafety Training Presented to the 18 th SFO meeting at UNESCO, Paris 3 November 2010. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

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UNIDO e-Biosafety

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  1. UNIDO e-Biosafety A novel approach to Biosafety Training Presented to the 18th SFO meeting at UNESCO, Paris 3 November 2010

  2. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety • Legally binding Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Adopted in Montreal in January 2000, entered into force in September 2003 • Intention:To promote biosafety by establishing rules and procedures for the safe transfer, handling, and use of LMOs, with specific focus on transboundary movements of LMOs

  3. Biosafety Training and Capacity Building • Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol requires individual, scientific and institutional capacities • Biosafety regulation and oversight are key bottlenecks to commercial applications of and trade in biotechnology • Building biosafety capacity is a complex task and requires a multidisciplinary approach

  4. Challenges • Biosafety as an multidisciplinary discipline • Rising demand • Available expertise • Training should be targeted to countries‘ own capacity, needs and priorities

  5. UNIDO’s Mandate in Biotechnology & biosafety The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, through Resolution 1999/61 adopted on 30 July 1999 and renewed through Resolution: ECOSOC 2004/68, gives UNIDO, amongst other UN bodies and other international institutions, the mandate to "exchange information on biosafety regulation and capacity-building, including through case studies on (a) partnerships in biotechnology, (b) biosafety, (c) bioethics and (d) approaches to biotechnology and intellectual property rights issues".

  6. UNIDO’s Assets • International Network of Experts • Cooperation with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) • Worldwide Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS)

  7. e-Biosafety:http://binas.unido.org/moodle

  8. e-Biosafety is targeted at: • Professionals in life and social sciences and in law in • National regulatory agencies • National and international research institutes • Institutional and industrial professionals involved in biosafety compliance

  9. UNIDO e-Biosafety • One year duration with academic accreditation at postgraduate level • Delivered through a state-of-the-art online training portal • Complemented with two short on-campus sessions • Students submit a thesis at the end of the programme

  10. e-Biosafety Training Course:7 Core Modules

  11. UNIDO e-Biosafety Training Course • Training includes: • Practical laboratory training in plant transformation and gene detection methods • Hands-on case studies on the procedures involved in formulating and assessing GMO application dossiers as EFSA (integral part of the on-campus sessions)

  12. e-Biosafety Network • Worldwide Network Nodes: • Gent University, Belgium • Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil • Marche Polytechnic University, Italy

  13. e-Biosafety Network • UNIDO • Coordination • Peer Review (International Advisory Board) • International and national faculty • Nodes (universities) • Teaching • Student tutoring • Academic accreditation

  14. Unique Features • Integrated long-term multidisciplinary study curriculum in biosafety • Combination of innovative distance learning multimedia with extensive on-campus tuition including laboratory practices • Academic accreditation at diploma/master level; rigorous student performance assessment • Didactic material developed by eminent experts • Peer reviewed content in respect to quality, topical relevance • Tailored content responding to regional needs • Constructive feedback mechanisms enabling beneficial improvements

  15. Unique Features (cont.) These features of UNIDO‘s e-Biosafety Programme are in line with the core recommendations of the Second International Meeting of Academic Institutions and Organizations Involved in Biosafety Education and Training, organised by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Kuala Lumpur, 16-18 April 2007

  16. e-Biosafety advantages • Overcomes geographical constraints • Enables flexibility for students • Develops trainee’s autonomy, motivation and discipline • Overcomes institutional limitations

  17. Train the trainers • ensuring long-term sustainability through training of key resources persons in governments, academia and industry to develop adequate indigenous biosafety expertise in countries

  18. Current status • As of October 2010, 174 students completed the course • >50% of the trainees are currently engaged with national regulatory authorities • 56% of trainees female

  19. e-Biosafety student nationalities:

  20. UNIDO Fellowships • Covered travel, accommodation for residential training sessions & university administration costs for African students • Selection process: • University screens applications for academic qualification • UNIDO, together with university, pre-selects candidates with appropriate profile • Fellowship conditional on official nomination of candidate by respective government

  21. Lessons learned • Logistical challenges • Cost implications • Flexibility important • Selection of trainees • Need for understanding of regional/national requirements • Language • Distance learning + on-campus tuition is amendable for biosafety capacity building

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