Overview of the national biosafety and biocontainment training program

Authors

• SM Boada
• M
• Boes
• MA Diaz
• RD Johnston
• N Rose
• D Newcomer
• A Clarkson
• J McCormick-Ell

Abstract

The National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP)/Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) is a two-year NIH fellowship designed to train fellows as emerging biosafety and biocontainment professionals. As part of this fellowship, trainees learn how to perform risk assessments for biological research; about the design, operation, principles and practices of high containment (BSL-3 and BSL-4); the role of safety specialists (i.e. performing annual laboratory safety surveys, laboratory protocol reviews, and injury investigations); and how to review recombinant and pathogen registrations and lead the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). In addition, fellows participate in various trainings in occupational and laboratory safety and attend regional and national conferences on biosafety, biosecurity, and occupational health and safety. Developmental assignments are also an integral part of the NBBTP fellowship, where fellows consult for an outside institution and develop biosafety-related deliverables for that institution. NBBTP fellows also spearhead applied biosafety research projects at NIH as a capstone for their two-year tenure at NIH. Following successful completion of the NBBTP program, alumni are employed within the spectrum of the biosafety field, including industry, government, academia, and consulting, where they serve as leaders in biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment. It is the goal of the NBBTP fellowship to provide highly trained professionals to meet the growing needs of the biological and biomedical research community.

Scientific Focus Area: Research Support Services

This page was last updated on Monday, September 25, 2023