Front Range Biosafety Association

Interested in getting more plugged in to FRaBSA

Join the FRaBSA Board

The  Front  Range  Biological  Safety  Association  (FRaBSA)  is  an  official  affiliate  of  the  American Biological  Safety  Association   (ABSA).    FRaBSA   was  founded  in  2009   for  the  purpose  of promoting  the  principles  of  biological  safety  and  providing  a  forum  for  dissemination  of information between individuals in this and related fields.

We are looking for individuals who are interested in serving on the Front Range Biosafety Association Board in one of the following capacities:

President-Elect – This entails a 3-year commitment (1 year as President-Elect, 1 year as President, 1 year as Past-President)

Treasurer – This is a 2-year commitment

Communications Director – This is a 2-year commitment

Counselor-at-large – This is a 2-year commitment

Chair of the Outreach Committee – This is a 2-year commitment

For a detailed description of each position please refer to the by-laws https://frabsa.org/members-only/bylaws/

What kind of time commitment does this require?  We have monthly board meetings via teleconference, some work outside of the board meetings depending upon the issues we are addressing.  In addition, you are expected to participate to the extent possible with 3 general membership meetings held during the year.

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If you are interested in running or want to nominate someone else for a position, please use this link.

(SELF-NOMINATIONS WELCOME)NOMINATE SOMEONE

We would love to have you join us.  Save money now for the Fall Symposium.

Dues are now due July 1 of each year for the time frame of

 July 1 2020 to June 30 2021

Benefits of Membership:

• Networking with local biosafety professionals.
• Minimal or no cost for attending the three FRaBSA meetings a year.
  • Meetings generally include a guest speaker and/or training presentation on pertinent biosafety topics.
  • Individual meeting cost for non-members = $15 (to attend training and lunch) or $10 (to attend training only)
• Access to FRaBSA meetings via webcast (where available).
• American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) certification maintenance credits.
• American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) certification maintenance credits.

To join or renew your membership – click on the type of membership below

Individual Membership $ 30.00

Any person with an interest in biological safety shall be eligible for Individual Membership. Individual Members shall be eligible to vote, to hold office, to serve on committees, and to enjoy other rights of the Association.

Corporate/Organizational Membership – $100.00

Any company or organization with an interest in biological safety shall be eligible for Corporate Membership. Each Corporate Member may designate up to four persons as Individual Members. Each of these four individuals shall be eligible to vote, to hold office, to serve on committees, and to enjoy other rights of the Association.

Corporate Sponsorship – Varies

Corporate sponsorships may include membership dues as well.  Contact Sue Farr at sfarr@techsafety.com if you are interested in being a corporate sponsor.

Student Membership  – $10.00

A matriculated student with an interest in biological safety shall be eligible for Student Membership. Student Members shall neither have the right to vote nor the right to hold elective office.

If you have questions contact communications@frabsa.org

FRaBSA held a COVID-19 webinar on 4-24-20. This webinar was well attended with over 300 attendees representing universities, public agencies, private companies and even a few Canadians. A recording of this webinar is available on FRaBSA’s youtube channel:

Questions?   contact Communications@frabsa.org

April 25, 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finalized a proposal to amend the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) to streamline the oversight of gene therapy research. This proposal, which was developed in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration, included amending the NIH Guidelines to eliminate duplicative review and reporting requirements for human gene transfer protocols and refocuses the role of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) as a transparent forum for science, safety, and ethics of emerging biotechnologies. After a 60-day public comment period, the NIH Guidelines have been updated to reflect these changes and the RAC has been renamed the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC).  

Please note that the roles and responsibilities of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) to review gene therapy protocols have been modified so that they are consistent with the review of other research covered under the NIH Guidelines. Gene therapy protocols remain subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other clinical trial regulations, and only after FDA, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Review Boards, and other relevant approvals are in place can these protocols proceed.

Please also note the HGTprotocols@od.nih.gov mailbox previously listed in the NIH Guidelines is no longer operational.  All questions should instead be sent to NIHGuidelines@od.nih.gov

For more information about these important changes, please see the following NIH resources & Liteblue.

• NIH Director’s Statement on Streamlining Gene Therapy Oversight
• Under the Poliscope Blog “Introducing the NExTRAC”
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Revised NIH Guidelines
• NIH Office of Science Policy NIH Guidelines webpage

The FRaBSA Inaugural Biosafety Symposium was held September 29, 2017 in Boulder, CO.

Agenda and links to the video are available in the members only section.

click here

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/06/20150612b.html

HHS selects nine regional Ebola and other special pathogen treatment centers
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in partnership with Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado