Sustainable laboratory biosafety and biosecurity for animal disease threats

This project supports the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in strengthening biological safety and biosecurity at high-risk and vulnerable laboratories by implementing the WOAH Guiding Principles of Sustainable Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity. Project activities include: (1) completing a regional and global analysis on investment needs for veterinary laboratories to inform and guide activities related to sustainable laboratory biosafety and biosecurity and capacity building; (2) implementing an action plan to improve sustainable laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in priority regions; (3) supporting Veterinary Laboratory Twinning projects addressing biosafety and biosecurity concerns for high consequence pathogens of security; (4) developing the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) sustainable laboratories tool enabling WOAH member countries to identify biosafety and biosecurity capacity gaps in national veterinary laboratories; and (5) developing a "Grand Challenge" open innovation competition open to national stakeholders donors and innovators. “This Grand Challenge” supports the development of innovative solutions supporting the sustainability of laboratories operating in low-resource countries.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) adopted horizontal good management practices incorporating innovative solutions to improve laboratory sustainability in WOAH member states; (2) improved sustainability accuracy and timeliness of diagnoses of priority animal diseases and veterinary public health issues; and (3) improved security of potentially dangerous biological materials and samples in compliance with international standards.