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Second Workshop of the IBO Training Program

    February 17, 2022
    2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    (Virtual - Time in BST)
    Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh, under the auspices of the South Asia Biosafety Program, is conducting a series of workshops targeting Institutional Biosafety Officers (IBOs) and Committees (IBCs) at research institutions engaged in biotechnology research and development in Bangladesh. The purpose of this by-invitation-only workshop series is to ensure that institutions in Bangladesh are aware of their obligations under the biosafety regulatory system and are empowered to work with researchers to meet these obligations while continuing their research.

The introductory workshop was held on December 2, 2021. The discussion on biosafety compliance while working with genetically engineered organisms continued during the second workshop, which was held virtually on February 17, 2022. Subsequent workshops will focus on capacity building exercises for IBOs and IBCs, covering additional topics including characterization of genetically engineered plants, development of standard operating procedures for greenhouse work, key considerations for biotech product development, compliance management for confined field trials, and biosafety data and regulatory application preparation.

Speakers

Rakha Hari Sarker, Ph.D.
Country Coordinator South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)
Aparna Islam, Ph.D.
Professor Brac University
Andrew Roberts, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Sium Ahmed
Deputy Manager South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)
Bhavneet Bajaj, Ph.D., PMP
Manager, Scientific Programs Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Vibha Ahuja, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)

Agenda

2:00 pm

Welcome and Recap of the First IBO Workshop

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, Country Coordinator, South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) & Professor, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

2:15 pm

Overview of Research Activities for Development of GM Crops in Bangladesh: Feedback from Participants

Dr. Aparna Islam, Professor, Brac University, Bangladesh

2:35 pm

Biosafety Compliance in Contained Facilities for GM Crop Development: Key Components

Dr. Andrew Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

3:00 pm

Group Exercise

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, Country Coordinator, South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) & Professor, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

3:30 pm

Working with GE Plants: Laboratory and Beyond

Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj, Manager – Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

3:55 pm

Group Discussion: Recording Formats

Mr. Sium Ahmed, Biosafety Officer, SABP

4:15 pm

Maintaining Product Integrity: Critical Control Points

Dr. Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Ltd. & Senior Advisor, SABP

4:40 pm

“Ask Anything” - Q&A Session

5:00 pm

Adjourn