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Biosafety and Biosecurity International Conference BBIC 2011
13 - 15 September 2011 - Amman, Jordan
A delegation of six scientists participated in Biosafety and Biosecurity International conference 2011 (BBIC-2011) at El Hassan Science City, Amman- Jordan. Delegation included Dr Anwar Nasim, Chairman International Council for Life Sciences (ICLS) Pakistan Chapter; HE Masood Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to China; Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari, Chairman, Department of Biotechnology Quaid-i-Azam university Islamabad; Dr Abid Azhar, Director General, Karachi Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic engineering (KIBGE); Dr Sikander Azam, Assistant Professor Department of Bioinformatics, Quaid-i-Azam University- Islamabad and Muhammad Qasim Research Fellow for the QAU–LNCV Project on Dual Use Education Islamabad.
The Delegation
Renowned scientists, heads of Governments institutes and NGOs working on issues related to Biosafety and Biosecurity from all over the world participated in the conference.The conference was inaugurated and concluded by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan Bin Talal and presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess of Jordan Sumaya bint El Hassan. She expressed her admiration for the efforts of BBIC in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She emphasized that in order to expand the network of scientific research there is need for a strong link between the organizations and institutions of countries of the region and the BBIC platform is an excellent opportunity for that. In his speech, Prince El Hassan Bin Talal said that “Harnessing the talent of Scientists and academics is essential to promoting sustainable growth and security, but their efforts will mean nothing unless we can match their vision with the agendas of business and policy-making. The greatest threats to stability that we face do not recognize borders…..”.
Terence Taylor, President of International Council for the Life sciences (ICLS) during his address to BBIC participants focused on three points. First, the BBIC process embraces a full spectrum approach to biological risks. The full spectrum includes the range of risks arising from naturally occurring infectious disease outbreaks, through those arising from research misadventure or laboratory accidents to risks resulting from deliberate use of biological organisms and associated technologies as weapons. The second point he mentioned was the importance of regional ownership of the BBIC process. This ensures that the process is relevant to the challenges faced by communities in the MENA region and that the answers to the challenges respond directly to a set of priorities developed by the regional participants.
BBIC 2011 Amman, Jordan
The third point he mentioned was that the BBIC process should be action-oriented. The aim of BBIC-2011 is to guide and inspire actions that will directly enhance the health security of the people of Middle East and North Africa region. That is to say steps that lead to training of key personnel, enhancing physical infrastructure, improving disease surveillance and diagnostics. While doing all this he said that we must ensure the safe and secure operation of life sciences facilities in an affordable and relevant way, taking accounts of conditions, which vary across the MENA region.
He expressed his appreciation regarding establishment of ICLS Chapter in Pakistan under the leadership of Dr. Anwar Nasim and the development of Biosafety Associations in countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Pakistan. He said that this development would be expanded to other countries of MENA region.
In his address to the conference HE Ambassador Masood Khan focused on two facets of BBIC-2011; the importance of collective efforts and practical actions. He said that in view of the rapid developments in the field of biological sciences in the MENA region, regional capabilities in biosafety and biosecurity need to grow commensurately. The BBIC Process plays an important role in fostering collective efforts and helps to bring the biosafety and biosecurity communities in the various countries of the region together.
He went on to praise the BBIC Process in playing the role of taking practical action for Biosafety and Biosecurity in the MENA region. He said that the Process, through its activities, has yielded more than its fair share of results. He mentioned that Pakistan is particularly active in this field and now it has an elaborate framework for biosafety. The responsible conduct of Science project in Pakistan by ICLS is a practical example of building on the benefits of the BBIC Process. Pakistan has a code of conduct for life sciences and many other official documents regarding biosafety and biosecurity.
Dr Anwar Nasim presented a progress report on BBIC and the ICLS Pakistan Chapter. He mentioned that Pakistan is the first country where an ICLS chapter has been established and the Chapter has organized two International meetings on the Responsible Conduct of Science in Islamabad and Lahore for capacity building in the country. A 3rd meeting will be organized in November 2011 at KIBGE under the leadership of Dr Acid Azhar, Director General of KIBGE who was also present in BBIC-2011.
Dr. Anwar Nasim at the BBIC 2011
Click to download Dr. Anwar Nasim's BBIC 2011 Presentation. (Powerpoint format)
ICLS has worked with academic leaders in Pakistan on the development of a curriculum on biosafety and biosecurity in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.
Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari chaired an important session of the BBIC-2011 on Synthetic Biology and dual use issues. He mentioned that synthetic biology is the junction of the biological, physical and engineering sciences. There is strong need for building an understanding by young scientists ethical responsibilities because the possibility of a single person sitting in his garage laboratory synthesizing a dangerous pathogen.
Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari at the BBIC 2011
Click to download Dr. Zabta Shinwari's BBIC 2011 Presentation. (Powerpoint format)Dr. Sikandar Azam presented the regional activities and role of Biotechnology Departments in raising the awareness of Biosafety and Biosecurity among the university graduate students of the country,
Muhammad Qasim, Research Associate for the QAU-LNCV joint research project on Bioethics, Biosafety, Biosecurity and Dual Use of Research presented a poster in BBIC-2011 regarding the outcomes of the project.
Dual Use of Research
Role of Universities in Dual Use Education Awareness
ICLS Pakistan Chapter Initiatives
The following images are from the BBIC 2011 event in Amman, Jordan.
