Research with SARS-CoV-2: Safety Considerations for BSL-2 and BSL-2+ Laboratories

Jessica Healey | August 25, 2020

Research into therapies and vaccines for COVID-19 is exploding across the globe. Laboratories looking to begin research involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, must rapidly assess whether their facilities, policies and training are sufficient to protect their employees and the surrounding community. SARS-CoV-2 is a new pathogen and we learn more about it every...

Successful Strategies for Creating a Culture of Laboratory Safety

Steven Lee | March 2, 2020

It’s been over 10 years since the tragic death of a staff research assistant in the chemistry department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Devastating and high-profile laboratory accidents such as this have elevated safety concerns for academic and biotech research facilities in recent years, driving many to seek ways make safety an...

EHS Essentials for Biotech Start-Ups

Steven Lee | February 11, 2020

There are a lot of decisions that go into launching a biotech start-up, but one of the most important for the long-term success of your new company is the decision to establish a culture of safety. This is best done through the clear and intentional development of an environmental health and safety (EHS) program. Not...

Business Continuity Planning: Ensure Your Laboratory is Prepared for a Crisis

Nanette Moss | January 2, 2020

It is not a matter of if disasters will occur, but when will they occur. According to the Business Continuity Institute – 2019 Horizon Scan Report the top five threats of greatest concern for 2020 are: Cyber-attack or data breach IT and telecom outage Adverse weather or natural disaster Critical infrastructure failure (e.g. power disruption)...

How to Investigate and Prevent Accidents in Research Laboratories

Kevin Coghlan | November 14, 2019

With the proper training, engineering controls and administrative precautions, laboratory safety risks can be effectively managed. However, accidents can and do happen. Accidents, while unfortunate, present an opportunity to learn and improve the performance of a laboratory safety program. The investigation must be carefully and thoughtfully executed to gain the full benefits of an accident...

The Importance of Tabletop Exercises — and How to Do Them Properly

Nanette Moss | June 4, 2019

If your biotechnology organization has a thoroughly developed business continuity plan or crisis management plan, you might think you’re well prepared for the unexpected. However, how can you really know your plan will work? While there’s no foolproof way to ensure your research facility or commercial laboratory is 100 percent safe from vulnerabilities and disaster...

Emerging Biotechs: 6 Tips for Designing a Safe Laboratory

Steven Lee | November 15, 2018

The goal of any early stage biotech company is continual growth and success. However, as positive as company growth is, unless you initially leased an enormous laboratory, you may find that success means growing out of your existing space and designing a new one. In the biotechnology entrepreneurship world, growing and moving on is far...

Safely Moving Out of Your Lab Space

Steven Lee | October 30, 2018

Moving a biotech laboratory to a new space isn’t as simple as renting a U-Haul and packing up boxes. You’ll have specific responsibilities and obligations that need to be followed to ensure you leave behind a clean, safe space for the next tenant. EHS Essentials for Biotech Start-Ups First thing’s first: determine your decommissioning...

BSL-2 Plus: When and How to Implement It in the Research Environment

Anthony Troiano | September 14, 2018

Biosafety Level 2 Plus (BSL-2+) is the common term for laboratories where work with microorganisms is conducted in a BSL-2 laboratory with biosafety practices and procedures that are typically found at BSL-3. The need for this hybrid approach is on the rise in recent years due to increased research with viral vectors, arboviruses, and other...