July 2024: Launch of eLearning course “Fundamentals of laboratory biosafety”
On Wednesday, 3 July, WHO hosted the webinar titled “Online learning and tools for biosafety practices improvement”. It coincided with the recently published WHO Laboratory Biosecurity Guidance. The webinar is part of the Public Health Webinar Series that aims to enhance WHO guidance dissemination, enhance peer to peer exchanges and knowledge sharing, and improve WHO’s understanding of barriers to guidance and best practices implementation.
Different learning tools and modalities that can be used to strengthen workforce capacities on laboratory practices and biosafety were the focus of the webinar. In particular, Saskia Rutjes, coordinator of RIVM’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Preparedness and Response for High Threat Pathogens and Biorisk was invited to speak at the webinar. Saskia spoke about the recently developed LBM4-based eLearning course on “Fundamentals of laboratory biosafety” produced by the WHO CC team. The eLearning is based on the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th edition and is available in English and Russian. The training is developed to provide learners with a risk-based approach to biosafety, and a certificate is awarded upon successful course completion.
Saskia’s presentation generated a lot of interest, and many people asked where to access the e-learning hosted by the WHO CC. The webinar was successful in reaching a large audience with over 720 participants from over 150 countries joining online. The e-learning is available online.
26-27 March 2024: Launch CoViNet
WHO has launched a new network for coronaviruses, CoViNet. The network aims to facilitate and coordinate global expertise and capacities for early and accurate detection, monitoring and assessment of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and novel coronaviruses of public health importance. CoViNet expands on the WHO COVID-19 reference laboratory network established during the early days of the pandemic. Initially, the lab network was focused on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but will now address a broader range of coronaviruses. CoViNet is a network of global laboratories with expertise in human, animal and environmental coronavirus surveillance. The network currently includes 36 laboratories from 21 countries in all 6 WHO regions. At the kick-off, RIVM met other laboratories to work on an action plan for 2024-2025 so that WHO Member States are better equipped for early detection, risk assessment, and response to coronavirus-related health challenges. Read the news item about the CoViNet launch.
September 2022
RIVM has been designated WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Preparedness and Response for High Threat Pathogens and Biorisk by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the first WHO Collaborating Centre that combines laboratory preparedness and biorisk. The new WHO Collaborating Centre will assist WHO in building national capacity in member states while ensuring biosafety and biosecurity in biomedical laboratories. At the request of the WHO, it will also provide ad hoc expert advice and technical laboratory support where needed. More information in this news item.