|
Advances in the life sciences have brought - and continue to bring - enormous benefits to medicine, public health, the food industry, agriculture, and industrial processes. At the same time, the risks to public safety and security from the misuse of the life sciences have increased. These natural and man-made risks are best represented as a spectrum, ranging from naturally occurring to emerging infectious disease through laboratory accidents and lack of awareness to deliberate misuse. In order for the full humanitarian and economic benefits arising from the advances in the life sciences to be realized, it is essential that these concerns are properly identified, understood, and effectively managed.
Enhancing public health, safety and security against biological risks is an overwhelming challenge. What is needed is to build a global network between governments, international inter-governmental organizations, universities and private companies associated with the life sciences to develop and share best practices in the conduct of research and development activities and in the operations of life-science facilities and laboratories. Other information, such as biosafety and biosecurity education curricula, policies and procedures, could also be shared.
|
|
|
Conference Aims and Objectives
|
Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates, Biosafety and Biosecurity International Conference 2007: A Seminar for the Life Sciences and Policy Communities in the Gulf and MENA Region took place from 12-14 November 2007 at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The conference explored biosafety, biosecurity and infectious disease issues specific to the the Gulf and MENA regions and allowed an opportunity for regional participants to interact with experts from other parts of the world. Over 100 experts from around the world attended. Featured speakers included:
- HRH Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan, President, Royal Scientific Society, Jordan
- Ambassador Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva PDF
- H.E Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, the then Minister of Environment and Water, UAE PDF
- Dr. Adel Mahmoud, Princeton University
- H.E. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General, Enviroment Agency of Abu Dhabi
- Terence Taylor, Director, International Council for the Life Sciences PDF
|
|
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) was established in 1996 and is formerly known as the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency. EAD’s aim is to reduce industry’s impact on the environment, conserve the Emirate’s natural resources, improve wildlife habitats and promote environmental awareness.
|
|
International Council for the Life Sciences (ICLS) is a non-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to enhancing biological safety and security by safeguarding advances in the life sciences and facilitating partnerships between governments, international inter-governmental organizations and the life sciences community. The organization is increasing the awareness of the full spectrum of biological risks, ranging from emerging and re-emerging infectious disease through accident and misadventure to deliberate misuse; developing and promoting international standards, best practices, codes of conduct and education curricula for biosafety and biosecurity; and helping to create local, national, and regional disease surveillance networks.
|
|
