Alliance with AALAS

Addressing the convergence of biosafety and laboratory animal care and use, ABSA initiated an alliance with the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). The focus of the alliance is to bring together the knowledge and expertise from each organization to develop a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes the disciplines of biosafety and comparative medicine.

With the rapid expansion of biocontainment facilities in the United States many new challenges have been emerging, most notably a shortfall in individuals trained and experienced to work in these highly complex spaces. Much of the research in these laboratories will focus on infectious diseases in animal models, which further complicates the personnel shortage.

Goals of the ABSA alliance with AALAS include the following:

Outreach and Communication

• Provide members of each organization sustained opportunities for communication and access to biosafety and comparative medicine expertise
• Identify emerging occupational biological safety issues within laboratory animal facilities and methods to address these issues
• Advancing biological safety and comparative medicine as scientific disciplines

Training and Education

• Provide AALAS with educational and training materials and resources related to biological safety
• Provide peer review and assistance with training and certification development
• Partner with Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation (ERGRF) ABSA alliance to foster training and educational opportunities

Resources

• AALAS
• ERGRF
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals