Latin American Bio-safety Training Centre in Relation to Potential Release of Genetically Modified Disease Vectors
April 20th to 30th,
PECET- Universidad de Antioquia
Medellín Colombia
Participants:
The course will be offered to epidemiologists, entomologists, medical entomologists, legislators, decision makers and vector control personnel from Latin American countries. Preference will be given to participants from Latin America who meet the selection criteria and who are involved in projects related to the objectives of the course. Invitations will be sent to the major universities in Latin America, hospitals, Health Departments, vector control districts and Ministries of the Environment in each country. Participants outside Latin America will be evaluated based on proof of involvement and participation in vector control, mosquito ecology, epidemiology, health and environmental regulation. 20 participants will be selected from Latin America with all expenses paid. Only applicants who demonstrate excellent record of involvement in mosquito and/or pathogen related activities (i.e. publications, recognition, awards, media participation, community involvement and participation in committees in their home countries) will be selected. We anticipate applications from participants from outside Latin America. A maximum of 5 participants from outside Latin America will be accepted only if they meet the selection criteria and will be required to pay for their own expenses as well as a registration fee to cover costs associated with their attendance and course materials. Paid expenses for Latin American applicants will cover transportation to and from their home country, meals and accommodation for the duration of the course.
Selection criteria:
Participants will be selected based on their involvement in vector control activities, entomology, medical entomology or laboratory safety based on their CV and letters of recommendation. Legislators and decision makers will be selected based on their involvement in environmental, health and policy implementation committees. Three letters of recommendation, from colleagues in their field of expertise or government officials and familiar with the applicant’s field of expertise will be required in order to apply for acceptance to the course. Publications in the area of entomological aspects of human health, environmental issues or decision making will be an important determining factor for acceptance. We anticipate a large number of applications therefore, the selection process will be competitive and only 20 participants with the demonstrated potential to contribute to the development and sustainability of a successful Bio-safety program in their home countries will be selected. The need for financial assistance (travel and accommodations) will also be evaluated for each participant. Colleagues and government officials when applicable will be required to submit a letter indicating the qualifications of the participant as well as a brief summary of how the participant will use the tools obtained during the course in the immediate future. In addition, the letter should express their approval for participation in the course since the absence of the participant for the duration of the course might interfere with academic/research and work duties. Finally, the need for financial aid in order to apply for travel, accommodations and meal funds to attend this course must also be demonstrated in the letter of recommendation. Participants will be required to apply online using the forms developed for this purpose and to demonstrate vaccination records prior to entering the country to comply with Colombian immigration authorities. Vaccinations and other expenses participants incur as a result of traveling to a foreign country (passports and visas) will be their responsibility and will not be reimbursed. The course will not pay for guest expenses.
Lectures:
Lectures will cover the principles and practices that need to be implemented for preventing potential harm for human health and the environment of the use of genetically modified vectors and their release into the environment. Topics will include:
· Introduction to basic principles for vector and pathogen genetic manipulation in the laboratory and the potential impact to humans and the environment.
· Safety, ethical, legal, and social implications of the use of genetically modified vectors.
· Identification of potential hazards, assessment and management of risks for humans, non-targets and the environment, and risk/benefit assessment of the use of genetically modified Bio-security and bio-safety principles and practices for assessment and management of bio-risk in laboratories.
· Advice, recommendations and guidelines for setting up and management of institutional or national bio-safety review Boards and Ethics review Committees.
· Introduction to development and application of bio-safety regulatory framework and related legal principles at national and international levels for securing the development and use of vector control methods based on genetic modification strategies.
Expected outcomes and specific milestones:
We expect to establish a center and course for bio-safety of transgenic vectors and pathogens in Latin America at the beginning of 2009. We expect to train 20 participants from Latin America, 5 participants from outside Latin America and 5 local participants and we expect to have at least 10 experts in the field of bio-safety, genetically modified vectors (GMVs), ethics, legislation and political science. In addition, training will be provided on creation of national institutional or bio-safety review boards and ethics review committees in order to create self sustained bio-safety and bio-security programs in each country. We expect to provide the participants with necessary tools to establish, to implement and improve independent, sustainable programs for bio-safety as applied to their home countries. Finally, we expect to train faculty, medical entomologists and vector control personnel from the PECET, CIDEPRO, WSAID and the Colombian Ministry of Health to serve as collaborators and advisors in the development of these programs.
Infrastructure and instructors:
The infrastructure at the PECET is already in place to set up the proposed course in terms of laboratory space, classroom space and a computer laboratory. In addition, internet connection (both land and wireless) is available for those participants who wish to bring their own personal laptops. World wide recognized experts in the field of transgenic vectors and pathogens will participate as lecturers for the course.
Instructors (among others):
Dr. Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena (Johns Hopkins)
Dr. Herve Bossin (Institut Louis Malarde)
Dr. Manuel Lluberas (Science and Technology United Nations)
Dr. Maria Corena McLeod (Mayo Clinic)
Air travel, accommodations and meals
Lecturers and participants will be provided with round trip airfare, hotel accommodations and meals. Lecturers will be provided with accommodations and meals for the duration of their lectures and participants will be provided accommodations and meals for the duration of the two week course. Transportation from the hotel to the PECET will also be provided at no cost to all participants and lecturers. Costs associated with air travel, accommodations and meals during the course have been included in the budget. Based on itineraries, low fare tickets will be reserved for lecturers and participants. Each lecturer and participant will be required to fill out a travel request form with dates, times and airports for departure and arrival. Once approved, tickets will be purchased and mailed. Each participant and faculty is responsible for booking arrangements based on the travel request form. Participants and faculty may chose to upgrade to first class or non-stop flights but the difference in cost of plane ticket will be entirely their responsibility and there will be no reimbursement for such upgrades. If changes in flight schedule are made, each participant or faculty member will be responsible for making such changes, notify the course organizers in advance and for covering the expenses associated with these changes. There will be no reimbursement for changes in fare or penalties associated with airplane ticket changes unless those changes are due to health-related matters. Approval of such changes will be based on physician’s written request. Recently US airlines have implemented changes in their luggage policies with charges associated with luggage. The course will not pay for luggage expenses and those expenses will be entirely the participant’s responsibility. There will be no financial assistance with costs incurred once the course has ended or prior to day one or with any other costs associated with participation from both students and/or faculty (tips, vaccinations, taxi fares, etc). Faculty and participants will be entirely responsible for paying for vaccinations, passports, documents and other expenses they might incur as a result of traveling to a foreign country. These expenses will not be reimbursed. A copy of the airplane ticket and receipt reflecting a round-trip ticket to and from Medellin Colombia should be provided prior to the beginning of the course. Participants that do not provide receipts will not be reimbursed for such expenses. Transportation by bus or land will be highly encouraged if available. Guest expenses will not be covered by the course. Participants and faculty will be required to send proof of health insurance or traveler’s insurance prior to acceptance to the course.
Timetable of activities
The course will be an intense course divided into two weeks including lectures and discussion. Lectures will take place from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon with a 30 minute coffee break at 10:00 am. Lunch will be provided to participants and faculty at noon and lectures will resume at 1:00 pm. Afternoon discussions will begin at 3:00 pm and will continue until 5:00 pm or longer if needed. Refreshment sessions at the end of selected days have been schedule to promote participant and faculty interactions.
Application forms must be received by 5:00 PM (Eastern Time) on March 20th, 2009. Incomplete applications will not be considered
Applications can be obtained by email. For further information and application forms please contact: Jairo@wsaid.org