Tuesday, May 12, 2026
8:00 – 8:10 am ABSA International President’s Welcome
Luis Alberto Ochoa Carrera, MSc, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
8:10 – 8:15 am Biosecurity Symposium Steering Committee Chair Welcome
Cristine C. Lawson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), DoD BSAT Biorisk Program Office, Frederick, MD
Session I Keynote Speaker
Introduction: Cristine C. Lawson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), DoD BSAT Biorisk Program Office, Frederick, MD
Shelley C. Jorgensen, PhD, RBP(ABSA), U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, MD
8:15 – 9:00 am Biodefense Research Two Decades Later: Worth the Investment?
Carrie Mae Long, PhD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT
Andrea Marzi, PhD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT
9:00 – 9:15 am Interactive Q&A Session
9:15 – 9:20 am Break
Carrie Mae Long, PhD
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Hamilton, MT
Andrea Marzi, PhD
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Hamilton, MT
Session II Material Control/Accountability/Access Control
Introduction: Andrew B. Maksymowych, PhD, RBP(ABSA), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cristine C. Lawson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), DoD BSAT Biorisk Program Office, Frederick, MD
9:20 – 9:45 am Trusted Access Management: Securing Your Campus or Facility
Bill Edwards, CPP, PSP, PCI, CPD, CIMP, Building Intelligence Inc., New York, NY
9:45 – 10:10 am Biosecurity Management, QR Code Technology for Enhanced Inventory Control
Alberto Balderas Martinez, PhD, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico, Toluca, Mexico
10:10 – 10:35 am Who’s That Knocking at Your Laboratory Door?
Jason P. Nagy, PhD, MLS(ASCP), Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA
10:35 – 10:50 am Interactive Q&A Session
10:50 – 11:00 am Break
Bill Edwards, CPP, PSP, PCI, CPD, CIMP
Building Intelligence Inc.
New York, NY
Alberto Balderas Martinez, PhD
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico
Toluca, Mexico
Jason P. Nagy, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Sentara Healthcare
Norfolk, VA
Session III Cybersecurity
Introduction: Mary Turlington-Powell, MS, MLT (ASCP), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Enitra Jones Sprouse, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
11:00 – 11:25 am Cyberbiosecurity: A Unique Marriage of Biosecurity and Information Systems
Justin Krehel, MBA, Science and Safety Consulting, McMurray, PA
11:25 – 11:50 am Integrating Cyber Concerns into Biosecurity Programs
Lauren Richardson, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Merrick & Company, Greenwood Village, CO
11:50 – 12:15 pm Strengthening Cyber Biosecurity in the Brazilian Biomedical Institutions: A Train-the-Trainer Collaboration Between SB3, HSP, and BEP
Claudio Mafra, DVM, PhD, Federal University of Vicosa/Brazilian Society of Biosafety and Biosecurity, Vicosa, Brazil
12:15 – 12:30 pm Interactive Q&A Session
12:30 – 1:30 pm Break/Posters
Justin Krehel, MBAScience and Safety Consulting
McMurray, PA
Lauren Richardson, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Merrick & Company
Greenwood Village, CO
Cláudio Mafra, DVM, MSc, PhD, is an international biosafety and biosecurity professional with over 30 years of experience working across academic institutions, government programs, and high-containment laboratory environments. His work focuses on helping organizations develop practical, risk-based approaches to biological risk management that align policy, infrastructure, and day-to-day laboratory operations. He completed three postdoctoral appointments at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, where he gained hands-on experience in high-containment laboratory settings. This experience shaped his approach by emphasizing real-world implementation, operational challenges, and the importance of institutional culture. Dr. Mafra is the Founder and President of the Brazilian Society for Biosafety and Biosecurity (SB3) and serves as Chair of the Professional Certification Board of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA). He is an active member of ABSA International and contributes to training, mentoring, and capacity-building initiatives within the global biosafety community. He has served on the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (TAG-B) and has supported international efforts led by organizations such as the U.S. Department of State Biosecurity Engagement Program and Non-Proliferation Fund, GIZ, the Organization of American States, and Health Security Partners. His work includes advisory and mentoring roles across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, supporting institutional and national-level capacity development. His areas of interest include ISO 35001 implementation and auditing, high-containment laboratory operations, workforce development, and support to public policy development in biosafety and biosecurity. He is a Certified ISO 35001:2019 Lead Auditor and is particularly engaged in designing training programs that incorporate simulation, decision-making, and human factors to strengthen biosafety culture and support more resilient laboratory systems.
Session IV Suitability/Reliability
Introduction: Shelley C. Jorgensen, PhD, RBP(ABSA), U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, MD
Connor Cordray, MPH, CBSP(ABSA), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
1:30 – 1:55 pm Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management to Prevent Insider Threats
Drew C. Fayram, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), Merrick & Company, Arlington, VA
1:55 – 2:20 pm Physical Protection and Security Considerations for Category 1 and 2 Radioactive Material Sources of Concern
Janet Gutiérrez, DrPH, CHP, CSP, LMP, RRPT, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
2:20 – 2:45 pm Occupational Health Considerations for Suitability Programs (Biological and Controlled Medical Substances)
Inzune K. Hwang, MD, MPH
2:45 – 3:00 pm Interactive Q&A Session
3:00 – 3:15 pm Break
Drew C. Fayram, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Merrick & Company
Arlington, VA
Janet Gutiérrez, DrPH, CHP, CSP, LMP, RRPTUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX
Session V Keynote Speaker
Introduction: Cristine C. Lawson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), DoD BSAT Biorisk Program Office, Frederick, MD
Mary Turlington-Powell, MS, MLT (ASCP), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
3:15 – 4:00 pm Raising the Global Bar for Biosafety and Biosecurity: We All Have a Role
Danielle Lohman, PhD, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
4:00 – 4:15 pm Interactive Q&A Session
Close of Day
Cristine C. Lawson, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), DoD BSAT Biorisk Program Office, Frederick, MD
Danielle Lohman, PhD
Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
