European regulations in biosecurity and biosafety in light of global challenges

ended

Biological threats are complex pan-European issues that require the professional attention of experts in various fields. These include healthcare, veterinary, ecological, social services, etc. For instance, in the COVID-19 crisis food security, public health, employment, and labor issues, in particular workers’ health and safety, converge. Ukraine, due to its totalitarian past, must catch up in many areas, including biosafety and biosecurity-related fields. The analysis of the events surrounding the epidemic COVID-19 has shown a low level of Ukrainian society's preparation to dealing with such challenges. Apart from this Sumy is located close to the border and the potential bioterrorism activities really exist. There is an urgent need to raise public awareness on combating various biological threats. In many European countries, the problems of biosafety and biosecurity have been addressed, and many of them have been solved. The methods employed include ecologic measures, setting up biosecurity laboratories, biomedical research, employing educational resources, etc. Education remains the key instrument to prevent biological hazards and to establish biosecurity infrastructure and maintain biosafety. Therefore, this Module offers a series of educational measures for various target groups. The teaching course in European biosafety and biosecurity regulations for undergraduate medical students. Then, a training course focused on the implementation of European biosafety policies in Ukraine. We will organize workshops in biosafety laboratory management. The course guidelines, website, and research articles will be used to disseminate EU studies in biosafety and biosecurity. The target groups will include undergraduate, Ph.D. students, university staff, local policymakers, representatives of civil society, and the general public. The Module will be used as a basis for further penetration of European values in Ukraine.