The Biosafety Committee
The Biosafety Committee operates under the mandate of the Safety Committee and serves as Karolinska Institutets coordinating and advisory body on biosafety and biosecurity.
The committee shall:
- ensure compliance with regulations when handling biological materials and working with biological agents and genetically modified microorganisms (GMM)
- monitor and interpret changes in legislation in the field
- handle matters related to risk assessments in connection with the handling of biological materials, as well as notifications and applications to the Swedish Work Environment Authority for work involving infectious agents and GMM
- inform Karolinska Institutets departments about biosafety and biosecurity and promote good dialogue with research group leaders, biosafety representatives, the head of security, and other relevant parties
- provide advice on infection risks in the work environment and on the selection of protective measures within biosafety and biosecurity
- propose and prepare steering documents on biosafety and biosecurity, with a particular focus on harmonizing guidelines and routines that affect multiple operations
- monitor the need for and propose internal training in biosafety and biosecurity for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and other relevant staff
- review proposals for new or renovated laboratory facilities or similar operations, regarding the choice of laboratory containment levels and application of protective measures within biosafety and biosecurity
- contribute to the development of internal processes for reporting and investigating incidents related to deficiencies in biosafety or biosecurity
- take initiatives and, when necessary, participate in safety inspections and audits related to biosafety and biosecurity
- prepare proposals for operational shutdowns to the Safety Committee if serious deficiencies are identified in an operation.
The mandate also includes:
- participating in investigations and consultation responses concerning infection risks in the work environment, biosafety, and biosecurity
- representing Karolinska Institutet in external contexts on matters related to biosafety and biosecurity.
Chair
Åsa Szekely Björndal, PhD, Expert in Biosafety and Biosecurity, HR Department, Karolinska Institutet and Public Health Agency of Sweden
Members
Håkan Karlsson, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor, Neuro
Keira Melican, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor, MedS
Nicole Marquardt, Senior Research Specialist, Associate Professor, MedH
Venus Azhary, Principal Safety Representative, CNS
Sara Diaz Moreno, PhD, SciLife, KTH
Ida Nyqvist, PhD, Clinical Microbiology, Region Stockholm
Administrator
Carina Bengtsson, Biosafety Coordinator, HR Department