Training the Next Generation of Infectious Disease Researchers: A Biorisk Management Module Embedded in a European Master Program.

Abstract

The current global situation with increasing zoonotic transmissions of pathogens, rapidly changing ecosystems due to the climate change and with it the distribution of potential vectors, demands new ways of teaching and educating students in the field of infectious disease research. The international master program "Infectious Diseases and One Health-IDOH" started its second application period in 2019. Biosafety is an integral part of IDOH, exemplified by a biosafety level 3 hands-on training at the Animal Health Research Center IRTA-Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Barcelona. At Hanover Medical School, biosafety is expanded to a comprehensive biorisk management approach with focus on risk assessment, bioethics, and training in a mobile containment laboratory. This article illustrates in depth the intention and the individual teaching units of the biorisk management module within the third semester of the IDOH master. Risk assessment is taught based on the new WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th edition, which represents a paradigm shift toward a risk-based approach instead of a prescriptive definition of biosafety levels. This methodology will enable the international IDOH students to cope with different national legislations and to provide guidance on biosafety in their home countries. In the final unit, the students operate a mobile containment laboratory and simulated a viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Africa. In sum, this module combines theoretical risk assessment and its practical implementation in the mobile laboratory as a future direction for training infectiologists. In addition, our report may serve as a blue print for others to amend their education with the herewith mentioned pillars of biosafety teaching.