March 2019
The ILSI Research Foundation brings scientists together to improve environmental sustainability and human health. Discover in our monthly newsletter how we are advancing, disseminating, and translating science into proactive solutions.
Workshop on Safety Assessment of Foods and Feeds Derived from Genetically Engineered Plants

On March 5-7, 2018 in Langfang, China, the ILSI Research Foundation will be conducting the first phase of our Technical Training Program on Safety Assessment of Foods and Feeds Derived from Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants , in collaboration with ILSI Focal Point in China. Aimed at providing Chinese public-sector scientists with in-depth information about the purpose, design, and conduct of studies used to inform safety assessments of foods and feeds derived from GE crops, Phase I of the program will establish a baseline understanding of the food safety assessment paradigm, toxicity and allergenicity testing, compositional assessment, and animal testing. Planned for June 2019, Phase II of the training will include laboratory tours and demonstrations of how tests are managed and conducted, as well as how data are collected and interpreted. 

Recent developments in biotechnology have led to the development of genetically engineered (GE) plants that incorporate novel insect protection traits unrelated to the proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis that are expressed in “Bt” plants. With support from the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee, the ILSI Research Foundation is convening scientists from academia, government, and industry to consider how to measure potential adverse environmental impacts of non-Bt GE crops on non-target organisms. The workshop will be held March 5-6, 2019 in Washington, D.C. 
Institutional Biosafety Officer Workshop: Building a Network of Biosafety Practitioners in Bangladesh

On February 14, 2019, the South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) organized a workshop in Dhaka for members of institutional biosafety committees, as well as researchers and government officials from national agricultural research organizations and universities. The workshop's purpose was to review the role of Institutional Biosafety Officers (IBO) in facilitating compliance with Bangladesh’s biosafety regulatory framework, and to solicit feedback from IBOs and other stakeholders on how SABP might best work with IBOs to enhance their technical contributions at the institutional level.
Deadline Approaching for the 15th International Society for Biosafety Research Symposium (ISBR 2019) Photo Contest

The last day to submit photos to the ISBR 2019 photo contest is March 15, 2019. Images should reflect the beauty, scientific excellence, and diversity of work related to biosafety research. Selected photos will be printed and displayed during the symposium and used in ISBR promotional materials. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions !