World BioHazTec

The -ABSA Symposium was an incredible gathering of biosafety professionals, thought leaders, and innovators—and we’re proud to have been part of it as a lunch sponsor and exhibitor.

A special congratulations to our own Kerstin Haskell (Past President) and Tracey Brown (Treasurer) as they wrapped up their terms on the ChABSA Council. Their leadership and dedication have made a meaningful impact on the organization and the broader biosafety community.

One of the standout moments was celebrating Biosafety Day, marked by an official proclamation signed by Governor Wes Moore—a powerful recognition of the importance of biosafety in protecting public health.

The keynote presentations delivered fresh and energizing perspectives:
👉 Kelly Schulz, CEO of the Tech Council
Rebecca Bradford, Vice President of Federal Programs at ATCC

Both highlighted the strength and growth of the life sciences ecosystem across Maryland, Virginia, and the global landscape, reinforcing the critical role biosafety plays in advancing innovation.

We also enjoyed an insightful panel discussion on the history of biosafety, featuring:
👉 Sherry Bohn (Immediate Past President, ABSA)
👉 Joe Kozlovac
👉 Bob Hawley
👉 Moderated by David Harbourt (ABSA Council Member)

The conversation offered valuable perspective on how far the profession has come—and where it’s headed.

There were many more great moments, conversations, and connections throughout the symposium. Events like this continue to strengthen our shared mission.

World BioHazTec looks forward to continuing our involvement with ChABSA—now as members—and to supporting the new leadership team as they take the organization to even greater heights.

A successful BSL-3 laboratory project doesn’t start at certification.

It starts much earlier, with the right commissioning expertise at the table.

A commissioning agent helps ensure a new or renovated BSL-3 laboratory operates safely, effectively, and in alignment with its design intent.

That means evaluating how critical systems work together under real-world conditions, including HVAC, pressure controls, alarms, directional airflow, containment features, and decontamination systems.

Through performance testing, verification, and detailed documentation, commissioning helps identify issues before they become operational risks, costly modifications, or project delays.

For high-containment laboratories, commissioning isn’t just a final step.

It’s a safeguard for personnel, the environment, and long-term operational success.

Read more about the critical role of a commissioning agent in BSL-3 laboratory design and operation: https://loom.ly/QU47vTI

We didn’t take home the Maryland Tech Council Life Sciences Innovation Company of the Year Award on May 21, but we left feeling like winners.

Being recognized alongside so many extraordinary organizations in Maryland’s life sciences community is an honor in itself. Thank you to Kelly Schulz and the team at the Maryland Tech Council for bringing this community together.

Honestly, the highlight of the evening?

Our employee Diego Garzon surprised us with a one-of-a-kind, hand-made knit doll… of our President, Kerstin Haskell. A true original—and now a WBHT keepsake. 😊

It was also a pleasure celebrating the success of fellow innovators like Toni Toomey of SECOM, and reconnecting with mentors like Christina Wrobel-Holt of ExecuSense, LLC, whose leadership continues to shape Maryland’s entrepreneurial community with her partnership at .

Moments like that remind us what truly defines World BioHazTec: our people, our purpose, and our commitment to safeguarding the communities around us.

We’re proud to be part of Maryland’s uniquely interconnected life sciences ecosystem, where science doesn’t happen behind closed doors; it happens right next door.

Tracey Ann Brown, WBHT Training Program Manager, represented the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association Scholarship Program at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) Celebration of Scholarships.

ChABSA’s mission, in partnership with USG, is to foster and advance biological safety as a scientific discipline through education, research, and professional development. This collaboration supports students pursuing careers in biosafety and strengthens the future workforce in the life sciences.

During the event, Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director of USG, emphasized the essential role that scholarships and mentorship play in preparing career-ready graduates who will meet the scientific and workforce needs of tomorrow.

Grateful for Tom Clifford, Dave Buonora, and Kate Dawson from USG’s Office of Strategic Partnerships. Their collaboration continues to strengthen ChABSA’s scholarships and WBHT’s training pipeline for tomorrow’s biosafety and high-containment professionals.

For more information and to donate to the ChABSA Biosafety and Biosecurity Scholarship Fund, visit: https://loom.ly/Mnqdz6I

In BSL-3 laboratories, directional airflow is not something you can accurately assess by cracking a door.

It is an engineered pressure condition that should be verified quantitatively, under normal operating conditions, using calibrated pressure instrumentation.

Our latest blog breaks down why the “cracked door” test can create misleading results, collapse the designed pressure cascade, and undermine defensible airflow evaluations.

Because in high-containment environments, testing methods matter.

Read the full blog: https://loom.ly/T_Kb3yE