Abstract
The increased global demand for improved disease detection and control has resulted in the expansion of diagnostic and research capacity. However, the increase in infectious disease detection capacity has not necessarily been paralleled by an increase in biosafety and biosecurity capacity, particularly in low-resource countries. Low-resource countries face numerous challenges that severely constrain the development, or expansion, of sustainable capacity in biosafety and biosecurity management. This article divides these challenges into nine broad categories: 1) Country-/Region-specific Regulatory Framework and Guidelines or Standards; 2) Biosafety Awareness; 3) Infrastructure; 4) Equipment, Reagents, and Services; 5) Management Processes and Administrative Controls; 6) Biosafety Curricula; 7) Training; 8) Biosafety Associations, Professional Competency, and Credentialing; and 9) Individual Mentoring and Organizational Twinning.
Overcoming these challenges requires the collaborative efforts of representatives from the highest levels of local governments, the international biosafety community (e.g., international, regional, and national biosafety associations), and international development partners (e.g., national government agencies and programs, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to identify, fund, and execute solutions for sustainable capacity development. Collaboration is required to develop solutions appropriate for the specific needs and available resources within any given country.