Workshop Description

CABS-ACSB and Merrick are pleased to co-present the Strategic Biocontainment Laboratory Planning and Operations Workshop. This comprehensive, hands-on workshop is designed for professionals involved in the planning, renovation, operation, and management of high-containment laboratories and clinical research facilities. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the critical elements required to establish and sustain a secure, efficient, and compliant biocontainment facility.

Through interactive discussions, case studies, real-world scenarios, and practical exercises, this course will cover:

• Facility Planning & Design – Space allocation, workflow optimization, sustainability, and environmental impact mitigation.
• Regulatory Compliance & Documentation – Enterprise risk management as well as best practices for writing SOPs, facility manuals, emergency response plans, and compliance records.
• Operations & Infrastructure – Effective maintenance strategies, safety procedures, access controls, and performance verification processes.
• Institutional & Community Engagement – Strategies for gaining buy-in from leadership, fostering collaboration with facility staff, and managing public relations.
• Workforce Planning & Training Strategies – Approaches for staffing, capability management, and developing training programs to ensure personnel competency.
• Financial & Business Planning – Budgeting for operational and facility costs, cost recovery strategies where applicable and long-term capital planning.

This course is ideal for biosafety officers, laboratory managers, facility directors, architects, engineers, researchers, and institutional leaders responsible for high-containment operations.

This workshop will use a combination of lecture and real-life participatory scenarios and lessons learned.

By the end of this workshop, participants will have the knowledge and practical tools necessary to successfully plan, operate, and manage high-containment laboratories that meet the highest standards of safety, security, and efficiency.

Workshop Faculty

Who should apply:

• Individuals with leadership or management role accountability for planning, managing and delivering a program or service support function (e.g. biosafety, facilities operations and maintenance, workforce training and development, animal care and husbandry, research planning/delivery, director and agency level individuals responsible for biocontainment program facilities/mission, etc.) in a high biocontainment research facility
• Individuals with an established knowledge of high containment facilities or operations
• Facilities Operators
• Engineers & Architects
• Biosafety Officers
• Regulators

All aspects of the workshop will be conducted in English. There are only 24 spaces available for this course.

The cost to attend is $3,600.00 CAD. Please contact us if you have questions or need more information. This cost covers tuition, lunches, coffee and breaks while course is in session. It does not include accommodations or travel.

Applications will close on July 7, 2026. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than July 22, 2026.

Venue and Accommodations

The Strategic Biocontainment Laboratory Planning and Operations Workshop will be held at the Courtyard Toronto Downtown. A block of rooms has been reserved and details wil be sent to the selected applicants.

Course Application

Apply Now!

Cancellation policy

Due to the nature of this course, once registration fees are submitted they are non-refundable.

Draft Program

Opening Reception

Monday, November 2, 2026 Opening Reception

Day 1, Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Day 2, Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Day 3, Thursday, November 5, 2026

Day 4, Friday, November 6, 2026