Institute of Safety in Technology and Research

ISTR UKBSA Gains International Recognition as IFBA Member

ISTR, incorporating the UK Biosafety Association (UKBSA), is proud to announce its approval as a member of IFBA – the International Federation of Biosafety Associations. This milestone brings international recognition to ISTR's long-standing commitment to biosafety leadership and sharing best practices.

Membership of IFBA will enable ISTR to collaborate with global partners, share best practices, and contribute to international biosafety initiatives, furthering its mission to drive continuous improvements in technology and research health and safety.

Serving safety professionals for over 25 years

The Institute serves safety professionals in technology and research including education, industry, government agencies and consultancy.

The aim of the Institute is to enhance the knowledge, competence and professional development of its members through networking, accreditation, knowledge exchange, workshops and symposia, communication with regulators and partnerships with other safety organisations.

Membership is open to safety professionals and Associate Membership is available to anyone whose knowledge and experience do not qualify them as Members but who can show they have a sufficient interest in the activities of ISTR.

The ISTR Executive Committee, made up of elected and co-opted members, manage the affairs of the Institute.

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Upcoming events

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UKBSA Meeting, 9th July 2025

When
09 July 2025
09:30 - 16:00
Location
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH
Spaces left
85

Register

UK Biological Safety Advisers Meeting (9th July 2025)

Booking arrangements:

2nd June - ISTR member tickets booking opens.

9th June - Non-ISTR member ticket booking open.

Payment (£15 per ticket) is by credit card only - we cannot process POs for this event.

Places are limited to 100 for this event, so book early to avoid disappointment. No more than TWO tickets will be issued for any single organisation.

Meeting programme

0930	Registration open
1000 -10:45	Coffee and networking
10:45	Welcome and introduction	Marian Blokpoel - Chair of ISTR Biosafety Steering Group
10:50	Engineering tools for the de novo synthesis of non-model gut bacteria - safety and synthetic biology	Gonzalo Mendoza Ochoa - Career Development Fellow, MRC LMB
11:30	Biosafety in the creative arts	Ian Hackford - Head of Health and Safety and Security Intelligence, Glasgow School of Art
12:10	Bushy brows & breakthroughs: Brenner and the birth of biosafety	Shahana Ahmed - H&S advisor, MRC LMB
12:30 - 14:00	Lunch and networking
14:00	TExT - a guided masterclass on thorough examination and testing of LEV reporting requirements	Mark Ariyanayagam and Ian Graham (BSG members)
15:00	Group therapy - feedback from recent HSE interventions and other topics of concern	Facilitated discussion
1600	End of event.

The Venue: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Francis Crick Avenue,
Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge CB2 0QH

Cost for the meeting is £15 which includes refreshments on arrival and a buffet lunch

Travelling to the LMB
By Car - Visitor parking is limited to Blue Badge holders only. There are public car parks on the Biomedical Campus (see map) - Car Park 2 is closest to the LMB.

See "how to find us" for details of public transport links. To note that Bus A is the best option for onward travel from the rail station as it stops on the Green and Gardens just opposite the LMB (see map)

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SAVE THE DATES!

9 July - UKBSA Meeting, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), Cambridge. Book here from 2 June.

11-13 November - 2025 Autumn Symposium and Pre-symposium Workshops: , Burleigh Court, Loughborough. More details available shortly.

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Serving safety professionals for over 25 years

Learn more about ISTR

Upcoming events

UKBSA Meeting, 9th July 2025