Biorisk Management – Dairy Science Park

The Netherlands meeting: A collaboration on “Biorisk Management” is with process with the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) USA. A four-members delegation of the Park visited the Netherlands on March 15-18, 2015 for launching the initiative. The tour was sponsored by the United States Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program and Sandia National Laboratories. The One Health concept is based on the recognition that human and animal health are inextricably linked. SNL were represented by Dr Melissa Finley and Mr Robert Otero and DSP by Prof M Subhan Qureshi, Prof Sarzamin Khan, Prof Umer Sadiq, Dr Shakoor Ahmd and Mr Imran Khan. A presentation was made by Prof M Subhan Qureshi, covering the livestock production system in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and FATA regions of Pakistan, rich in natural resources by hit by extreme poverty.

The livestock and poultry farming system are lacking quality control standards and lack of access to modern practices have an adverse effects on the profitability of these operations economically. Similarly the processing facilities and marketing outlets are run without quality control practices and any documentation for traceability. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program is focusing on treatment of diseases and lack appropriate concepts on Biorisk Management. The SNL delegates desired to collaborate with the Dairy Science Park in establishing a Center of Excellence on Biorisk Management.

The Dubai meeting: A 9-members delegation of DSP and a 4-members delegation of Sandia National Laboratories USA met in Dubai to hold the Pakistan Biorisk Management Curriculum Workshop during May 21-25, 2016. SNL was represented by Dr Melissa Finley, Veterinarian; Iris Shurdhi, Development Expert; and Giulio Mancini (Global Security Expert). DSP was represented by Prof M Subhan Qureshi, Chief Patron; Prof Sarzamin Khan, Chief Technical Advisor; Engr Irfan ul Haq Qureshi, Chief Executive; Prof Umer Sadique, Advisor One Health; Mr Nasir Shah, Advisor Higher Education; Mr Rashid Aman, Expert Entrepreneurship; Dr Shakoor Ahmad, Expert Quality Control; Ms Sadia Qureshi, Expert Halal Food; and Ms Samina Qureshi, Expert Economics (Guest Participant). The DSP participants belonged to the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, SMEDA, and the Private Sector.

The Workshop concluded that the curriculum in practice in various universities of Pakistan under the supervision of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan needs to be mapped and reviewed for presence of Biorisk Management contents or availability of a full-fledged teaching program at undergraduate or graduate levels. Keeping in view the importance of the subject, the participants recommended that Biorisk Management may be given appropriate consideration while developing teaching programs at national level.

The Bangkok meeting: Mr Arif Yousaf, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (Law), Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, who is also representing the province as a member of Task Force on SDGs, led a fifteen members delegation of Dairy Science Park Peshawar to attend a consultative workshop at Bangkok, Thailand from 12 to 19 November. Prof M Subhan Qureshi Dean FAHVS/Cheif Patron DSP, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan; Prof Umer Sadique, Prof Sarzamin Khan (UAP), Dr Zia ul Haq (KMU), Mr Nasir Shah (HEC) and Engr Irfan ul Haq (DSP) and Mr Kamran Khan (farming and industry) represented DSP. The workshop focused on Curriculum Development for Pakistani and regional universities and is sponsored by the Sandia National Laboratories USA.

The workshop evaluated the biorisk contents of curricula in place at various universities. Recommendations were prepared for standardizing the courses and accommodating the concerns of the local livestock/poultry farming, products processing, marketing and quality control systems present in the region.

The Phuket meeting: An awareness workshop was held at Phuket, Thailand, participated by experts of Dairy Science Park (DSP), Peshawar, Pakistan and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, USA. The meeting was held on 19th to 21st April, 2017. The workshop was focused on awareness of the policy makers about the biorisk management (BRM) concepts and identifying the areas of interventions into the functions of government, academia and private sector organizations, with special focus on documenting and improving the status of biosafety and biosecurity associated with laboratory operations, clinics and the human food chain. In addition, the integration of Biorisk Management Curriculum into the existing curricula of Pakistani Universities and development of new courses with the coordinated efforts of the provincial and federal governments, private sector and civil society were considered.

During various presentations, the participants discussed the issues in detail and suggested measures through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to be led by DSP-SNL partnership.

The Colombo Meeting: A delegation of Dairy Science Park (DSP), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan completed their consultation on Biorisk Management (BRM) with Sandia National Laboratoreis (SNL) USA at Columbo, Sri Lanka. The delegation of DSP was led by Mr Arif Yousaf, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Law/Convener Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and comprised Prof M Subhan Qureshi Chief Patron DSP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Dean FAHVS, Prof Umer Sadique, Dr Shoaib Sultan, Dr SB Khan, Dr Farhan A Khan, Dr Hamayun UAP, Prof Ghazala Yasmeen VC WUM, Prof Azam Kakar World Bank, Mrs Javed Farmer Sausage Co, Irfan Qureshi and Sadia Qurehi DSP, M Inam SSBU Sheringal, Dr Arshad PVMC, Prof M Rabbani UVAS and Dr Tayyab KMU. The Sandia team comprised Dr Melissa Finley, Mr Waleed Joyan and Ms Iris.

A BRM Package was developed for integration into DVM curriculum at Pakistani Universities under the supervision of Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council. The draft has been uploaded as DVM-BRM-Integration-Package.

The Konya Session: Biorisk Management Session was held during the Fourth International Conference and Industrial Exhibition on Dairy Science Park at Selcuk University Konya, Turkey during November 1-5, 2017. The session was managed by: Chairman: Prof. Dr. Ghazala Yasmeen, Vice Chancellor, WU Mardan, Pakistan; Co-Chairman: Prof.Dr. Yılmaz Bahtiyarca, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey; Moderator: Rifat Ullah, AUP, Pakistan. Seven papers were presented during the session.

The Amman Meeting: A delegation of Dairy Science Park attended a workshop on the The Use of Research Methods and the Role of Molecular Biology, hosted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL, USA), in Amman & Irbid, Jordan from 29 April – 1 May 2018. Dairy Science Park, University of Agriculture Peshawar was represented by Prof M Subhan Qureshi, Chief Patron DSP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Dean FAHVS, Prof Umer Sadique Chairman Animal Health and Dr Farhan Anwar Assistant Professor. Prof Masood Rabbani represented UVAS Lahore and Prof Zafar Randhawa, Dr Tariq, Dr Faqir Muhammad, Dr Kasib and Dr Shafia represented UA Faisalabad. Dr Melissa Finely and Dr Lynn Fondern represented SNL.

On first day a review of the training workshops and basic concepts of biorisk management were presented by Dr Melissa Finley and Dr Lynn. It was followed up by a review of the facilities and strength of the three Pakistani Universities and Dairy Science Park regarding availability of manpower, laboratory resources and academia industry linkages. The missing links and gaps were identified, with special reference to availability of molecular biological techniques at these institutions. On second day the Princess Haya Biotechnology Center (PHBC), MENA BioRisk Management and Genomic Training Division (BRMTD), Jordan University fo Science and Technology, Irbid, was visited.

The Dubai Meeting-II: A Workshop was held at Dubai on Biorisk Management, organized jointly by Dairy Science Park Peshawar, Sandia National Labs USA and Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council Islamabad. This was eighth event of the series held at different locations around the World. BRM contents were developed for integration into DVM degree curriculum at Pakistani Universities. Participants from Sandia National Laboratories included Dr Melissa Finley, Mr Waleed Joyan and Ms Iris Shurdhi. Delegates from Pakistan comprised Deans and senior faculty members from the DVM degree awarding institutions of Pakistan; senior civil officers of the federal and provincial government, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and Dairy Science Park.

Lectures were delivered by the resource persons from Sandia Laboratories USA and President PVMC. BRM related issues prevailing in the field were reviewed. Integration of the BRM contents into the DVM curriculum, already developed at Colombo and refined in the Deans meeting in Pakistan, were discussed in detail in three groups. Final draft was presented on third day for integration into DVM Curriculum. Prof M Subhan Qureshi suggested establishment of BRM Alumni Association as the eight worskshops jointly organized by SNL, DSP and PVMC have trained a good number of persons which may play their due role in integrating BRM concepts into the Food Value Chain in Pakistan.

BRM Activities

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