OVERVIEW
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
The Division of Biosafety and Biosecurity (DBB) performs a transversal function at the NICD and consists of a dedicated team of biocontainment engineering and biorisk management specialists responsible for the oversight and advancement of institutional biorisk management requirements. The DBB oversees the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, certification and development of the institute’s BSL3 and BSL4 facilities. The Division boasts of a highly skilled and dedicated team of biocontainment engineers and artisans, biorisk management specialists and administrative support.
OBJECTIVES
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
To oversee the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of the NICD’s high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities), in accordance with current local and international biosafety and biosecurity guidelines, regulations and best practices.
To champion the continual improvement of biosafety and biosecurity policy, procedure and implementation at the NICD in order to allow for compliance with national and international regulations as they may apply and in support of the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives.
This is executed through:
- The maintenance and support of the safe and secure operation of high and maximum containment infrastructure.
- The facilitation of field-specific training activities and co-ordination of the Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC) training activities.
FUNCTIONS
- Overseeing the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities);
- Provision of expert advice and guidance in the design, budgeting, construction, upgrading and maintenance of high and maximum containment facilities;
- Formulation and management of capital expenditure budgets for infrastructural and biocontainment system upgrade projects, including mobile laboratory infrastructure for outbreak response.
- Provision of technical support for the implementation of the NICD Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives;
- Driving the development and updating of institutional biorisk management manuals, training programmes and emergency response plans, including procedures for shipping and receipt of biological and hazardous materials.
- Coordination and support of biorisk management related activities at the NICD, including Biorisk management training and mentorship.
- Promoting a shared culture of responsibility, reducing dual use risks, mitigation of biological proliferation and deliberate use threats, and to ensure safe transfer of biological materials.
The mission of the Regional Demonstration Diagnostic Centre (RDDC) is to enhance laboratory capabilities on the African continent to build capacity for dealing with infectious disease pandemics, whilst promoting a culture of laboratory safety and security to minimise the risks of accidental environmental exposure and intentional misuse. To this end, the RDDC has been certified by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as the first Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity (RCoEBB) in the Africa region offering courses specified under Africa CDCs’ Regional Training and Certification Program for Biosafety and Biosecurity Professionals.
Objectives:
- The promotion of laboratory-based diagnostics to ensure that accessible and sustainable training is available to laboratory professionals on the African continent;
- To develop field-specific competencies and to build BioRisk Management (BRM) capacity that allows individuals to implement innovative and effective solutions in resource constrained environments;
- To serve as a collaborator to develop international partnerships and networks for enhancing laboratory-based diagnostics and BRM.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAM
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
Zibusiso M. Masuku is an engineer and biosafety/biosecurity professional specialising in the implementation of biorisk management and biocontainment engineering best practices in high and maximum containment facilities. He has over sixteen (16) years of experience in health security, particularly in the enterprising use of the limited resources for the sustainable operation of biocontainment facilities in resource-constrained environments. He is a subject matter expert with demonstrable competencies in the design, construction, operation and (re)certification of high and maximum containment facilities – and is a certified Africa Regional Subject Matter Expert (Af-RSME) in Biorisk Management and the Selection, Installation, Maintenance and Certification of Biological Safety Cabinets.
He leads the Division of Biosafety and Biosecurity and is responsible for the management of high and maximum containment laboratory facilities, the improvement of laboratory infrastructure, and development of related policies and standards at the NICD/NHLS. He is the Immediate Past Chairperson of the NICD’s Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC); a Member of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (TAG-B); a Qualified Expert of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for the Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical, Biological or Toxin Weapons (UNSGM); and a member of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (Africa CDC) Regional Biosafety and Biosecurity Technical Working Group (RBB-TWG) for Southern Africa Regional Collaboration Centre (SARCC).
He led the teams that developed the Africa CDCs Regional Training and Certification Program for Biosafety and Biosecurity Professionals, and the Regulatory and Certification Framework for Institutions Handling High Risk Pathogens. He now oversees the implementation of both these regional programs at the NICDs Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC), certified as the first Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity (RCoEBB) in Africa in support of the Africa CDCs Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative.
Biosafety Technician
Gunther Meier
Email: guntherm@nicd.ac.za
Biosafety Technician
Ronny Sebaka
Email: ronnys@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Anastasia Trataris-Rebisz
Email: anastasian@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Wayne Howard
Email: wayneh@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Noluthando Duma
Email:NoluthandoD@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Zacharia Mabena
Email: zachariam@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Thendo Netshilema
Email: thendon@nicd.ac.za
Project Coordinator
Nomsebenzi Malinga
Email: nomsebenzim@nicd.ac.za
Artisan – Maintenance
Tshireletso Masena
Handyman
Philemon Mokoena
Housekeeping
Innocentia Denga
