{"id":7275,"date":"2024-06-25T01:37:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T01:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medschool.prd.vanderbilt.edu\/bret\/?p=7275"},"modified":"2024-08-03T02:54:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-03T02:54:22","slug":"new-cbms-supplemental-grant-aims-to-enhance-laboratory-safety-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medschool.vanderbilt.edu\/bret\/2024\/06\/25\/new-cbms-supplemental-grant-aims-to-enhance-laboratory-safety-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"CBMS Supplemental Grant Aimed to Enhance Laboratory Safety Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Given the occurrence of tragic accidents and near-misses at research institutions across the country, cultivating a culture of laboratory safety in academic institutions has been a pressing concern for governmental funding agencies. Thanks to a training grant supplement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded last year, Vanderbilt campus partners collaborated to execute a thorough and effective laboratory safety pilot program to educate and inform students about the importance of lab safety.<\/p>\n

Initiated by\u00a0Madhvi Venkatesh<\/b>, assistant professor of biochemistry and curriculum director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, the lab safety pilot program was a partnership between the Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Sciences training program, the Biomedical Research Education and Training Office, and the Environment Health, Safety, and Sustainability department.<\/p>\n

According to Venkatesh, this effort, which resulted in both a course module and a research safety fair, focused on bridging the gap between the existing institutional safety trainings and actual implementation in the labs. The research safety fair complemented the module because CBMS and partners recognized that researchers at all levels\u2014and not just students\u2014need to work together to help create safe lab environments.\u00a0 \u201cThere was an emphasis on making the module interactive and using examples from the students to help make the teachings directly applicable to their research projects,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

One aspect of the pilot program, the module titled \u201cDeveloping a Lab Research Safety Mindset,\u201d was taught by\u00a0Robin Trundy<\/b>, biological safety associate director and institutional biosafety officer at Vanderbilt. The module, which lasted four weeks and concluded in April, used didactic lectures, interactive activities, case studies, and peer discussions to help students better understand and apply lab safety principles. The course covered the application of risk assessment principles, identification of improper safety practices, and ways to integrate risk assessment into students\u2019 research plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal for this module series was to equip students with knowledge of essential risk assessment concepts and empower them to proactively integrate safety practice considerations into future research designs,\u201d Trundy said. \u201cWe are confident that this goal was achieved, and these individuals will not only protect themselves and others from hazards in the lab research setting but also be allies in building a lab safety culture at any institution they join in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

The feedback from students who are part of CBMS and the Biochemical and Chemical Training for Cancer Research training programs in the module was overwhelmingly positive. For many, the module was highly effective in helping them incorporate risk assessment into their research project plans, and all of them said that they would recommend the current module.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Andrew Dixon<\/b>, a graduate student in\u00a0Alissa Weaver<\/b>\u2018s lab, the module was instilled important laboratory safety measures. \u201cWe heard horror stories of research conduct gone wrong and discussed how to work responsibly and safely with hazards in similar situations,\u201d he said. Dixon found the class to be a helpful refresher. \u201cAlthough I\u2019ve taken many biosafety modules before, I found that this one gave me a chance to \u2018check in\u2019 to make sure I\u2019m working in a safe way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The lab safety module will also be featured at the annual meeting of the American Association of Medical College\u2019s\u00a0Group on Research, Education, and Training<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The research safety fair, which took place on April 11, provided an opportunity for students to foster relationships and network with researchers, administrators, and safety teams. The interactive day featured various lab safety stations hosted by several university offices and offered participants the chance to learn about lab safety and sustainability, hazardous material spill response, fire safety and extinguisher operation, incident reporting, and other research safety topics. Along with providing giveaways such as lab safety glasses, the fair provided participative instruction and efficient exposure to all aspects of lab safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur team has been delighted to collaborate with Basic Sciences and other university partners to enhance research safety and risk assessment education for our students,\u201d said\u00a0Andrea George<\/b>, assistant vice chancellor for environmental health, safety, and sustainability. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to partner with our research community to encourage and innovate safe and sustainable environments in support of Vanderbilt\u2019s mission of education, research, and discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following offices\/units hosted stations at the research safety fair:<\/p>\n