From 23 to 27 February 2026, in Trieste, Italy, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) within the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) co-organized a Training Course on Pathogen Detection and Biosecurity in partnership with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). The training was hosted at ICGEB’s Headquarters and convened with financial support from Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The training course was targeted at early/mid-career scientists with a background in virology, microbiology, or related biological sciences in the field of human, animal or plant health from Central Asia and Mongolia. The event brought together 18 participants from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Besides staff from the ISU, experts and representatives from Italy, Pakistan, Slovenia, Area Science Park, the ICGEB, Operation Outbreak, The Word Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and the World Health Organization (WHO) contributed to the training sessions.
Overall, the training course was designed to build capacity in the peaceful use of biology in the framework of Article X of the BWC. Additionally, the training had the objective to strengthen the capacity of participants in biosecurity, the governance of dual-use research of concern, and preparedness for biological events within the context of the BWC. Furthermore, participants gained hands-on technical expertise in molecular detection tools (qRT-PCR, LAMP), sequencing and bioinformatic data analysis at the ICGEB laboratory. Participants also engaged in a scenario-based tabletop exercise to simulate outbreak response and decision-making in situations involving potential biosecurity risks.
Training course participants gather for a group photo
Prof. Alessandro Marcello, Head of the Virology Laboratory at ICGEB in Trieste informs course participants about the Centre’s Role in pandemic preparedness and biosecurity.
On the opening day of the training course, Prof. Silvio Brusaferro, Full Professor of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Udine, Italy and Prof. Miroslav Petrovec, Director, Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia shared their perspectives from the outbreak response operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prof. Silvio Brusaferro and Prof. Miroslav Petrovec share relevant lessons with participants on outbreak response operations during the COVID pandemic.
Course participants discuss a case study on dual use research of concern.
Overall, the five-day training course covered six sessions: Global Frameworks for Outbreak Response; Laboratory Biosafety, Biosecurity and Dual-Use Risk Management; Outbreak Detection Tools (qPCR); Innovative Molecular Tools for Pandemic Preparedness and Biothreat Reduction (LAMP); Genomic Surveillance & Next-Generation Sequencing for Outbreak Response; and Strategic Integration – Science, Policy and Global Cooperation.
Course participants sharpen their skills during the hands-on training sessions in the laboratory.
A feedback survey carried out among participants indicated that the training course met its objectives. Participants particularly noted the value of the technical hands-on sessions in the laboratory and the opportunity to exchange views on a regional level. Another training course for experts from States Parties on Pathogen Detection and Biosecurity is scheduled to take place at ICGEB, Trieste, Italy in May 2026.
Additional information on the BWC is available here.
