{"id":1923,"date":"2024-08-20T14:12:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T14:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/govinfohub.go.ug\/?p=1923"},"modified":"2024-08-22T07:41:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T07:41:35","slug":"mak-and-uvri-pilot-cyberbiosecurity-project-to-safeguard-laboratory-facilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/govinfohub.go.ug\/index.php\/2024\/08\/20\/mak-and-uvri-pilot-cyberbiosecurity-project-to-safeguard-laboratory-facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Mak and UVRI Pilot Cyberbiosecurity Project to Safeguard Laboratory Facilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A consortium of researchers from Makerere University<\/a>\u2018s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (COVAB) and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with support from CRDF Global have piloted a cyberbiosecurity project to address the growing threat of cyberattacks on laboratories handling high-risk biological materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per\u00a0 the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), CyberBiosecurity is the \u201csafeguarding and mitigation of misuse, exploitation, damage to or disruption of valuable information, data, databases, equipment, and facilities at the interface of the biological laboratory, related life sciences facilities, and digital worlds.\u201d The project, titled \u201cEstablishment of Cyber Biosecurity Inventory and Procedures for Effective Safety and Administrative Controls for COVAB and UVRI Laboratories in Uganda<\/strong>,\u201d is led by Associate Professor Lawrence Mugisha from COVAB,\u00a0Makerere University<\/a>, and Dr. Stephen Balinandi from UVRI.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While hosting the workshop on August 16, 2024  at the  Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, Makerere University<\/a> ,  Professor Mugisha  in a special way welcomed the participants  to the workshop. He noted that; Cyber threats and attacks have become a  serious threat to many establishments including (government institutions, business enterprises and other critical facilities like financial and health facilities) across the global disrupting services and causing serious financial losses in addition to individual and institutional safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Associate Professor Lawrence Mugisha giving an overview of the project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018\u2019 More recently these attacks have extended and targeted laboratories handling biological materials including high risk and highly pathogenic organisms like anthrax, ebola, SARS-CoV2 viruses with potential for bioterrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To contribute to data driven interventions  aimed at securing and protecting laboratory facilities handling high consequence\/risk pathogens from cyber-attacks and the need for cyberbiosecurity,  Makerere University<\/a> led by College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) in collaboration with Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) is implementing the first pilot project in Uganda on Cyberbiosecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This collaborative project  is aimed at  mapping and identifying  potential cybersecurity threats to the biological laboratories at Makerere University<\/a> and UVRI by conducting a thorough information and communication Technology (ICT) risk assessments.  The project will then develop comprehensive Cybersecurity Standard Operating Procedures, guidelines and manuals with a goal of establishing  Cyberbiosecurity Policy.  Furthermore, the project is aimed at  creating awareness about  cyber threats, cyber biosecurity, biosafety and biosecurity among staff, scientists\/researchers and management at the two institutions to promote Cyber security best practices\u2019\u2019 explained Prof. Mugisha<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his opening remarks, CoVAB Principal Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine emphasized the reality of cyberbiosecurity threats, sharing that he himself has been a victim of a cybersecurity breach involving his atm. He urged the team to consider developing training projects focused on cyberbiosecurity and to build a strong cybersecurity research team within CoVAB and UVRI. Prof. Mwiine also called on the team to actively seek research opportunities around cyberbiosecurity adding that   CoVAB is open to collaborations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CoVAB Principal Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine sharing insights on cyberbiosecurity at the Workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, Prof. Mwiine expressed his gratitude to Prof.  Mugisha for his tireless efforts in coordination and leading activities and projects  advancing ethics, bioethics and biosafety in Uganda, noting that Prof. Mugisha played a key role in establishing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) at Makerere University<\/a>. Prof. Mwiine also reiterated Makerere University<\/a>\u2019s commitment to cyberbiosecurity and biosecurity, highlighting the ongoing research collaboration between CoVAB and UVRI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her presentation centered around Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC), Sandra Matinyi, Co-founder and Executive Director of Nuo Bioscience, shared critical insights on the global guidance framework for the responsible use of life sciences. This framework, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022, focuses on mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sandra Matinyi, Co-founder and Executive Director of Nuo Bioscience, sharing critical insights on the global guidance framework for the responsible use of life sciences.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n