Officially recognized (§28 GenTSV) – Target group-specific – Practice-oriented
Course Overview
Biosafety Officers (BSO) are responsible for independently monitoring genetic engineering activities within an institution, identifying deficiencies, advising operators and project leaders, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. This means they carry a special responsibility in both operational and regulatory contexts — with a role profile that differs in key aspects from that of an appointed project manager.
While BSOs are generally subject to the same expertise requirements as appointed project managers — including the mandatory refresher obligation under the GenTSV — standard expertise courses often fall short of addressing the specific needs that arise under §31 GenTSV.
BSOs often face additional challenges that go beyond the pure role of project managers and the content conveyed in refresher courses. They act as a central interface between operators, laboratory staff, project leaders, and authorities. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with complex legal, organizational, and technical requirements and must act in a solution-oriented manner in conflict situations and when deficiencies arise.
The role of the BBS requires a combination of in-depth expertise, strong communication skills, practical experience, and continuous awareness of current legal changes, statements from the Central Commission for Biological Safety (ZKBS), and technical developments in the field of biological safety.
Our one-day online course fills this gap. It focuses on BBS-relevant aspects of the legal framework, risk assessment, documentation and inspection obligations, and communication with operators, project leaders, and authorities.
The course was developed in close collaboration with the Regional Authority (Regierungspräsidium) Tübingen and is officially recognized as a refresher course under §§28 and 30 GenTSV.
Purpose and Benefits
- Targeted refresher of expertise with attention to the expanded responsibilities of BBS
- Practical interpretation of current requirements from a supervisory perspective
- Preparation for BBS-specific challenges, such as inspections, reporting duties, and documentation review
- Structured exchange on typical questions and real-world case examples
This course is especially beneficial forBSOs who take on this role part-time in addition to other functions (e.g., research, project coordination), those newly appointed to the role, or those seeking a comprehensive orientation.
Course Content
- Overview of current legal and sub-legal frameworks (GenTG, GenTSV, TRBA)
- Risk assessment, genetic engineering records, and hazard potentials – focusing on evaluation and inspection competencies
- Requirements for safety measures and organizational structures in genetic engineering facilities
- Preparation and execution of BBS inspections, including report writing
- Communication and delineation of responsibilities between operator, project leader, users, and authorities
- Exchange of experiences using real-world case studies from various institutions
Target Group
This course is exclusively for appointed Biosafety Officers looking to update their expertise. It is particularly suitable for BBS working in research institutions, start-ups, schools, SMEs, and universities who carry out this role as part of a multi-functional position.
Course Fees
- 220 € discounted course fee (employees of Helmholtz centers and the University of Heidelberg)
- 330 € regular course fee
Next Course Dates
Spring 2026 - planning ongoing
Interested? Please contact us via email at biosafety-training(at)dkfz.de