Under the European Union’s CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 53 (P53) three training sessions have been recently conducted in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The trainings took place in Shymkent, 14 – 18 January, Taraz on 21 – 25 January and Aktau, on 11 - 15 February 2019 with the title “Safety work with Extremely Dangerous Pathogens (EDPs)”.

These workshops provided training to Kazakhstani experts in the field of bio-safety and bio-security, specialising on how to work with samples that could potentially contain extremely dangerous pathogens in the EDP Laboratory, as well as collection, isolation and preparation of such samples for the Bacteriological, Serological and PCR testing. Experts were trained to carry out and interpret laboratory tests; proper use of personal protective equipment and safe and proper use of the Biosafety Cabinet. These trainings were conducted for specialists working with human, animal and field samples potentially containing EDPs. The trainings contained theoretical and practical courses. All 119 participants (35 in Shymkent, 40 in Taraz and 44 in Aktau) have successfully completed this training.

 All participants received official certificates from the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative.

The Project 53 was conceived and funded within the framework of the EU CBRN CoE (www.cbrn-coe.eu) Initiative, which currently covers 8 regions and 59 partner countries. The EU CBRN CoE Secretariat for Central Asia is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It works in partnership with countries to encourage local ownership of CBRN action plans, policies and joint preparation of regional project proposals.

The ISTC, implementer of P53, has funded and managed several hundred projects in Central Asia over the past 20 years. Expertise to implement P53 is provided by a UK-led consortium of international legislative experts (SCJS, VERTIC), and bio-safety and bio-security training experts (PHE, RIVM).