Between August 20 and 22, 2025, the Subregional Workshop of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) for the development of national regulatory frameworks for biosafety and biosecurity of pathogens in different Latin American countries took place in Lima, Peru.

The event brought together representatives from ministries, public agencies, academia, and the scientific community from six countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

As part of the Chilean representatives, authorities from the Ministry of Health and Dr. Nicole Tischler, virologist, academic at the School of Biochemistry, Universidad San Sebastián, and director of the Molecular Virology Laboratory of the Centro Ciencia & Vida (FCV-USS), participated. Her participation highlighted the contribution of national research to a key discussion on regulatory challenges, cooperation in biosafety, and biosecurity, in a context where epidemic and pandemic preparedness requires multisectoral and collaborative approaches.

Additionally, in December 2024, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Dr. Tischler obtained the important professional certification in biological risk management by IFBA according to the ISO-35001:2019 Standard, an accreditation that reinforces her technical expertise in the field and positions her as a regional reference in the matter. This specialized training complements her role in the workshop, providing a perspective based on internationally recognized standards for strengthening institutional capacities and safe and responsible practices against biological threats.

Dr. Tischler commented that "the workshop offered a space for exchange with high-level regulators and experts from different countries and allowed for an analysis of how to continue strengthening biosafety and biosecurity in the region. This space for analysis and dialogue is fundamental because it allows countries with similar challenges and a common geographical context to support each other in the search for strategies and establish collaborative links."

In the words of the Peruvian authorities, the initiative sought to "strengthen biosafety and biosecurity in our region to prevent biological risks, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate." Organized with support from the Government of Canada, the meeting highlighted the need to continue moving toward robust national biosafety and biocustody strategies, harmonized with World Health Organization guidelines and the recommendations of the Global Health Security Agenda.

The agenda included situational diagnostics for each country, identification of gaps, risk analysis, and the definition of priority actions to strengthen regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities.