Broader Middle East & North Africa (BMENA)
Laboratory Safety Best Practices Video
Competition Announcement
Competition Goal
First-Round
Competition Opens
First-Round
Competition Deadline
Who Should Apply
Evaluation Criteria
Prizes
This competition aims to create a collection of high-quality, relevant video tutorials (under ten
minutes in length, and in English, Arabic, French or Urdu - for videos in Arabic, French or Urdu, a
written transcript of the tutorial should be included with the submission) on laboratory
biosecurity and biosafety best practices for regional practitioners. These tutorials will build an
easily accessible biosecurity resource from which other personnel can benefit.
August 3, 2015
September 3, 2015
Institutions and laboratory facilities in the broader Middle East and North Africa region*,
including veterinary and public health facilities, diagnostic laboratories, research institutions,
and hospitals.
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First-Round Winners: will receive an iPad mini, and the opportunity to create an additional
video to compete for the Grand Prize
Grand Prize Winners: CRDF Global will pay conference registration fees to a conference
relevant to the applicant’s work** (up to $800 USD)
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Complete the following required documents (in English):
1) Application
2) Video uploaded to CRDF Global via link provided in application (max 800MB)
3) Letter of Support (LOS) signed by the head of your institution;
4) Compilation of Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) of all team members involved in the
video creation
Email all required documents to bmena-video@crdfglobal.org
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First-Round Winners will be announced by CRDF Global on October 16, 2015
Grand Prize Winners will be announced by CRDF Global on December 22, 2015
How to Apply
Decision
Announcement
Biosecurity/Biosafety Impact
Alignment with International Standards on Biosecurity and Biosafety
Clarity of Video Content
Style, Character and Relevance
Clarity and Completeness of Application
Please email bmena-video@crdfglobal.org with any questions.
CRDF Global reserves the right to restrict the participation of any individual or institution in its programs. CRDF Global complies with all U.S.
laws and regulations pertaining to export control and the participation of foreign nationals or institutions in its activities. It is the policy of CRDF
Global not to conduct any transactions with U.S. restricted entities without appropriate authorization from the U.S. Government.
* Countries included in competition: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,
United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
** Conference to be approved by CRDF Global. Funds will only cover registration fees; however, there is the possibility of combining this prize
with other travel grants to provide full funding for conference attendance.
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Competition Overview
This competition for laboratory staff in the BMENA region to produce video tutorials demonstrating laboratory
biosecurity and biosafety best practices. This project will disseminate material produced by regional practitioners for
others in the BMENA region.
The video competition program will be managed by CRDF Global, an independent non-profit organization that promotes
international scientific and technical collaboration. CRDF Global will convene laboratory biosecurity and biosafety best
practices expert panels. Panel members will be asked to review and rank the applications according to the selection
criteria of the competition, using a quantitative scoring system, and final approval of the competition winners will be
conducted by a selection committee based on the scoring and eligibility. Final decisions from the panel review are
subject to funder approval and availability of funding. CRDF Global will announce winners of the First-Round Prizes, who
will then create an additional video to compete for the Grand Prize.
Competition Goals & Priorities
The BMENA video competition strives to increase biorisk management awareness and its importance in safeguarding
science in the broader Middle East and North Africa region. This project will create a relevant, easily accessible
biosecurity resource from which other personnel can benefit. The videos will serve as tools to prevent releases of
dangerous agents, whether intentional or accidental in origin.
Videos may cover a range of areas relevant to biorisk management practices and should include elements of biosecurity
and biosafety. Video tutorials should be in compliance with international biosecurity and biosafety frameworks such as
the CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) and the WHO Biorisk Management Laboratory Biosecurity Guidance (definition of
terms below).
Biosafety: Laboratory biosafety describes the containment principles, technologies and practices that are implemented
to prevent the unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their accidental release.
Biosecurity: Laboratory biosecurity describes the protection, control and accountability for valuable biological materials
within laboratories, in order to prevent their unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Biosecurity/Biosafety Impact: Will the video help promote new knowledge of biosecurity/biosafety practices,
and/or improve the physical security of other facilities or institutes? How will the tutorial result in new or improved
biorisk management awareness among viewers?
2. Alignment with International Standards on Biosecurity and Biosafety: Does the content of the instructional video
align with internationally-recognized standards?
3. Clarity of Video Content: Does the video clearly and concisely communicate the tutorial topic? Will someone
watching the video in a similar laboratory scenario understand the message being communicated?
4. Style, Character and Relevance: Is the video both informative and engaging? Does it represent the character of the
laboratory? Is the tutorial content relevant to other laboratories in the region?
5. Clarity and Completeness of the Application: Does the application clearly answer all questions and provide all
information in the application? Is the Institute Letter of Support included? Are CVs from each team member
provided?
Online Application Instructions & Requirements
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CRDF Global will begin accepting applications on August 3, 2015. Applications should be submitted no later than
September 3, 2015.
Please email bmena-video@crdfglobal.org with any questions.
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While the videos may be in English, Arabic, French or Urdu, all applications must be completed in English.
Each application should have one person as the primary applicant (PA), who will act as the point of contact.
Applicants will submit their applications by emailing all required documents to bmena-video@crdfglobal.org.
A complete application will include:
1) APPLICATION: Applicants must complete the application document, found here or listed on the CRDF Global
competition announcement website. Please make sure that application is completed in full and all information is
provided in English.
2) VIDEO: The video can be in English, Arabic, French or Urdu. For videos in Arabic, French or Urdu, a written transcript
of the tutorial should be included with the submission. The video should not exceed 800MB. PLEASE SEE
APPLICATION FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO.
3) INSTITUTE LETTER OF SUPPORT (LOS): This letter must reference the video tutorial and be on official institution
letterhead. It must have the signature of the head of your institute. The letter must be in English.
4) CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) FILE: The CVs of all team members involved in the making of the video should be compiled
into a single document and attached to the application email. The CVs must be in English and must include each
individual’s name, title, educational background, current and previous institutional affiliations with dates, area of
expertise, and his or her scientific publications of relevance to the project.
Once CRDF Global has received the application, we will send an email message to the applicant confirming receipt of the
application. Please check to make sure you have put in the correct email addresses in the application. The proposal
will then be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. CRDF Global will contact the applicant by email with any
questions on the application. A panel of experts will review the applications and videos; final decisions from panel of
experts review are subject to funder approval and availability of funding. CRDF Global will notify all applicants with
results of competition.
First-Round Winners: First Round Winners will receive a new, 16GB iPad mini. They will also be given the opportunity to
produce additional content to compete for the Grand Prize.
Grand Prize Winners: Selected Grand Prize Winners will receive up to $800 USD towards conference registration fees.
Conference to be approved by CRDF Global. Funds will only cover registration fees; however, there is the possibility of
combining this prize with other travel grants to provide full funding for conference attendance.
Additional Information and Support
1. Conflict of Interest: CRDF Global requires that all applicants and teams adhere to the highest ethical standards
on all matters related to CRDF Global awards. CRDF Global’s conflict of interest guidelines can be reviewed at:
http://www.crdfglobal.org/focus-areas/research-partnerships/applicant-resources.
2. Confidentiality: CRDF Global assures confidentiality of all application material and will require all panelists and
reviewers to respect the confidentially of applications. Applicants should be aware that selected videos will be
treated as public information. Therefore, please do not include any specific information in the video that is
business confidential and not intended for public dissemination.
Please email bmena-video@crdfglobal.org with any questions.