campbem
May 19, 2010
Dissertations / Help with identifying a specific and feasible research project in Bio safety [2]
I am finishing up my PhD coursework in Occupational Safety and have passed my written exams successfully. I am looking for a PhD project that can be handled through the internet/web based. My Occupation is full-time Biosafety Officer at the same University that I am doing my PhD education. Consistent with my line of work (i.e., Biosafety), I am interested in looking at some aspect of laboratory acquired infections (LAI) in high containment labs (e.g., those regulated at biosafety levels 1, 2, 3, and 4). I've gone through all of the relevant literature and was thinking maybe looking to see if:
1. The expansion of high containment labs is increasing risks of LAIs?
2. Are more staff being better protected by the (expensive) measures of containment labs?
3. Do biosafety programs deliver
Unfortunately, my request for LAI data from U.S. entities that regulate the mandatory reporting of LAIs (e.g., CDC) has been futile. The data is protected from FOIA under the PATRIOT ACT for Homeland Security and is not obtainable. So, I am left with gathering the data I need directly from the entities where the LAIs occur ...and I thought the best way to capture this data would be through a survey tool. Entities where I may be able to gather data include other Biosafety Officers at other institutions (both academic and private), U.S. State Public Health Laboratories, or even hospitals.
Any help or ideas would GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks,
Mark C.
I am finishing up my PhD coursework in Occupational Safety and have passed my written exams successfully. I am looking for a PhD project that can be handled through the internet/web based. My Occupation is full-time Biosafety Officer at the same University that I am doing my PhD education. Consistent with my line of work (i.e., Biosafety), I am interested in looking at some aspect of laboratory acquired infections (LAI) in high containment labs (e.g., those regulated at biosafety levels 1, 2, 3, and 4). I've gone through all of the relevant literature and was thinking maybe looking to see if:
1. The expansion of high containment labs is increasing risks of LAIs?
2. Are more staff being better protected by the (expensive) measures of containment labs?
3. Do biosafety programs deliver
Unfortunately, my request for LAI data from U.S. entities that regulate the mandatory reporting of LAIs (e.g., CDC) has been futile. The data is protected from FOIA under the PATRIOT ACT for Homeland Security and is not obtainable. So, I am left with gathering the data I need directly from the entities where the LAIs occur ...and I thought the best way to capture this data would be through a survey tool. Entities where I may be able to gather data include other Biosafety Officers at other institutions (both academic and private), U.S. State Public Health Laboratories, or even hospitals.
Any help or ideas would GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks,
Mark C.
