Extramural Construction of Biosafety Laboratories
Introduction
In February 2002, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in consultation with a blue ribbon panel, developed a strategic plan for biodefense research. This plan confirmed that there is a pressing need to focus research efforts on agents that pose the greatest risks to civilian populations in the event of a bioterrorist attack. The panel also examined the nation's research infrastructure and concluded that there is a critical need for facilities in which research can be conducted on new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics that would serve to protect the general population from bioterrorism. In response, NIAID has provided funding for the construction of National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBLs) and Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (RBLs) at research institutions across the country.
The NBLs will serve as a national and regional resource for research on biodefense and emerging infectious disease agents that require BSL-4/3/2 biocontainment, while the RBLs will serve as a regional resource for research requiring BSL-3/2 biocontainment. These laboratory facilities will be designed and built using the strictest federal standards and incorporating multiple layers of safety and security to protect laboratory workers and the surrounding environment.
The NBLs and RBLs will complement and support the research activities of NIAID's Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research. The biosafety labs also will be available and prepared to assist national, state, and local public health efforts in the event of a bioterrorism or infectious disease emergency.
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