The Queensland Institute of Medical Research broke ground in February of 2010 the $179 million Smart State Medical Research Centre in Brisbane. Housing 20 new research laboratories for the study of emerging infectious diseases, genetics, cancer, mental illness, and vaccine development, the 13-story facility will accommodate 400 scientists and students. Completion is expected in early 2012.
Kansas State University was awarded $12 million in February of 2010 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to support research in zoonotic and animal disease defense. The grant will establish a Center of Excellence to develop vaccines, diagnostic methods, pandemic modeling tools, and educational programs.
The University of Florida celebrated the opening of the $60 million Emerging Pathogens Institute in Gainesville in January of 2010. Providing BSL-2 and BSL-3 research laboratories, the 80,000-sf building supports research on select agents and pathogens that affect human, animal, and plant populations. Housing 150 researchers, the 108,000-sf facility provides 28 labs, three BSL-3 greenhouses, offices, and support. Ground was broken on the project in February of 2008. LEED Silver certification will be sought for the project.
The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism released an evaluation of the United States’ biosecurity measures in January of 2010. The report asserts that the nation is ill-prepared for a biological attack and recommends a restructuring of biothreat response protocols and oversight. For more information, read the report card (PDF).
The State of Maryland will break ground by year-end 2010 on the 200,000-sf Public Health Laboratory in East Baltimore. The $180 million facility will house 250 employees and is slated for completion in late 2013. The project will be sited on two acres in the Science + Technology Park at Hopkins and will house 41 high-level biocontainment laboratories.
The Working Group on Strengthening the Biosecurity of the United States released a report in January of 2010 that recommends a new system for the handling, storage, and management of select agents used in research. The report proposes a stratified system that would implement more controls for the most hazardous agents and less stringent requirements for agents of lower risk.
Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is planning to renovate its research facilities in Columbus. Supported by $3.9 million in stimulus funding, the project involves renovation of 8,000-sf on the second floor of Goss Lab to create BSL-2 laboratories, offices, and a dedicated rodent phenotyping and infectious necropsy lab.
The University of Texas Medical Branch's National Biocontainment Training Center was awarded an additional $5 million in federal funding in December of 2009. The award brings the total federal investment in the program to $11.75 million. The National Biocontainment Training Center provides training for research scientists and support personnel working in national and international BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs.
Babraham Bioscience Technologies will begin construction in January of 2010 on a bioincubator facility in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Located on the Babraham Research Campus, the 8,800-sf building will house flexible laboratories, offices, cell culture suites, and CL2 biocontainment facilities. The project will support up to 16 early stage bioscience companies. Completion is expected by September of 2010.
The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) is planning to construct a £500 million biomedical research facility in London. The project will include a Category 3 biocontainment laboratory for the study of infectious diseases. Accommodating research on mice, rats, and ferrets, the facility will house 1,500 staff and is slated for completion in 2013. The project represents a partnership of the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, The Wellcome Trust, and University College London.
Liberty Industries has expanded its manufacturing product line of Pass Thru's to include the new PureSeal Pass Thru unit. The unit is constructed in 304 or 316 electropolished stainless steel with chrome plated latches with smooth surfaces to allow for easy cleaning, sterilization or disinfection. The construction materials do not support the growth of micro-organisms. The unit also features a custom monolithic PureSeal gasket that allows for steam cleaning.
Airlangga University celebrated the opening of the Indonesia – Japan Collaborative Research Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CRC-ERID) and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Facilities in Surabaya, East Java, in November of 2009. The facility will support research and development of H1N1 and H5N1 influenza vaccines.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory is relocating to Manhattan, Kan. The facility is expected to open in August of 2010. Previously located in Laramie, Wyo., the laboratory will support research on livestock diseases spread by insects and arachnids.
The Department of Defense has awarded The Christman Co. a $12.5 million contract to build the Hazardous Materials Response Facility on the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, Va. Designed by Lord, Aeck, and Sargent, the 28,000-sf facility will house a BSL-3 laboratory, offices, and equipment for responding to biological threats. Construction will begin on the project in spring of 2009 with completion slated for summer of 2011.
The National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program will offer biosafety training in Kent State University’s Cunningham Hall in Ohio. Providing education for professionals working in BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories, the facility is the second location in the country to provide training in high level biocontainment operations.
