This BSL-4 core provides the infrastructure to permit safe work to be performed on aerosol-infectious,potentially lethal agents. It consists of the mechanical safeguards of two high-containment laboratories,the provision of training in BSL-4 operations, and assistance in operations within the laboratories. Generally,the investigators will work within the laboratory, but about 20% of the effort will be devoted to challengeexperiments using established animal models to test newly developed vaccines and therapeutics. Part ofthis core is located at Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SF BR) in San Antonio, TX where1200 ft 2 of BSL-4 laboratory space is available. The other component is scheduled for completion in June,2003 and will provide 2000 ft 2 at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. The SFBR facilityhas been in operation since March of 2000 and provides space for microbiological operations as well ashousing for rodents and small non-human primates. UTMB will have 1000 ft 2devoted primarily to animalsand 1000 ft 2 mainly used to for microbiology. Both have access to a high intensity gamma irradiator allowinginactivation of samples for further analysis outside the BSL-4 laboratory. This core is essential for work onthe hemorrhagic fever viruses and multidrug resistant highly pathogenic bacteria.
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