The mission ofthe Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) is to conduct basic and applied research designed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of naturally emerging and purposefully disseminated infectious diseases. The GNL provides BSL4, BSL3 and BSL2 laboratories designed to allow the safe conduct of this work. Our strategic plan is to develop a portfolio of basic research and transiational product development activities that will fully occupy the GNL containment spaces, including implementation of strategies for cost recovery for each of our Integrated Service Support Divisions;however, we realize that the exceptional costs of security, utilities and maintenance required for the safe and secure operations will confinue to demand supplemental support. The GNL was dedicated on November 11, 2008. As of June, 2010, the entire GNL has been inspected by the CDC and USDA Select Agent Programs and approved for full operations. GNL BSL2 and ABSL3 laboratories are active and moving toward full occupancy;the in vitro BSL3 and BSL3E labs are operational with non-Select Agents, and we will soon begin Select Agent use. We anticipate beginning operations in the BSL4 laboratories in August 2010, initially conducting research on pathogens requiring lower containment and handling BSL4 pathogens by the end of 2010. Plans for routine, emergency and preventive laboratory maintenance are operational, as are weather emergency plans and plans for external evaluation of programs. The GNL is organized around 6 Cores and 7 service divisions (Administration, Facilities Maintenance and Operations, Biosecurity, Environmental Health and Biosafety Regulations and Requirements, Regulatory Compliance, and Integrated Support Services Cores; Aerobiology, Preclinical, Assay Development, Pathology, Insectary, Imaging and Immunology service divisions). Staff training is undenway, facilitated by the National Biocontainment Training Center. Two active community advisory groups help to maintain a robust and positive dialogue with local community leaders. The GNL assisted the Texas Department of State Health in response to the 2009 H1N1 epidemic and is building upon that model to formalize state and national emergency response activities.

Public Health Relevance

Scientists at the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) conduct research on the worid's most dangerous infectious diseases using state-of-the-art containment facilities to discover and develop better diagnostic tests, effective treatments and improved vaccines. Basic research and transiational studies advance discoveries into useful products to prevent against emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism threats.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
National Biocontainment Laboratory Operation Cooperative Agreement (UC7)
Project #
5UC7AI094660-02
Application #
8269879
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-PRJ-M (J1))
Program Officer
Boyd, Nancy G
Project Start
2011-05-31
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$14,100,000
Indirect Cost
$4,346,429
Name
University of Texas Medical Br Galveston
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771149
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
Gilchuk, Pavlo; Mire, Chad E; Geisbert, Joan B et al. (2018) Efficacy of Human Monoclonal Antibody Monotherapy Against Bundibugyo Virus Infection in Nonhuman Primates. J Infect Dis 218:S565-S573
Gilchuk, Pavlo; Kuzmina, Natalia; Ilinykh, Philipp A et al. (2018) Multifunctional Pan-ebolavirus Antibody Recognizes a Site of Broad Vulnerability on the Ebolavirus Glycoprotein. Immunity 49:363-374.e10
Cross, Robert W; Mire, Chad E; Agans, Krystle N et al. (2018) Marburg and Ravn Viruses Fail to Cause Disease in the Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo). J Infect Dis 218:S448-S452
Mire, Chad E; Geisbert, Joan B; Borisevich, Viktoriya et al. (2017) Therapeutic treatment of Marburg and Ravn virus infection in nonhuman primates with a human monoclonal antibody. Sci Transl Med 9:
Thi, Emily P; Mire, Chad E; Lee, Amy Ch et al. (2017) siRNA rescues nonhuman primates from advanced Marburg and Ravn virus disease. J Clin Invest 127:4437-4448
Mire, Chad E; Cross, Robert W; Geisbert, Joan B et al. (2017) Human-monoclonal-antibody therapy protects nonhuman primates against advanced Lassa fever. Nat Med 23:1146-1149
Warfield, Kelly L; Warren, Travis K; Qiu, Xiangguo et al. (2017) Assessment of the potential for host-targeted iminosugars UV-4 and UV-5 activity against filovirus infections in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 138:22-31
Agrawal, Anurodh Shankar; Tao, Xinrong; Algaissi, Abdullah et al. (2016) Immunization with inactivated Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus vaccine leads to lung immunopathology on challenge with live virus. Hum Vaccin Immunother 12:2351-6
Mire, Chad E; Geisbert, Thomas W; Feldmann, Heinz et al. (2016) Ebola virus vaccines - reality or fiction? Expert Rev Vaccines 15:1421-1430
Mire, Chad E; Geisbert, Joan B; Agans, Krystle N et al. (2016) Passive Immunotherapy: Assessment of Convalescent Serum Against Ebola Virus Makona Infection in Nonhuman Primates. J Infect Dis 214:S367-S374

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