The National Biocontainment Laboratory (NBL) at Boston University is known as the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL). The NEIDL is owned and operated by Boston University (BU) and is located on the Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC). The NEIDL's missions are: 1. To perform cutting- edge basic, translational and clinical research on emerging infectious diseases, including category A, B, and C agents, in order to develop diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to promote the public's health; 2. To provide training in these areas of research and to support a national response in the event of a biodefense emergency; and 3. To establish a research facility with the highest attention to community and laboratory safety and security. In order to successfully achieve these missions, the NEIDL's goals are to: 1) Recruit and develop a cadre of investigators and research staff with expertise in the scientific disciplines required to investigate the pathogenesis of emerging infectious diseases caused by category A, B and C agents; 2) Develop animal models for the comparative study of these pathogens, mimicking as closely as possible the human disease process; 3) Perform translational, preclinical and clinical research in animals and humans; 4) Develop the methodologies needed to advance the development and testing of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for these agents; 5) Train scientists and related support personnel in the requirements to perform maximum containment research in a safe and secure environment; 6) Maintain the flexibility needed to support a national response in the event of a biodefense emergency; 7) Establish a safety first environment for the conduct of all activities i the Institute.
The past three decades have amply demonstrated that new and re-emerging infectious diseases are frequently being identified and represent threats to the health of the public, both nationally and globally. To improve our ability to protect public health from emerging and re-emerging infections it is necessary to understand the nature of the threat,that is its virulence mechanisms and epidemiology, have the necessary tools to rapidly, sensitively and specifically diagnose it, and have drugs for treatment and vaccines and strategies for prevention. The mission of NEIDL is to conduct basic and translational research to enhance our knowledge about these infectious agents and, through our research and collaborations, promote the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive tools for known and still to be identified microbial threats in a secure and safe environment. Admin-Core-001 - Administrative Core (Description as provided by applicant) Administration: Summary The NEIDL Administration Core Serves as the focal point for support and coordination of all BSL-4 related activities including facilities, safety, service, scientific,and training. The Core also serves as the principal lead for NEIDL's interactions with the national (NBL) and regional (RBL) biocontainment laboratories in the NIAID NBL/RBL network. The aims of the core are to: 1) Manage all NEIDL administrative and scientific support activities including the review process for all BSL-4 scientific projects requesting access to the NEIDL services and facilities; 2) Oversee and coordinate all BSL-4 related NEIDL Committee activities; 3) Work with the Environmental Health and Safety and the Biosecurity Cores to ensure the continued implementation and maintenance of the highest level of a culture of safety and security for all NEIDL activities; 4) Manage BSL-4 related NEIDL finances including the operation of cost-recovery activities for each of the integrated research support service cores; 5) Serve as liaison to key Boston University departments such as the President's Office, Provost's Office, Human Resources, Financial and Business Affairs, Sponsored Programs, Sourcing and Procurement, Post Award Financial Accounting, Corporate Communications, Government and Community Affairs, and Office of Technology Development as needed; 6) Monitor, implement and update the NEIDL Strategic Plan for Operations and Science core activities as they relate to the evolution of activities supported by NIAID; 7) Provide a high level of administrative support to optimize faculty and staff productivity, and to assist Core leads with administrative aspects of their Cores; 8) Coordinate all scientific interactions of the NEIDL with the NIAID NBL/RBL biodefense network, as well as both national and international collaborative research activities, in conjunction with Collaborative Research Services in the Integrated Support Service Core; and 9) Partner with NIAID and other federal agencies in the management of all BSL-4 NEIDL, facilities and operations, biosecurity, regulatory compliance, specialized research support services, and training activities in support of the national biodefense research agenda.
| Hume, Adam J; Ames, Joshua; Rennick, Linda J et al. (2016) Inactivation of RNA Viruses by Gamma Irradiation: A Study on Mitigating Factors. Viruses 8: |
