Upgrading the University of Pittsburgh Regional Biocontainment Laboratory within The Center for Vaccine Research

概述 自1998年以来，匹兹堡大学一直是NIH资金的前十大接受者之一。目前 在2020财年，该公司获得的奖项总数为5.7亿美元，在全国排名第五。中国的学校 医药和公共卫生部门在这方面占据了相当大的比例。该大学坚定地致力于 将科学知识和成果转化为社会效益。疫苗研究是疫苗的代名词 匹兹堡市和这所大学在传染病研究方面有着悠久的历史。蓬勃发展的感染 生物界工作在生物安全级别(BSL)-2、2和3，涉及不同范围的人和动物 病原体。精选制剂和毒素司(DSAT)计划已经运作了10多年 我们的研究人员致力于广泛的高度监管、病毒和细菌选择试剂。该中心为 疫苗研究(CVR)研究人员对BSL-3 A、B和C类优先病原体进行研究 对世界各地的人们的健康都有影响。 CVR内的区域生物遏制实验室(RBL)是加州大学感染生物学的中心 匹兹堡。该中心于2007年开放，汇集了来自不同学科的感染生物学家和临床医生。 他们有一个共同的目标，那就是研究新出现的传染病的演变和发病机制 生物防御病原体。它加速了新干预措施的临床前开发，如 作为疫苗、治疗性抗体和纳米抗体、小分子抑制剂和病毒诊断以及 其他感染源。就在两年前，该大学投资聘请了一名关键的领导层，并任命了 保罗·杜普雷克斯博士担任CVR和RBL主任。医学院为他提供了慷慨的招聘机会。 打包和启动资源，为CVR招聘至少四名新教师。此外，他们重申了他们的 承诺在资本设备方面支持RBL。他的愿景是整合、监督和扩大正在进行的 程序。匹兹堡大学和邻近地区的研究人员可以获得这种资源 机构助力助学金申请成功率高，增加数量影响大 接受发表研究论文，并为实习生、教师和研究人员的招聘提供便利。这是一个 宾夕法尼亚州及其他地区翻译研究生态系统的基本要素。 具体目标 目标1：升级RBL固定设备。匹兹堡RBL在13年前开业，固定的 基础设施正在老化。尽管有大量的内部承诺，但大学资本的支出 装备基金与CVR成功地从宾夕法尼亚州获得外部支持 经济发展共同体(DCED)需要对核心进行重大升级 系统。具体地说，建筑自动化系统(BAS)和三个高压灭菌器需要更新 或者被替换掉。不出所料，固定设备是这项应用的最大成本要素。 目标2：升级RBL非固定式尖端科学设备。多模式生物成像功能包括 作为CVR教职员工研究感染细胞、组织和动物的一个整体。我们已经投资了 在活细胞共聚焦显微镜、IVIS成像和PET/CT能力方面显著提高。不过，目前， 流式细胞仪/细胞分选能力基本上已经过时。如果免疫学研究要 要保持竞争力，他们需要购买一种尖端的工具。 专门为生物遏制中的气雾剂工作而设计。另一种科学力量正在形成 空气生物学和大规模雾化病原体和治疗的新能力将得到加强 CVR的这个基本组件的一般功能。 目标3：升级RBL非固定支持设备。将更换陈旧的支持设备。这个 原始的生物安全柜(BSC)的使用寿命即将结束，正在失效。要最小化 在当前运营中断的情况下，BSC将在我们的年度常规停机期间进行更换 还原过程。蒸发双氧水(VHP)是室内去污的标准设备， 使用的设备经常出现故障，需要更换。我们的内部设施办公室 管理层将监督所有外部承包商。 我们的最终目标是确保RBL保持符合用途，并为新出现的传染病做好应对准备 再过15年。该设施被匹兹堡大学视为重要的研究基础设施。

Overview The University of Pittsburgh has been ranked among the top ten recipients of NIH funding since 1998. Currently it is ranked fifth nationally in the number of awards received, totaling $570 million in FY2020. The Schools of Medicine and Public Health obtained a significant proportion of this. The University has a strong commitment to translate scientific knowledge and achievement into societal benefit. Vaccine Research is synonymous with the city of Pittsburgh and the university has a long history with infectious disease research. A thriving infection biology community works at biosafety levels (BSL)-2, 2+ and 3 with a diverse range of human and animal pathogens. The Division of Select Agents and Toxins (DSAT) program has been operational for over 10 years and our researchers work on a wide range of highly regulated, viral and bacterial select agents. The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) investigators conduct research on BSL-3 Category A, B, and C priority pathogens that have an impact on the health of people around the world. The Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) within the CVR is a hub for infection biology at the University of Pittsburgh. Opened in 2007 the center brings together infection biologists and clinicians from varied disciplines who have a common goal of investigating the evolution and pathogenesis of emerging infectious diseases and biodefense pathogens. It has enabled the acceleration of pre-clinical development of novel interventions such as vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and nanobodies, small molecule inhibitors and diagnostics for viruses and other infectious agents. Just over two years ago the university invested in a key leadership hire and appointed Dr. Paul Duprex as CVR and RBL Director. The School of Medicine provided him a generous recruitment package and startup resources to recruit at least four new faculty to CVR. In addition they reaffirmed their commitment to support the RBL in capital equipment. His vision is to integrate, oversee and expand the ongoing programs. The availability of this resource to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and neighboring institutions has contributed to the success rate of grant applications, increased the number of high-impact research papers accepted for publication and facilitated trainee, faculty and research staff recruitment. It is an essential element to the translational research ecosystem in Pennsylvania and beyond. Specific Aims Aim 1: Upgrade RBL fixed equipment. The Pittsburgh RBL opened over 13 years ago and the fixed infrastructure is aging. In spite of significant internal commitments, expenditure of University capital equipment funds alongside CVR’s success in securing external support from the State of Pennsylvania Department of Community of Economic Development (DCED) significant upgrades are required to core systems. Specifically, the Building Automation System (BAS) and three autoclaves need to be updated or replaced. Unsurprisingly fixed equipment represents the largest cost elements of this application. Aim 2: Upgrade RBL non-fixed cutting-edge scientific equipment. Multimodal bioimaging capabilities are integral as CVR faculty study infected cells, tissues and animals in four-dimensions. We have invested significantly in live cell confocal microscopy, IVIS imaging and PET/CT capabilities. However, presently, the flow cytometric/cell sorting capabilities are essentially obsolete. If immunological studies are to remain competitive they will need to be underpinned by the purchase of a leading-edge instrument specifically designed for work with aerosols in biocontainment. A second scientific strength is in aerobiology and new capabilities for large-scale nebulization of pathogens and therapeutics will enhance the general capabilities of this essential component of CVR. Aim 3: Upgrade RBL non-fixed support equipment. Obsolete support equipment will be replaced. The original biosafety cabinets (BSCs) are at the end of their usable lifespan and are failing. To minimize disruption to current operations, the BSCs will be replaced during our regular annual shutdown and reverification process. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is standard for room decontamination and the equipment used is breaking down frequently and will be replaced. Our internal Office of Facilities Management will oversee all external contractors. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the RBL remains fit-for-purpose and emerging infectious disease response-ready for another 15 years. The facility is considered essential research infrastructure by the University of Pittsburgh.