Key Facility Upgrades for the Rutgers University RBL.

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PROTECT ABSTRACT The Rutgers University Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) serves as a central facility to perform biosafety level three (BSL3) research for academic and commercial entities within Rutgers University, the Northeast United States, and beyond. Heavily used for high-threat pathogen research, this facility is now confronted with aging systems including those involved in electrical, flooring, ventilation, security and equipment. These deficiencies place the facility at risk for prolonged shutdowns when repairs or upgrades are needed and threaten our ability to attract and retain first class scientists. This proposal seeks to rectify these deficiencies, returning the Rutgers RBL to a state-of-the-art facility and a critical regional resource. This will be performed in the following aims: 1. Install a second electric feeder cable into the existing double-ended switchgear. 2. Install new high performance epoxy floor system on new substrate. 3. Upgrade the Johnson Controls Building Management System (BMS) serving the RBL HVAC equipment. 4. Replace the existing belt-driven high plume exhaust fans. 5. Replace existing air handling unit (AHU-1,2 & 3) supply fans with fan wall arrays. 6. Install new keypads at all entry points. 7. Upgrade the video surveillance system. 8. Purchase a portable vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) system to enable selective room and equipment decontamination. 9. Purchase and install a new state of the art multicolor cell sorter. 10. Purchase a QIAcube instrument to replace manual RNA/DNA extractions. Together, these upgrades and new purchases will ensure that the Rutgers RBL is able to continue its mission to support high-threat pathogen research for the current decade and beyond.