Facility Upgrade for the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory

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PROJECT SUMMARY The New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory (NERBL) was established in 2007 on the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (TU CSVM) North Grafton MA campus. This facility was originally designed for research on emerging infectious diseases under BSL2 and BSL3 conditions; to support animal model ABSL3 studies; and to allow local and regional investigators access to biocontainment facilities that were not available within their home institutions. Over the past 13+ years, the NERBL has effectively served as an important resource for researchers across TU as well as a variety of external stakeholders, including industry sponsors. However, several constraints have begun to hamper growth and sustainability of its mission. These include outdated and/or non-functional laboratory equipment, poor efficiencies and workflow in the vivarium spaces, and aging building systems that represent safety and operational concerns. As such, the central purpose of this application is to upgrade our existing facility, particularly its foundational operating systems, and to modernize the vivarium and laboratory spaces with state-of-the-art technologies. To accomplish this, we will: 1) Upgrade the building automation system, HVAC actuators/filters/valves, facility lighting and electrical systems, and communication platforms; 2) Modernize and expand the vivarium with new ventilated rack systems that accommodate disposable caging for small animals to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, purchase a bioBUBBLE containment system to facilitate studies using larger animals, and implement telemetry for remote monitoring of animals; 3) Replace obsolete laboratory equipment with modern counterparts for high throughput in containment, permitting each BSL3 laboratory to be fully equipped and functionally independent, thereby maximizing research output, workflow, and user safety; and 4) Improve critical laboratory safety systems with technology upgrades that provide redundancy for decontamination and waste inactivation. Completion of these specific aims will ensure that the NERBL continues to advance emerging infectious disease research for the next decade. We will expand access for investigators performing cutting-edge studies by leveraging advanced laboratory methods and animal models in a safe, secure, and technologically sound environment.