Facility Upgrade for the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory

项目总结 新英格兰地区生物安全实验室于2007年在塔夫茨大学成立 卡明斯兽医学院(TU CSVM)马萨诸塞州格拉夫顿北部校区。这个设施最初是 专为在BSL2和BSL3条件下研究新出现的传染病而设计；支持动物 ABSL3模型研究；并允许当地和区域调查人员进入生物遏制设施 在他们的国内机构中是不可用的。在过去的13年里，NERBL有效地充当了一个 为TU内的研究人员以及包括行业在内的各种外部利益相关者提供的重要资源 赞助商。然而，若干制约因素已开始阻碍其使命的增长和可持续性。这些 包括过时和/或不起作用的实验室设备、低效率和隔膜的工作流程 空间，以及代表安全和运营问题的老化建筑系统。因此，中央银行 此应用程序的目的是升级我们现有的设施，特别是其基础运营 系统，并用最先进的技术使隔间和实验室空间现代化。至 要做到这一点，我们将：1)升级楼宇自动化系统、暖通空调执行器/过滤器/阀门、设施 照明和电气系统以及通信平台；2)通过新的 通风架子系统，可容纳小动物的一次性笼子，以降低成本和改进 效率，购买生物BUBBLE遏制系统，以便于使用更大的动物进行研究，以及 实施遥测对动物进行远程监控；3)用现代化的设备取代过时的实验室设备 在安全壳方面实现高吞吐量的同行，允许每个BSL3实验室配备齐全和 功能独立，从而最大限度地提高研究成果、工作流程和用户安全；以及4)改进关键 具有技术升级的实验室安全系统，可为去污和废物提供冗余 失活。完成这些具体目标将确保NERBL继续推进新出现的 未来十年的传染病研究。扩大尖端调查人员准入 通过利用先进的实验室方法和动物模型在安全、可靠和技术上 良好的环境。

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 These include outdated and/or non-functional laboratory equipment, poor efficiencies and workflow in the vivarium spaces, and aging building systems that represent safety and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.