NERBL Core 2: BSL-3 Practices

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PROJECT SUMMARY – CORE 2 The broad, long-range objectives of Core 2 (Biosafety Level 3 Practices ) for the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory (NERBL) are to ensure that research or tasks directed to promoting research on or responding to pathogens of pandemic potential, and other emerging infections (PPP/EI), are safely, efficiently, and rigorously accomplished. Research conducted in biocontainment relies on trained personnel with adequate knowledge to safely work in both laboratory and vivarium spaces. Although the Tufts institutional biosafety and environmental hygiene programs provide periodic general training to all NERBL staff, this is not standardized and much of the project specific instruction is administered by individual PIs or associated staff. As such, knowledge regarding practices and procedures is uneven across the NERBL staff resulting in lack of depth with respect to skills required for operating specific technologies or working in certain biocontainment settings. There is also no regular plan for staff re-training to maintain basic competencies which impacts familiarity with activities that are not routinely performed. Together, these limitations have constrained the scope research activities routinely undertaken in the NERBL. To address this gap, Core 2 will focus on developing and maintaining a team that possesses core competencies in biocontainment work, spanning the practices and procedures for general BSL3 laboratory and vivarium research as well as for that of building operations. Such instruction will cover essential skills in biocontainment management, principles of emergency and incident response, best practices for safe operation of equipment and performance of procedures, use of newer technologies, as well as animal husbandry and welfare in containment. Specifically, we will optimize biosafety and biosecurity practices and procedures, standardize emergency and incident response/life safety trainings, implement best practices trainings across the NERBL and coordinate the Select Agent program. Although staff from Core 2 will lead the trainings, all NERBL staff will regularly participate in this effort. Additionally, we will employ a train-the-trainer approach within Core 2 to enhance depth of expertise and expand capacities for process improvement.