Stony Brook University Laboratory for Comparative Medicine to Support Pandemic Preparedness

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Laboratory for Comparative Medicine (LCM) at Stony Brook University is a recently constructed, state-of- the-art animal biosafety level 3 (ABSL3) facility. The LCM is actively engaged in basic, translational, and preclinical research on SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent of the current COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Research in the LCM serves multiple individual investigators and groups, both within and outside of Stony Brook University, and includes commercial as well as academic interests. Stony Brook has a long history of excellence in microbial pathogenesis research, including studies on pandemic potential viruses of concern in the families Coronaviridae (SARS-CoV-2), Bunyavirales (Hantaviruses), Flaviviridae (Dengue, Zika, and Powassan viruses), and Picornaviridae (Poliovirus). Stony Brook virologists are also conducting ongoing studies in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Influenza A Virus. Our research over the past five years has covered three different RNA virus families relevant under the American Pandemic Preparedness/pandemic preparedness effort, and our cumulative experience covers four of the viral families of concern. In addition to viruses of concern, active research at Stony Brook and in the LCM includes work on the highly virulent bacterial agents Rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group, Francisella tularensis, a Select Agent and cause of the zoonotic disease tularemia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agent of tuberculosis. To improve facility operations and enhance ongoing and future research in the LCM, we are requesting four upgrades to the LCM: 1) Replacement of the high temperature hot water unfired steam boilers and conversion of the high temperature and hot water systems; 2) Purchase and installation of a washer for animal cages and racks; 3) Purchase and installation of a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and custom biosafety enclosure; and 4) Acquisition of a real-time, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR machine. The requested upgrades will support and improve pandemic preparedness-relevant research in the LCM, advance studies on highly virulent and emerging pathogens, and provide enhanced resources not only to Stony Brook researchers, but also to State and regional efforts to combat current and future pandemic threats. The requested improvements will support the development of antiviral programs and antimicrobial preventive and therapeutic measures.