What is a BSL-3 laboratory?
A Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is a specialized laboratory that accommodates research for the development of techniques and products for detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases that result from biological terrorism or arise naturally. All BSL-3 facilities are designed, managed, and operated according to laws, regulations, and policies imposed by state and federal governments, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other accrediting agencies.

Why are BSL-3 laboratories needed?
The U.S. government is investing billions of dollars in biodefense research, much of it directed toward development of new vaccines and therapies to protect Americans from infectious diseases that would result from bioterrorism. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that newly identified vaccines and therapies be tested in nonhuman primates before they can be used to protect or treat humans. Since the United States currently does not have the capacity to test and evaluate the large number of treatments under development, additional specialized laboratory facilities are mandatory to meet this critical national need.

What kind of laboratory is George Mason University building?
The university is building a BSL-3 laboratory, named the Biomedical Research Laboratory (BRL). Research will focus on diseases considered by the U.S. government to be potential bioterror threats, such as anthrax, tularemia, and plague, as well as on emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS, West Nile virus, and influenza. The facility is not designed for and cannot be retrofitted to accommodate BSL-4 agents such as Ebola, Marburg, or smallpox
Biodefense experts believe the greatest biological threat comes from aerosolized agents; that is, bacteria, viruses, or toxins that can be spread through the air and inhaled by victims. For this reason, the primary use of the BRL will be to develop and test treatments that will improve the ability to save the lives of people exposed to airborne biological agents.

Why is George Mason University building this laboratory?
Infectious diseases, whether a result of bioterrorism or natural causes, pose a major threat to the health and security of citizens in the United States and abroad. The BRL will provide the university’s team of infectious diseases experts with the highly specialized facility and cutting-edge equipment needed to take this critical research to the next level in the search for lifesaving vaccines and therapies.
Once the laboratory is operational, the university will have unique opportunities to compete for additional federal research funding, attract top scientists, and promote its reputation as a leading institution for biomedical research. New diagnostic tools, therapies, or vaccines developed at the laboratory also could promote regional economic development through the creation of neighboring biotechnology companies.

Where is the BRL located?
The facility is located on a 10-acre site adjacent to the university’s Prince William Campus in Manassas, Va.

How much will the project cost?
The estimated project cost is $42 million. In addition to the $25 million NIAID award, the university will provide an estimated $15.3 million in matching funds, and the commonwealth of Virginia committed $2.5 million for land acquisition.

When will construction of the BRL be completed?
Many factors impact the final completion date, such as the design development phase, an environmental impact study, and the contractor selection process. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2009.

Who will provide oversight of the facility
The BRL is owned and operated by George Mason University. Only personnel trained in biocontainment procedures and authorized to work with the biological agents will be allowed in the BSL-2 and BSL-3 containment areas. Agencies involved in regulatory oversight for the BRL include the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Is there any danger of a biological agent being released from the BRL?
The probability of the release of a biological agent from the BRL is extremely low. The interior and exterior design and construction of the facility, stringent operating requirements, intensive training, and state-of-the-art equipment monitoring and security systems are designed to prevent a release from occurring. Multiple levels of complementary and redundant physical barriers serve as built-in backups against potential errors.
In the unlikely event of an accidental release, the amount of material would be limited because only minute quantities (measured in milligrams) of biological agents will be stored and handled in the BRL. In addition, light, oxygen, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors are destructive to most agents. Those that might remain viable outside the controlled laboratory setting would likely be dispersed and diluted to levels that would not cause infection.

What are the dangers to the community if the structural integrity of the facility is compromised by fire or other types of disasters?
The BRL will be a strongly constructed, highly engineered building that is designed to resist natural and man-made disasters. Final design is subject to additional rigorous evaluation by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other funding agencies.
If the facility were to sustain both external and internal damage from a disaster, the risk of disease spreading in the environment would be extremely minimal. Biological agents are stored in vials inside well-secured, heavy freezers. The building is equipped with highly sensitive smoke and fire detection systems. The vials are made of crush-proof, resilient polypropylene plastic and sealed with gaskets. Even if the vials somehow opened, (1) biological agents need vectors and hosts -- such as mosquitoes or ticks -- to grow, move about, and infect humans; and (2) liquid or frozen agents cannot become airborne.
As noted above, these agents are stored and handled in minute quantities, and most are killed by light, oxygen, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors.

What if a researcher is accidentally exposed to a biological agent and becomes infected?
The design of the BRL and stringent safety procedures greatly reduce this risk. Researchers will wear personal protective equipment, including a gown, gloves, and goggles, and will work with biological agents inside specialized biosafety cabinets designed to protect them and their surroundings. Comprehensive safety training on the signs and symptoms of infection by each agent will be provided, and researchers will be vaccinated, as appropriate. Although unlikely, if a researcher is exposed to an agent, he/she will be put under medical surveillance, quarantined (if necessary), and treated.

Will federally funded research carried out in the BRL be kept secret?
No. The ultimate goal of this research program is to provide information that will guide the development of diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines to protect citizens against agents of bioterrorism. Although safety and security regulations will limit access to certain kinds of information, it is anticipated that the results of all research carried out in the BRL will be published and communicated in the same manner as other federally funded research results.

What kinds of animals will be used in the research, where will they come from, and how will they be cared for?
Rabbits and primates will be obtained from vendors that are licensed and inspected by the federal government, and rodents will be obtained from privately accredited vendors. They will be housed and cared for in a modern facility designed under the same guidelines as the BRL. Fully trained animal caretakers, under the direction of a staff veterinarian, will administer humane care and medical treatment to the animals.

What will happen to the animals when they are no longer needed?
They will be humanely euthanized and disposed of through a chemical bath/digester process. No carcasses will leave the facility, and no incineration is needed.

How will biological agents be transported to and from the BRL?
The shipment of biological agents is governed by stringent national and international regulations, as well as those of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infectious agents are shipped in sealed capsules that are packed in highly durable, watertight containers. These containers are then packed in dry ice inside Styrofoam boxes that fit inside larger shipping boxes.

Is there an emergency response/evacuation plan in place, and will the public be alerted to the situation?
George Mason University currently has emergency plans for various disasters, including fire, flood, and other natural disasters. The plans are being upgraded to include evacuation procedures relating to the BRL. They will be reviewed and refined with local emergency response agencies in order to provide a coordinated and effective process for public notification. Once the plans are implemented, periodic drills will take place to ensure efficient performance.

Will local police, fire, and rescue personnel need additional training to be able to respond to any emergencies that may result from the BRL?
Following the terrorist activities of Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax events, emergency personnel regularly receive response training for biohazard emergencies.