Frequently Asked Questions about the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory

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Why is the federal government funding expanded research into infectious diseases?

After letters containing anthrax were sent through the US postal system in late 2001, Congress funded a research agenda to protect America against those misusing anthrax and similar biological agents. To accomplish this agenda, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded funds through a competitive peer-review process to construct two National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBLs) and to establish a network of 13 Regional Biosafety Laboratories (RBLs) to research biological agents.

What is the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory?

Constructed as part of the NIH network of 13 RBLs, the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory, or NE-RBL, is a state-of-the art biomedical research facility where scientists can safely study infectious diseases. The facility provides a safe environment for the development of new vaccines and therapeutics, and other ways to assess, prevent and combat threats to public health. The NE-RBL houses biosafety level 2 (BSL2) and biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratories, with associated vivarium, an insectary and an aerobiology suite.

Why did Tufts want to build a Regional Biosafety Laboratory?

First, this biosafety laboratory allows scientists in Tufts' Division of Infectious Diseases to build upon the work they have been doing to protect human and animal health in the safest possible environment. In the past 20 years, about 80 percent of emerging infectious diseases have been zoonotic in nature—meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. The NE-RBL allows scientific investigators on a veterinary school campus to accelerate the search for vaccines and treatments for these diseases.

Second, Tufts veterinarians and researchers have a responsibility to contribute to the advancement of public health. Because of the nature of research they undertake in the NE-RBL, they will be able to make a greater contribution to protect the public against disease.

Finally, Tufts believes that the new laboratory is a substantial research resource for the growing life sciences cluster in Central Massachusetts. Tufts is committed to making the laboratory benefit the Grafton area as a catalyst for economic activity at the Grafton Science Park and throughout the region.

What is special about a level-3 laboratory and what purpose does it serve?

Background on this question can be found on the Laboratory Biosafety Level Criteria PDF, which gives a brief overview of the differences between the biosafety levels 1–4. Essentially, as the scale increases from 1–4, the agents being studied:

1. are more pathogenic to people;
2. are more exotic in nature;
3. and are less likely to have existing vaccines, therapeutics or cures.

BSL4 research is not undertaken at the Cummings School.

What is unique about the NE-RBL is that it is a stand-alone BSL3 laboratory. Many hospitals have biosafety level 3 laboratories within them—a typical example would be a tuberculosis laboratory. As a stand-alone laboratory, the NE-RBL provides a larger, safe and secure laboratory environment to study infectious agents.

The lab enables Tufts researchers:

1. To expand the work that they already do in the area of infectious diseases. Researchers use this laboratory to better understand how various agents can make people and animals sick, how to prevent illness and how to diagnose and treat illness.
2. To attract collaborators from area industry and academia with a need for BSL3, vivarium, aerobiology or insectary capabilities. The NE-RBL is the anchor tenant of Grafton Science Park and a regional resource. About 100 acres of land around the NE-RBL is available as build-to-suit office, research and industrial space for tenants seeking proximity to the laboratory and to the Cummings School, as well as to the infrastructure and transportation benefits here in North Grafton.
3. To provide surge capacity in the event of a public health emergency. For example, in the event of a flu pandemic in New England, the capabilities of the NE-RBL could be used by CDC officials to monitor illness, as well as design and test possible therapeutics.

Why build a biosafety laboratory at a veterinary school?

Infectious diseases are the number-one cause of death worldwide, and the number-two cause of death in the United States. Veterinary scientists have a unique and important role to play in protecting the public health. Within its Division of Infectious Diseases, The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has one of the nation's leading research programs in food and waterborne diseases and in diseases transmissible from animals to people. The new biosafety laboratory complements and supports Tufts current public health research and provides the safest possible environment for this type of research.

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine already had a BSL3 lab. Why was another one needed?

The size of the older BSL3 facility (500 square feet) provided enough space for only two or three research scientists. A larger facility was needed to provide appropriate space to support the scope of Tufts' research on infectious diseases impacting public health, as well as to accommodate other approved research in the region requiring use of the facility.

Does Tufts have much experience in infectious disease research?

Tufts University is an international leader in infectious disease and immunology research. More than 90 Tufts University researchers are actively engaged in over $28 million of basic or clinical infectious disease research annually. Tufts researchers in this field include recipients of NIH Merit awards, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigators, National Academy of Sciences (NAS) membership and other prestigious awards.

What diseases are being studied?

Scientists within the Division of Infectious Diseases are currently investigating:

• Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
• Shigella dysenteriae type 1; S. flexneri spp.; S. sonnei
• Botulinum toxins A-G
• Cryptosporidium spp (C. parvum, C. hominis, C. meleagridis)
• Microsporidium spp (Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis)
• Enteric viruses (astrovirus, rotavirus, norovirus)
• Clostridium difficile and related toxins
• Schistosomiasis
• Francisella tularensis and other tick-transmitted infections
• Arboviruses

How much did the laboratory cost, and who built it?

The NE-RBL cost about $30 million, with three-quarters of the funding provided by the National Institutes of Health. The building was designed by Flad Associates and constructed by Gilbane Building Company, which has expertise in building high-containment (BSL3) laboratories. The NE-RBL is owned and operated by Tufts University.

How does Tufts ensure that researchers, employees and members of the local community are safe from the agents studied at the NE-RBL?

Scientists within the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory study small amounts of infectious agents so they can develop ways to safeguard the public's health against them. As with all Tufts University research involving infectious agents, work inside the NE-RBL is first reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee, which examines the nature of the proposed research, and protocols to be used undertaking the work, in order to assess and minimize the risk of any experiments.

Tufts has put in place a number of measures—including training, procedures and security—to ensure the safety of the personnel within the NE-RBL and of the public. The building has also been carefully designed as a sophisticated containment facility with redundant operating systems that minimize exposure to infectious agents, provide backup in case of power outage or equipment failure, and ensure agents are contained within the building. As the people most at risk in the event of an accident, the researchers working in such labs are carefully trained to design and follow approved research protocols and safety procedures rigorously.

Tufts has also worked closely with the community to ensure an emergency response plan is in place in the unlikely event of an accident, and drills and held routinely with local public safety personnel and other public officials.

Will the research involve the use of laboratory animals?

In many instances, yes. The creation of new therapeutics and vaccines for diseases follows a continuum from bench research to animal models to human applications. Currently, there is no substitute for animal research to test the safety and effectiveness of most new drugs and vaccines. Because the NE-RBL's mission is to undertake this type of research, the building is outfitted to house purpose-bred laboratory animals, as well as insects that could act as vectors for disease. In addition, the Cummings School is committed to exploring alternate approaches to infectious disease research—such as computer modeling—as they become available.

As a veterinary school, the Cummings School is dedicated to the welfare of all animals and carefully reviews each research study's use, treatment and number of animals used for each study. As is the case with other research being conducted at Tufts University, the use of animals is and will continue to be monitored by oversight committees that include community representatives to ensure the university's adherence to federal laws and guidelines. All studies involving animals are conducted with the highest ethical standards and are designed to minimize the number of animals used respecting the sacrifice required by this important work. The animals—most often rodents or other small mammals up to the size of small piglets—will be housed and cared for in accordance with federal laws and guidelines.

What has Tufts been doing to keep the community informed?

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine representatives have communicated with the local community throughout the development of the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory. Meetings with community groups continue, including meetings with the Grafton Community Advisory Group and Grafton Liaison Group, created to foster a two-way dialogue between the school and Grafton residents and officials. During the construction phase of the NE-RBL, the Cummings School hosted a number of public tours of the facility. For more on our community outreach, please visit the Community section.