The National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) is part of a national network of secure facilities that study infectious diseases - whether they occur naturally or are introduced through bioterrorism. The mission of the NEIDL is to:

Perform cutting-edge basic and clinical research on emerging infectious diseases, to develop diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to promote the public’s health through combating infectious diseases;
Provide training in these areas of research and to support a national response in the event of a biodefense emergency; and
Establish a research facility with the highest attention to community and laboratory safety and security.

Where is the NEIDL located?

The NEIDL is being constructed in an area known as BioSquare on the Boston University Medical Campus. BioSquare is a state-of-the-art biomedical research and business park currently under development in Boston's South End. Its development is designed to support innovation in biomedical research and science and promote novel partnerships between academia and industry.

What is a Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory?

The Centers for Disease Control specifies four levels of increasing containment for research on infectious diseases. These are generally termed Biosafety or BSL Levels 1 through 4. While much of the infectious diseases research is done in laboratories with BSL-2 and BSL-3 capabilities, BSL-4 laboratories are needed for research on infectious diseases that are usually life threatening.

BSL-4 laboratories are designed to protect researchers and have special engineering and design features to prevent microorganisms from being disseminated into the environment. Researchers who use a BSL-4 laboratory have extensive training in handling hazardous infectious agents. Access to the BSL-4 laboratories is strictly controlled. For more information on biosafety levels, please download a copy of ‘Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories’ here.

How big is the BSL-4 laboratory at the NEIDL?

Thirteen percent of the laboratory space at NEIDL is dedicated for BSL-4 use

Are there other BSL-4 laboratories around the country? Where are they located?

There are six BSL-4 laboratories in North America. These are:

Canadian Science Centre - Winnipeg, Canada
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia State University - Atlanta, GA
National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, Maryland
Southwest Research Institute - San Antonio, Texas
USAMRIID, Ft. Detrick - Frederick, Maryland

What is the safety record of BSL-4 laboratories?

In more than 90 combined years of years of operation, there has never been a community incident or environmental release at a BSL-4 laboratory in North America. BSL-4 laboratories have an excellent safety record.

How will BSL-4 agents be transported to the NEIDL?

Transportation of infectious materials is governed by strict national and international rules including guidelines from the Department of Transportation and the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). All biological samples that are potentially infectious are packed, shipped, and transported by authorized individuals. BUMC is notified in advance that a shipment is expected and when it has arrived. Trained personnel are given the schedule of arrival for incoming shipments and are prepared to receive them; View the transportation policies contained in Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Centers for Disease Control, 5th Edition, 2007.

Why is the NEIDL located in such a densely populated area like the South End?

The location of the NEIDL provides an appropriate setting where established teams of researchers will be able to work together and collaborate on medical research with important infrastructure already in place. In addition, the South End location provides the ability to integrate the important infectious diseases research with extensive medical, clinical and research facilities and with other medical research facilities throughout the City of Boston. In more than 90 years of combined experience, the existing BSL-4 facilities in North America have operated safely and there has never been an environmental release or community incident. The NEIDL will be built and operated to incorporate the operating procedures based on this history of best practices and government standards.

Who will provide oversight of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

The NEIDL will be owned, operated and managed by Boston University Medical Center. In addition, various local, state and federal agencies will have oversight over the operations and research at the NEIDL. Click here for a list of these.

What will be studied at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

BUMC and collaborating scientists from other institutions will study infectious diseases at the NEIDL. The goal is to develop drugs, treatments and vaccines to combat these diseases so that they no longer pose a threat to public health. Some of the organisms that will be studied at the NEIDL are dangerous if not handled properly. Therefore, the NEIDL will be designed and built to meet and exceed stringent federal safety standards to protect researchers and the community. The NEIDL will house BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories. A list of BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 agents that may be studied at the NEIDL is available for download at ‘Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories’ here.

Will bioweapons be developed at the NEIDL?

Bioweapons research is illegal. Boston University has publicly pledged that research on bioweapons will not take place at the NEIDL.

How will the community know what is studied at the NEIDL?

Community participation is important to success at the NEIDL. In 2006, a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) was established to help facilitate information flow between the NEIDL and the community and to provide feedback on community outreach strategies. The CLC meets monthly. The group is comprised of six-members chosen through an open, self-nomination process. Members serve staggered two year terms. In 2007, the CLC sponsored a series of educational forums to address questions and concerns fielded by community residents. Some of the material presented at these forums is available for download here. For more information on the CLC, visit http://www.bu.edu/dbin/neidl/en/community/clc/.

In addition, all research on the medical campus, including the NEIDL, requires approval from appropriate committees and regulatory agencies These committees and agencies include: the Institutional Biosafety Committee, the Executive Committee, the External Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Boston Public Health Commission to name a few. Many of these committees and agencies include and/or require community representation in their membership.

What plans are being put in place to keep the NEIDL safe?

The NEIDL is being constructed within a secure perimeter in accordance with federal standards. In addition, BUMC retained professional risk assessment and threat analysis experts to identify areas of concern and to assist with design that reduces and/or eliminates risk. Creating a secure perimeter and structure, assigning trained staff, and installing sophisticated security access and state-of-the-art audit systems are the cornerstones of the plans to keep the building safe.

How can you ensure nothing leaks from the NEIDL?

Because of the types of materials involved, a BSL-4 facility is one of the most carefully designed and constructed types of buildings in the world. The BSL-4 laboratory at the NEIDL will operate as a self-contained unit with its own filtration, decontamination and waste disposal systems. In addition, all critical systems at the NEIDL are being built with redundancies so that back-up units can be used in the event that primary units fail. As an example, the air that comes out of the NEIDLwill be double filtered through high efficiency particle filters and the air from the entire building will undergo additional high-level filtration. In effect, the air that leaves the NEIDL is cleaner than the air that comes in.

What kind of background checks will be required for employees at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

All staff at the NEIDL will be determined by BUMC, consistent with institutional and government-mandated regulations and standards. All employees working with Select Agents, for example, must successfully complete a federal background check and be compliant with all aspects of The Patriot Act.

How will the community be notified in the event of an emergency or evacuation at the NEIDL?

Any potential public health emergency or evacuation incident impacting residents involves notification of the appropriate local public safety officials and emergency responders who are responsible for notifications to residents concerning protective actions and evacuations. BUMC is working closely with local and state law enforcement and public health agencies and first responders and has developed a response protocol for the NEIDL that identifies a NEIDL Emergency Response Team to act as liaison to the City of Boston in the case of emergencies or evacuation procedures.

What are the community benefits from the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

Research at the NEIDL is important to public health, locally and throughout the world. It will benefit the community through development of new treatments, diagnostics and preventive vaccines against emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. The NEIDL will also have a significant local economic and community impact. More than 1,300 construction jobs have been generated. An anticipated 660 permanent jobs -- at all levels including: environmental services, lab technicians, scientists and administrative staff-- will be created as part of the facility’s operation. The NEIDL will contribute $1.9 million in job training and housing linkage payments to the City of Boston. In addition, BUMC and Boston University will continue to make Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to the City of Boston. Currently, BUMC makes PILOT payments in excess of $300,000 per year and Boston University makes annual PILOT payments of $3.2 million and tax payments of $3 million.

When will the NEIDL open and when will work actually begin?

The NEIDL is expected to open in 2009. Please visit www.bu.edu/neidl for updates on building construction and occupancy.

What other developments are planned at BioSquare ?

In addition to the existing research buildings and the NEIDL, other medical research buildings may be built at BioSquare in the future. At this time, there are no active plans to do so. Existing buildings currently house office spaces and BSL2 and BSL-3 laboratories.

I’m interested in opportunities at the NEIDL and other labs on the BUMC campus. How can I learn more about what is available?

Job opportunities are being created at all levels including positions for scientists, researches, lab technicians, administrative services and other support personnel. If you are interested in employment opportunities at the NEIDL, please send a letter of interest and curricula vitae or resume to biolab@bu.edu. Employment and training opportunities are also available on the Medical and Charles River campuses. Please visit Boston Medical Center, Boston Medical Campus and Boston University to learn more and to apply online.

In addition, CityLab Academy offers an excellent entry point for those with a high school diploma or GED that are interested in exploring career options in the field of biotechnology. Housed on the medical campus, this rich nine-month academic, life sciences and job skills training program consists of classes in Medical Terminology, Introduction to Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Biotechnology and Cell Culture Techniques. Tuition is free and includes books, calculators and bus passes for all students. For more information on CityLab Academy or to download a copy of the application, please visit www.bu.edu/citylabacademy