Following the events of September 11, 2001, the lack of available and adequate research facilities was determined to be a major impediment to the study of emerging infectious diseases. Important pathogens had received little research attention, and many had not been examined using the tools of modern science.
In 2003, Boston University was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to build one of two National Biocontainment Laboratories. Supporting NIAID’s newly developed research agenda, the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) represents a major step forward in advancing public health and solidifying the New England area’s reputation as the biomedical research hub of the nation.
For more history and background on NEIDL, click here.
Threading the NEIDL
NEIDL and its staff maintain its laboratories to support research in a safe and secure environment. The facility was designed and constructed with the highest level of attention to community and laboratory safety and security.
The National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) is a state-of-the-art research facility that supports the work of investigators who focus on infectious diseases that are—or have the potential to become—major public health concerns. Our research program focuses on understanding how pathogens cause disease, and is dedicated to the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments to combat these emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. The NEIDL houses biosafety level 2 (BSL-2), BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories, which are designed to permit investigators to work safely with these emerging pathogens. The NEIDL is owned and operated by Boston University, but is also one component of a national network of secure facilities that study emerging infectious diseases.
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In the News
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NEIDL Researchers Share New Insights into How Ebola Virus Interacts with Host Proteins, Aiding Search for Potential Antiviral Targets
A publication in Nature Communications describes a novel method for studying interactions that occur among protein complexes, rather than between individual proteins.
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NEIDL Researchers Collaborate on AI-Driven Approach to Identify Potential New Ebola Drug Targets
NEIDL researchers have found a new method to identify human genes that, when silenced, impair the Ebola virus’s ability to infect host cells.
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NEIDL Researcher Quoted In Washington Post on H5N1
The recent bird flu outbreak is being regarded as the largest animal disease outbreak on record, raising concerns about its potential to spark a pandemic.