Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL)?

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.

What is the status of construction of the NEIDL?

After years of careful planning and design, construction of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories facility was completed in 2008.

Is the NEIDL Open?

No research is being conducted with live agents at the NEIDL pending the outcome of ongoing legal and regulatory matters regarding use of the NEIDL for biosafety research.  The NEIDL will open after the completion of additional risk analyses, review of the findings by federal and state courts and subsequent receipt of the necessary local, state and federal approvals.

What is the Blue Ribbon Panel?

The Blue Ribbon Panel was created to provide scientific and technical advice to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Advisory Committee to the Director, as the agency responds to the comments and concerns voiced by the courts, the local community, the National Research Council, and the general public regarding the construction and operation of the NEIDL. Membership on the Blue Ribbon Panel comprises experts in infectious diseases, public health and epidemiology, risk assessment, environmental justice, risk communications, biodefense, biosafety, and infectious disease modeling. More information on the Blue Ribbon Panel can be found at http://nihblueribbonpanel-bumc-neidl.od.nih.gov/default.asp

What is the role of the National Research Council Committee on Techical Input in the Blue Ribbon Panel’s Process ?

The National Research Council (NRC) has been asked by the NIH to provide technical input and make recommendations regarding the characteristics of the supplementary risk assessment being undertaken by the NIH Blue Ribbon Panel. For more information on fidnings and recommendations from the NRC, visit  http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/ProjectView.aspx?key=DELS-BLS-09-01

What is the timeline for completion of the final new supplementary risk assessment?

The supplementary risk assessment is being coordinated by the NIH. The NIH website states:  

The NIH is committed to ensuring that the new supplementary risk assessment is as rigorous and comprehensive as possible. This aim requires obtaining advice and commentary from many sources throughout the risk assessment process, and hence the timeframe for conducting and completing the supplementary risk assessment is a best estimate.

The NIH anticipates that a draft version of the full report will be completed in the Summer of 2011. At that time, the NIH will seek and consider additional comments from the public before it is finalized. The estimated date of completion of the final report is late 2011 to early 2012.

Throughout the supplementary risk assessment process, the NIH continues to post periodic updates online as more information becomes available.

What type of activity or work is currently taking place at the NEIDL?

Training exercises are currently taking place with BUMC researchers, technicians, laboratory and public safety personnel, and city, state and federal safety and regulatory agencies. The training exercises  provide the opportunity to develop, test, and practice safety and emergency response procedures. These exercises also provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about how research in biosafety laboratories is carried out and about the many safety protocols in place to protect both scientists and the community from harm.

What type of research is planned at the NEIDL?

A major portion of the NEIDL project plan centers on providing comprehensive core research facilities that will enable basic, translational and clinical research and the development of products related to the emerging infectious diseases agenda. For an overview of the Research Cores and a description of the research planned, visit http://www.bu.edu/neidl/research.

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 Levels 1 through 4 (BSL-1 to BSL-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.

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 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 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 NEIDL is 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.

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.

Are there other BSL-4 laboratories around the country?

BSL-4 laboratories are sited at the following locations throughout North America:

What is the safety record of BSL-4 laboratories?

In more than 90 combined 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.

Where is the NEIDL located?

The NEIDL is located on the Boston University Medical Campus along Albany Street in Boston’s South End. Its siting is designed to support innovation in biomedical research and science and promote novel partnerships between academia and industry.

Why is the NEIDL located in 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, including 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 have never had an environmental release or community incident. The NEIDL has been built to incorporate and improve upon the operating procedures based on this history of best practices and government standards.

What kind of background checks are required to work at the NEIDL?

All staff at the NEIDL is determined by Boston University Medical Campus, consistent with institutional and government-mandated regulations and standards. In addition, all employees working in the NEIDL undergo a comprehensive background check which may include review of  criminal background, financial history, and psychological testing.

What systems are in place to guard against malicious use of pathogens by scientists working inside the NEIDL?

Scientists and researchers hired to work at the NEIDL undergo a rigorous background check that includes, among other things, psychological testing and a review of their financial history. In addition, state-of-the-art audit systems built into the design of the NEIDL, such as use of the two-person rule in the BSL-4 lab and iris scans to access certain areas, help ensure proper oversight and monitoring of pathogens.

Who provides oversight of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

The NEIDL is owned, operated and managed by Boston University. In addition, various local, state and federal agencies oversee the operations and research at the NEIDL. Click here for a list of these.

How will BUMC ensure first responders have the expertise and training necessary to respond to an incident at the NEIDL?

In November 2008, nearly 400 first responders, including representatives from Boston’s Emergency Medical Service, Fire and Police, Inspectional Services Department, Public Health Commission, Homeland Security, Transportation Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health participated in a series of orientation sessions organized by the Boston Public Health Commission. During the sessions, no research was conducted and live research agents were not used at the NEIDL.

In addition, training exercises with BUMC researchers, technicians, laboratory and public safety personnel and, city, state and federal safety and regulatory agencies are currently taking place. These training exercises provide the opportunity for scientists and city, state, and federal agencies to develop, test, and practice safety and emergency response procedures. The training period also provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about how biosafety research is carried out and about the many safety protocols in place to protect both scientists and the community from harm. While the ongoing legal and regulatory matters regarding use of the NEIDL for biosafety research continues, no research is being conducted with live agents at the NEIDL.

How can the community monitor what is studied at the NEIDL?

Community participation is important to success at the NEIDL. The governance structure for the NEIDL consists of several committees including a six-member Community Liaison Committee (CLC) to promote public participation and transparency during construction and operation of the lab. CLC members provide outreach and feedback to facilitate information flow between the NEIDL and the community.

In addition, all research on the medical campus, including the NEIDL, requires approval from appropriate committees and regulatory agencies. These 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.

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

All public health emergencies or evacuation incidents impacting residents involve notification of the appropriate local public safety officials and emergency responders who are then responsible for notifications to residents concerning protective actions and evacuations. Boston University Medical Center works closely with local and state law enforcement, 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 is the community benefit from the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories?

Research at the NEIDL is important to public health, both locally and throughout the world. It will benefit the community through development of new treatments, diagnostics and preventive vaccines against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The NEIDL had a significant economic and community impact during the construction phase. More than 1,300 construction jobs were created. 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.

What other developments are planned at BioSquare?

In addition to 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 at BioSquare currently house office spaces and BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.

How can I learn more about available employment and training opportunities?

Employment opportunities at the NEIDL are being created at all levels, including positions for scientists, researches, lab technicians, and administrative and support services. 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 of  Boston University and at Boston Medical Center Boston Medical Center. In addition, CityLab Academy offers an entry point for those with a high schoolor or General Equivalency Diploma that are interested in exploring career options in the fields of biotechnology and biomedical science. Housed on the Boston University Medical Campus, CityLab Academy is a rich nine-month academic, life sciences and job skills training program that consist 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.bumc.bu.edu/citylabacademy

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