Tufts Dedicates Regional Bio Lab
Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine dedicated its $33.7 million New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory this morning with local, state and school officials on hand.
The lab will study diseases that can be passed from animals to humans and is part of the school's North Grafton campus in the Grafton Science Park. School officials hope it will attract businesses to the park's 100 acres of available land.
The lab is 41,000 square feet and has created 56 full-time equivalent positions in design, development and construction as well as 29 long-term positions for scientists, research technicians and other staff.
"This lab is an extension of the state's research infrastructure and the anchor for the new science park," said Lawrence Bascow, Tuft University's president.
The lab is commissioned by the National Institutes of Health and is one of 13 labs of its kind in the country. The university received a $23.1 million grant for the lab from the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Last week, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awarded the lab a $9.5 million grant.
Susan Windham-Bannister, the center's president and CEO, said the grant will cover all equipment for the lab's insectary, where live insects will be studied so new ways can be found to prevent and treat diseases that insects spread to humans.
The regional labs are the federal government's answer to the 2001 anthrax scares, which led to the creation of a national biodefense program.
The lab is also available for use by scientists from academic, non-profit organizations and private companies in the region.
Greg Bialecki, state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, said the laboratory is an example of a larger focus by the state on science, technology and innovation.
The school has put in place many security features including on-site police, alarms that are monitored 24-hours a day, bulletproof glass at the entrance, iron fencing and no windows in the actual lab areas. All personnel will have photo identification access cards and undergo FBI background checks and fingerprinting.
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