May
2009 DMID Council-Approved Concepts
NB: Concepts represent early planning stages for PAs, RFAs, or solicitations for Council's input. Council approval does not guarantee that a concept will become an initiative.
If NIAID publishes an initiative from one of these concepts, we link to it below. For a full list of initiatives, go to NIH Funding Opportunities Relevant to NIAID.
Table of Contents
National Biocontainment Laboratories Operations Support
Request for Applications
Contact: Nancy Boyd
Phone: 301-402-8585
Internet: nboyd@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To provide operational support for the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Boston University (BU) National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBL), enabling them to develop and maintain resources and facilities necessary to meet national, regional, and local biodefense and emerging infectious diseases research needs.
Description: Operations at the NBLs will be supported through cores in five areas, including:
Facility Maintenance and Operation -- Provides high containment operational management monitoring and oversight; routine facilities maintenance and upkeep of the physical plant that supports the high containment space including a preventative maintenance plan for all BSL4 equipment and systems; non-routine emergency repairs of BSL4 equipment and systems; and specialized training for facilities personnel working in and around BSL4 space and associated building systems.
BioSecurity -- Ensures compliance with all evolving legislation and regulations related to control of select agents; devises and directs relevant staff training activities; develops and implements prospective BSL4 staff screenings and background checks; assists in planning for required biosecurity drills; and manages inventory and access to select agent inventories. Components of a laboratory biosecurity program include physical security, personnel security, material control and accountability, transport security, and information security.
Environmental Health and Safety Regulations and Requirements -- Provides critical health, safety, and training services; maintains consistency in biosafety and biocontainment practices; provides biosafety theory education and hands-on training; and leads registration, record keeping, and administrative activities of the select agent program. Continuously maintains and monitors the integrity of the BSL4 containment areas; provides expertise in areas of primary containment operations, maintenance, and certification; leads decontamination, retesting, and certification of BSL4 containment facilities; and maintains the capability to respond to potential emergency events and establishes a plan for the orderly shutdown and decontamination of containment due to weather or other events.
Regulatory Compliance -- Provides oversight and coordination of all research functions that require compliance with regulatory statutes and guidelines for the purpose of supporting product licensure, promoting accuracy and integrity of any data generated in such studies; conducts relevant GLP compliance training for core directors and key staff; develops policies and procedures pertaining to GLP research; and provides advice and oversight for equipment procurement and facility commissioning activities.
Integrated Research Support Service -- Specialized services essential to support BSL4 research activities such as veterinary, imaging, insectary, and aerobiology services. These services are not expected to fully support research projects thus requiring the NBLs to develop and implement cost reimbursement business models to fully fund BSL4 level research projects involving these services.
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