Rutgers RBL Mission & Objectives
A world-class research facility that
- advances the nation's preparedness against infectious diseases by furthering studies of agents linked to bioterrorism and/or naturally-occurring outbreaks under the safest possible operating conditions;
- supports research objectives of scientists at NJMS, greater Rutgers campuses, and the NIH Region II, Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
- attracts talented researchers to New Jersey in the form of new faculty, visiting scientists, biotech companies and students;
- provides laboratory support capacity, which can be utilized during a regional or national infectious diseases emergency.
Background
The 2001 anthrax outbreak highlighted national research and infrastructure deficiencies that restricted our ability to understand and counteract highly transmissible infectious diseases. It also reinforced the need to develop and test countermeasures in the form of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics against naturally occurring agents causing local epidemics or pandemics, such as H1N1 influenza or agents used as weapons of bioterrorism. To address the critical infrastructure issue, the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases established two National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBL) and 13 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories (RBL). Rutgers was awarded a $25 million grant from NIH in 2003 to help construct a ~35,000 GSF advanced research facility (RBL) intended to be an extension of the International Center for Public Health (ICPH). The ICPH houses an extensive program on infectious diseases including agents of bioterrorism and one of the most comprehensive programs on tuberculosis in the world.
RBL Laboratory
- Designed by CUH2A (Princeton), the new RBL is an annex of the International Center for Public Health (ICPH), a specialized facility for infectious diseases research at New Jersey Medical School
- 3-story facility of ~35,000 GSF consisting of two research floors and one operation/utility floor
- Adds >9000 NSF of BSL3 support space, which augments >5000 NSF of BSL3 space in ICPH
- Air-handling and mechanical systems are dedicated and redundant for maximum safety
RBL is newest addition to ICPH
