BSL-3 Practices Core

Project Summary Core 2: Biosafety Level 3 Practices The Biosafety Level 3 Practices Core (BPC) at the Laboratory of Infectious Disease Research (LIDR) includes three major components: Biosafety and emergency planning, user training and competency oversight, and select agent program management. The BPC is integrated within the LIDR program and is positioned to provide LIDR researchers from across campus with BSL-3 training and resources for working with BSL-3 pathogens. The LIDR is administered under the direction of the Division of Research, Innovation and Impact. The goals of the BPC are to facilitate and support research by offering professional user training, scientific procedural oversight, and to advise on all matters related to the scientific program including facility compliance and safety. To achieve this goal, the BSL-3 Practices Core interfaces with all aspects of LIDR, including building and facility infrastructure, security, laboratory practices, decontamination, and, importantly, the BPC oversees the compliance of the BSL-3/select agent program as well as initial and ongoing training of its users. Towards these goals, the LIDR Biosafety Level 3 Practices Core oversees compliance for working with select agents, including the LIDR Personnel Suitability and Reliability Program (PSRP). For individuals cleared for entry into the LIDR, the BSL-3 Practices Core will provide a comprehensive initial and ongoing competency-based training program, and will be responsible for certifying the readiness of all individuals for entering BSL-3/ACL-3/ABSL-3 laboratories and associated support spaces. In addition, the BSL-3 Practices Core manages emergency response planning, as well as drills, exercises and after-action reports, investigations and corrective action plans for the BSL-3 program at LIDR. To maximize efficiencies and adoption of best practices, the BSL-3 Practices Core is committed to workforce development by offering continuing education and certifications for biocontainment professionals. Further, the BSL-3 Practices Core will work closely with Core 1 and Core 3 in this UC7 project to train professional staff in the biosafety, biocontainment, and the safe operations of aerosol- generating instrumentation. The BSL-3 Practices Core interacts closely with the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Principal Investigators, the LIDR Operations Committee, and the RBL-NBL network to develop and adopt best practice standard operating procedures and conduct risk assessments for all work associated with BSL-3 pathogens. The BSL-3 Practices Core plays a central role in the pandemic preparedness and response of the LIDR to facilitate its contributions to meeting the needs of emerging infectious diseases. Overall, the BSL- 3 Practices Core enables the work performed at LIDR, and assures that the BSL-3 Cores for the Facility Operations and Research Resources can carry out their objectives for high containment research without harming themselves, the environment or community.