# Stony Brook University Laboratory for Comparative Medicine to Support Pandemic Preparedness

> **NIH NIH G20** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2022 · $2,933,079

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Laboratory for Comparative Medicine (LCM) at Stony Brook University is a recently constructed, state-of-
the-art animal biosafety level 3 (ABSL3) facility. The LCM is actively engaged in basic, translational, and
preclinical research on SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent of the current COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Research
in the LCM serves multiple individual investigators and groups, both within and outside of Stony Brook
University, and includes commercial as well as academic interests. Stony Brook has a long history of
excellence in microbial pathogenesis research, including studies on pandemic potential viruses of concern in
the families Coronaviridae (SARS-CoV-2), Bunyavirales (Hantaviruses), Flaviviridae (Dengue, Zika, and
Powassan viruses), and Picornaviridae (Poliovirus). Stony Brook virologists are also conducting ongoing
studies in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Influenza A Virus. Our research over the past five years has
covered three different RNA virus families relevant under the American Pandemic Preparedness/pandemic
preparedness effort, and our cumulative experience covers four of the viral families of concern. In addition to
viruses of concern, active research at Stony Brook and in the LCM includes work on the highly virulent
bacterial agents Rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group, Francisella tularensis, a Select Agent and cause of
the zoonotic disease tularemia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agent of tuberculosis. To improve
facility operations and enhance ongoing and future research in the LCM, we are requesting four upgrades to
the LCM: 1) Replacement of the high temperature hot water unfired steam boilers and conversion of the high
temperature and hot water systems; 2) Purchase and installation of a washer for animal cages and racks; 3)
Purchase and installation of a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and custom biosafety enclosure; and 4)
Acquisition of a real-time, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR machine. The requested upgrades will
support and improve pandemic preparedness-relevant research in the LCM, advance studies on highly virulent
and emerging pathogens, and provide enhanced resources not only to Stony Brook researchers, but also to
State and regional efforts to combat current and future pandemic threats. The requested improvements will
support the development of antiviral programs and antimicrobial preventive and therapeutic measures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10611662
- **Project number:** 1G20AI174708-01
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** David G Thanassi
- **Activity code:** G20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,933,079
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10611662

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10611662, Stony Brook University Laboratory for Comparative Medicine to Support Pandemic Preparedness (1G20AI174708-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10611662. Licensed CC0.

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