# NERBL Core 2:  BSL-3 Practices

> **NIH NIH UC7** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 2024 · $1,117,915

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – CORE 2
The broad, long-range objectives of Core 2 (Biosafety Level 3 Practices ) for the New England Regional
Biosafety Laboratory (NERBL) are to ensure that research or tasks directed to promoting research on or
responding to pathogens of pandemic potential, and other emerging infections (PPP/EI), are safely, efficiently,
and rigorously accomplished. Research conducted in biocontainment relies on trained personnel with
adequate knowledge to safely work in both laboratory and vivarium spaces. Although the Tufts institutional
biosafety and environmental hygiene programs provide periodic general training to all NERBL staff, this is not
standardized and much of the project specific instruction is administered by individual PIs or associated staff.
As such, knowledge regarding practices and procedures is uneven across the NERBL staff resulting in lack of
depth with respect to skills required for operating specific technologies or working in certain biocontainment
settings. There is also no regular plan for staff re-training to maintain basic competencies which impacts
familiarity with activities that are not routinely performed. Together, these limitations have constrained the
scope research activities routinely undertaken in the NERBL. To address this gap, Core 2 will focus on
developing and maintaining a team that possesses core competencies in biocontainment work,
spanning the practices and procedures for general BSL3 laboratory and vivarium research as well as
for that of building operations. Such instruction will cover essential skills in biocontainment management,
principles of emergency and incident response, best practices for safe operation of equipment and
performance of procedures, use of newer technologies, as well as animal husbandry and welfare in
containment. Specifically, we will optimize biosafety and biosecurity practices and procedures, standardize
emergency and incident response/life safety trainings, implement best practices trainings across the NERBL
and coordinate the Select Agent program. Although staff from Core 2 will lead the trainings, all NERBL staff
will regularly participate in this effort. Additionally, we will employ a train-the-trainer approach within Core 2 to
enhance depth of expertise and expand capacities for process improvement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10910226
- **Project number:** 5UC7AI180310-02
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sam R Telford
- **Activity code:** UC7 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,117,915
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-18 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10910226

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10910226, NERBL Core 2:  BSL-3 Practices (5UC7AI180310-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10910226. Licensed CC0.

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