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Principal Investigator: JAY RAPPAPORT
Organization: TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $2,842,544
Funding agency: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) is one of seven National Primate
Research Centers (NPRCs) dedicated to conducting nonhuman primate (NHP) research with the
goal of improving human health. With a primary focus on infectious disease and biodefense
research, the TNPRC is only NPRC with a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) at
Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) for the study of high-consequence pathogens, including select agents
and toxins. The Tulane University RBL, which came online in June 2010, has been critical for
advancing research at the TNPRC and across the region on biodefense agents and emerging
infectious diseases, with a primary focus on in vivo studies using NHPs. Since its inception,
significant infrastructure projects have been completed to capitalize on the presence of the RBL
and grow and diversify research at the TNPRC. In recent years, and particularly with the onset of
the COVID-19 pandemic, the TNPRC RBL has expanded its capabilities and capacity to
accommodate BSL-3-level emerging pathogen and biodefense research. The overarching goal
of the proposed project is to strategically enhance and fortify BSL-3 research capabilities within
the TNPRC RBL to ensure the long-term success of this program in support of infectious disease
and biodefense research and countermeasure development. This will be accomplished through
the following Specific Aims: (1) Ensure agility of the TNPRC RBL response to emerging public
health concerns and threats by leveraging the robust research infrastructure and unique research
strengths of the TNPRC and implementing exceptional preventative maintenance processes that
allow for best practices, quality control, and extensive safety oversight for work with high-
consequence pathogens. (2) Provide formal structure for sharing of best practices for safety,
research procedures and facilities management with partners and other RBLs. (3) Coordinate
practices and procedures across the Biodefense Facilities Network to leverage the strengths of
all 12 RBLs; ensure efficient and effective cross-training and sharing of methodologies, SOPs,
and best practices; and coordinate and advance infectious disease and biodefense research and
countermeasure development nation-wide.
Terms: <BSL-3 facility><BSL3 facility><COVID crisis><COVID epidemic><COVID pandemic><COVID-19><COVID-19 crisis><COVID-19 epidemic><COVID-19 era><COVID-19 global health crisis><COVID-19 global pandemic><COVID-19 health crisis><COVID-19 pandemic><COVID-19 period><COVID-19 public health crisis><COVID-19 years><CV-19><Communicable Diseases><Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019><Dedications><Development><Emerging Communicable Diseases><Emerging Infectious Diseases><Ensure><Equipment><Fortification><Funding><Goals><Grant><Health><Human><Infectious Disease Pathway><Infectious Diseases><Infectious Disorder><Infrastructure><Laboratories><Maintenance><Methodology><Modern Man><NIAID><NIH><National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease><National Institutes of Health><Operative Procedures><Operative Surgical Procedures><Primates><Primates Mammals><Procedures><Process><Public Health><Quality Control><Research><Research Infrastructure><Resource Development><SARS-CoV-2 epidemic><SARS-CoV-2 global health crisis><SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic><SARS-CoV-2 pandemic><SARS-coronavirus-2 epidemic><SARS-coronavirus-2 pandemic><Safety><Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV 2 epidemic><Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV 2 pandemic><Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 epidemic><Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic><Structure><Surgical><Surgical Interventions><Surgical Procedure><Toxin><Training><United States National Institutes of Health><Universities><Work><Workforce Development><animal colonies><animal colony><base><bases><biocontainment facility><biocontainment lab><biocontainment laboratory><biodefense><biosafety level 3 facility><coronavirus disease 2019><coronavirus disease 2019 crisis><coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic><coronavirus disease 2019 global health crisis><coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic><coronavirus disease 2019 health crisis><coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic><coronavirus disease 2019 public health crisis><coronavirus disease crisis><coronavirus disease epidemic><coronavirus disease pandemic><coronavirus disease-19><coronavirus disease-19 global pandemic><coronavirus disease-19 pandemic><coronavirus infectious disease-19><developmental><emerging pathogen><germ free condition><improved><in vivo><medical countermeasure><new pathogen><non-human primate><nonhuman primate><novel pathogen><operation><operations><pandemic containment><pandemic control><pandemic disease preparedness><pandemic mitigation><pandemic planning><pandemic preparedness><pandemic readiness><pandemic response><pathogen><programs><response><safety practice><severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 global health crisis><severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 global pandemic><specific pathogen free><success><surgery>