The Galveston National Laboratory

James Le Duc (former director)

How U.S. policies can foster research environments that enable collaborations around the world—Focus on Biosecurity space
 Located in the Heart of UTMB Campus

GNL MISSION:

To assist the NIAID and the nation by

conducting basic and applied research
designed to improve the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of naturally
emerging and purposefully
disseminated infectious diseases.
 The GNL: A National Resource
• Opened November 2008, BSL4 went
hot in 2010

• Project cost: $173.6 million

NIH: $115 million
State of Texas : $58.6 million

• One of 2 national labs with BSL4

capabilities on a university campus

• GNL is built to withstand a Category 5

hurricane, and there are detailed
hurricane and emergency
preparedness plans in place
Biosafety Levels BSL2 – BSL4

BSL-4 (Ebola, Marburg,

Nipah, Crimean Congo
BSL-3 (COVID-19, SARS, MERS, Drug
Hemorrhagic Fever)
resistant TB, Zika, West Nile Virus)
Biosafety Training at UTMB

UTMB has a mock training laboratory

on campus where staff and students
receive biosafety training that allows
them to progress from BSL-2 through
BSL-4 and to train on in vitro and in
vivo techniques.

Independent access to BSL-4 comes

only after the trainee has completed
the Biosafety Training program
(classroom and hands-on training)
and received 100 hours of mentored
training inside the BSL-4 lab with a PI.
 • One entire floor in the GNL is a filtration
floor. These filters assure that the air
that enters and leaves the building is
clean.
• Approximately 1,424 HEPA filters in the
GNL are used to accomplish this task.

Department Name Goes Here HEPA Filters

 BSL-4 Breathing Air

• Compressed air is pumped into breathing air hoses to the “space

suits” worn by BSL-4 investigators.
• We have compressed air tanks that assure that even if we
experience a lost in compressor function that air will still flow to
researcher’s suits.
• Highly technical environment; engineering staff needed to support
• Extremely expensive to maintain and operate
Department Name Goes Here
 BSL-4 at UTMB

Over 12,000 sf of BSL-4 and ABSL-4 space in the

Galveston National Lab

An average of 90 individuals with independent BSL-4

access

The Shope BSL-4 Lab within the GNL/Keiller complex

is also used for regulated/GLP studies

A robust cadre of integrated services, including

insectaries (BSL-2 through BSL-4), aerobiology,
imaging, assay development and veterinary
support

Department Name Goes Here

 “All of Government” Oversight of
Biosecurity for Infectious Disease Research
DHHS—
• CDC select agent program (w/ USDA)
• NIH—Funds research
• FDA—Regulates products
DOJ—screens individuals for SAP
DOC—export control
DOD—Security related research/funding
DOS/USAID—Funds int’l research; visas
Collaborations with dozens of universities both
nationally and internationally.
>50 BSL4 biocontainment labs around the world.
Pharma/Biotech industries involvement in product
development for global applications Projects also funded by foundations, private individuals and
philanthropic organizations.
Case Study – China: Wuhan Institute of Virology
Case study—China: Wuhan Institute of Virology

• Recently constructed BSL4 lab in Wuhan, managed by the Chinese Academies of Science

• US-China dialogue began in 2015, facilitated by NASEM/CAS

• GNL and WIV Directors jointly published an editorial in

Science (Oct. 19, 2018)

“Network for safe and secure labs”

Dr. James Le Duc and Dr. Zhinming Yuan

Case study—China: Wuhan Institute of Virology
• WIV Post-Doc working in GNL BSL4 research; completed biosafety and mentored
laboratory training and achieved independent BSL4 access.

• She returned to WIV and helped establish a comprehensive BSL4 training program.
Note from Jan. 2021 “I am very glad to tell you that I was selected as the expert member
of the National Biosafety Review Committee of the Microbiology and
Biomedical Laboratories for Human Infectious Diseases in 2021. I
would like to thank you and UTMB for providing me the opportunities
to participate the valuable and extensive biosafety training in aspect
of theoretical, hands-on, and facilities, and learn the biological
containment laboratory knowledge! These excellent experiences in
UTMB will help me to better serve the public health, safety, research
and development in my country.”
Case study – Turkey: Marmara University
Case study—Turkey, Marmara University
• Collaborative research on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (BSL4)

• Turkish DVM/PhD worked at GNL, completed all training and earned independent BSL4
access
• Extensive studies both in Turkey and at GNL

—tick vector studies/field collections

Case study—Turkey, Marmara University
• Returned to Marmara University and established
national training program modeled after UTMB,
including translating lesson plans.

• Currently
• Head, Biosafety and Biosecurity MSc Program (regional engagement)
• Head, Basic Medical Sciences Department
• Marmara University, Health Sciences Faculty
• Vice Director, Marmara University Institute of Health Sciences

• Additional collaborations with Vanderbilt University to obtain specimens from CCHF

survivors.
Making an Impact on Global Health
Preclinical validation of Ebola vaccine (now licensed) completed at GNL

Regulated preclinical studies to validate human monoclonal antibody treatments for filoviruses, others

Crimean Congo HF research with Turkish scientists; Collaborations on MERS vaccines and treatments with
Saudi Arabia, Taiwan Important global network

Education of international students in best practices in biosafety, biosecurity and containment operations

Continued involvement with countries building or operating BSL4 labs (training for scientists and engineers)

Collaborations and training results in building highly specialized national capacity otherwise not available

Fosters continued collaborations—transparency in high containment lab activities

Scientific diplomacy—facilitates ongoing dialogue, ideally independent of national politics

Overall: Builds trust; Advances science; Furthers biosafety and biosecurity; Facilitates communications