What is the labs function and what kind of research will be conducted at the NBAF?
The National Bio and Agro-defense Facility will bolster the nation’s ability to protect its agricultural resources and the public from biological threats. Diseases up for study at the facility include Foot and Mouth Disease, Classical and African swine fevers, Rift Valley Fever, Nipah and Hendra viruses, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis virus. Federal scientists will be charged with developing vaccines and other countermeasures to prevent and combat these diseases. A majority of the lab space at the facility will fall into the Biosafety Level 3 categories. Between 10 and 20 percent of the lab space will also be dedicated to organisms in the Biosafety Level 4 category. There are four levels of biosafety and the higher the number, the more precautions required to work in those areas. (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VARIOUS BIOSAFETY LEVELS AND WHAT THEY MEAN.
