Why is the lab called a “biosafety” lab?
This laboratory is one of several Level 3 Regional Biosafety Labs being created across the country through a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases plan to better protect Americans from biological threats. This plan calls for more research aimed at diagnosing illnesses caused by biological agents and developing treatments, vaccines and cures. It does not call for developing biological weapons, which is not permitted under international law. Regional biosafety labs are now being built at 13 universities. University of Hawaii will be the westernmost regional lab. Others will be built at the University of Chicago, University of Missouri at Columbia, Duke University, Tulane University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Pittsburgh, University of Tennessee at Memphis, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Newark, Colorado State University, Tufts University and George Mason University.
