BSL-3 Laboratory

Many investigators at the USF College of Medicine are pursuing studies involving the use of microscopic organisms that may present serious health risks to humans and animals. To accommodate these investigators, the USFCOM has developed a BSL-3 Laboratory. This facility is designed to contain these agents and prevent their transmission, resulting an a safer environment for all individuals.

BLS-3 stands for Biosafety Level 3, and refers to one of 4 biosafety classifications designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the higher numbers representing increasing levels of risk that specific pathogens can present to humans. Exposure to pathogens labeled as BSL-1 presents no risk of infection to humans, whereas exposure to BSL-4 pathogens carries a high mortality rate. For further biosafety information available from the CDC, see http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/biosfty.htm

The USFCOM BSL-3 Facility has been operational since October 2006, and is a Core laboratory operated by the COM Office of Research. Principles Governing the BSL-3 facility were established in June 2006. A BSL-3 subcommittee of the COM Core Facilities Committee (CCFC) was established to make recommendations to the Associate Dean for Research on all issues pertaining to the facility. For the 2006/07 academic year, this subcommittee is composed of Drs. Burt Anderson (Chair), Peter Medveczky, and Shyam Mohapatra.

For the 2006/07 year, the Office of Research will provide a 'basic' level of support for the facility, and each facility user will be charged an annual fee of $1,000. If increased services are desired, the annual fee may be readjusted.

For further information about the use of this facility, please contact: