Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) Upgrade for Colorado State University (CSU)

Project Summary / Abstract The funding and implementation of this supplement is essential to maintain uninterrupted research and scholarly activity in CSU’s Rocky Mountain Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RMRBL). Research activities that occur at the RMRBL directly address the RBLs’ missions to respond to and prevent global infectious disease threats. Our efforts are the evolution of over 4 decades of research conducted at CSU predominately sponsored by NIAID, and includes interdisciplinary research teams studying Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Bunyavirales, Coronaviridae viral pathogens along with robust programs in mycobacteria, anti microbial resistance, and vector borne bacterial pathogens. The RBL is integral for this infectious disease research, training and other scholarly activities. The RMRBL recently benefitted from a G20 award specific to much needed modernization and infrastructure upgrades. However, these investments continue to be needed due to the complexity and high use of this facility. Here, we add to the Specific Aims of our parent G20 award to continue to make critical investments to improve our biosafety, animal modeling, and imaging research needs.