University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research

About the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory

Funded by a $21.6 million construction grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) occupies 20,000 square feet of the Biomedical Science Tower 3 (BST3). This lab is designed to support the basic science research components of vaccine development, diagnostics, and therapeutics for highly infectious disease agents.

In addition to supporting the Center for Vaccine Research this lab supports the Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases (MARCE). The RBL houses the nonhuman primate core of MARCE and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) research labs on a single floor, thus supporting a full spectrum of investigations from basic microbiological and immunological manipulations to challenge studies using nonhuman primates.

The RBL provides the University with advanced tools to conduct research on infectious diseases that have an impact on the health of people around the world. The lab provides advanced research capacity and facilities to bring university researchers together with government, academia, and industry scientists whose expertise is unsurpassed in the world together to develop new vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics for these pathogens.

To learn more about the RBL or to schedule an appointment to discuss research options, please submit an online request or telephone 412-624-4480.

Regional Biocontainment Laboratory Research Forms

The following questionnnaire must be completed by investigators prior to submitting grant applications that describe work in the University of Pittsburgh Regional Biocontainment Laboratory:

RBL Pre-Grant Submission Questionnaire

(Please download and save the form prior to completing it!)

The following questionnnaire must be completed by investigators after receiving funding for projects that describe work in the University of Pittsburgh Regional Biocontainment Laboratory:

RBL Pre-Project Implementation Questionnaire

(Please download and save the form prior to completing it!)