Regional Biocontainment Laboratory

The University of Pittsburgh Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) was officially opened September 24, 2007. The laboratories are an integral component of the Center for Vaccine Research (CVR), the umbrella institute that acts as the hub for host-pathogen interactions in the university. Funded through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) the Pittsburgh RBL is part of a national network of fourteen biocontainment laboratories. This network focuses on developing countermeasures, such as vaccines, antibodies, and small molecules, to address the impact of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases of global importance. Pandemic preparedness lies at the center of the vision of CVR scientists.

A unique facility containing Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) laboratories.  The facility houses dedicated environments for aerobiology, imaging and immunopathology.

The University of Pittsburgh has consistently been ranked among the top 10 in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding during the past decade, and the CVR at the University of Pittsburgh brings together scientists from varied disciplines with a common goal of investigating the pathogenesis and immunology of emerging infectious diseases and biodefense pathogens.

The CVR investigators conduct research on BSL-3 Category A, B, and C priority pathogens that have an impact on the health of people around the work.