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MEMPHIS — The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis has completed a new laboratory for research on infectious diseases and bioterrorism.
Professor Gerald Byrne, the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory director, says the lab will help develop new vaccines and antibiotics.

“Our facility has specialized equipment for rapid testing of new compounds,” he said.
Researchers will also study why some people are more susceptible to certain diseases than others.

Research is already under way on cholera, tularemia), SARS and multi-drug resistant pathogens, including tuberculosis.

The 30,315-square-foot facility is a “level 3” biocontainment lab, one of 13 across the country supported by the National Institutes of Health as part of its Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases project.

The level 3 designation refers to pathogens that could be transmitted through the air, Byrne said.

Because of the potential danger the facility requires very specialized air handlers to make sure researchers and the surrounding community are safe.

“This is a way to do research in infectious diseases and emerging infections with the highest level of safety,” he said.

The lab is first building in the planned 1.2 million square foot UT Baptist Research Park that will also house a new College of Pharmacy building as well as private biotechnology offices and laboratories.

Byrne said he hopes the university-run lab will be able to provide specialized services like drug testing for private companies in the area.

The research park is a project of the nonprofit Memphis Bioworks Foundation, which seeks to support and expand the biotechnology industry in the city.

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