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BBSRC National Centre of Virology The Pirbright Institute and CL4 Facilities Dr Mike Johnson Head of Estates SRO Development Programme Slide 2 A Brief, Terrifying History of Viruses Escaping From Labs: How well-intentioned research with dangerous pathogens could put people at risk. The Ebola Strain Links African Outbreak To A Lab Escape CDC Closes Labs After Anthrax, Bird Flu, Smallpox, and Who Knows What Else Escaped New lab incidents fuel fear, safety concerns in Congress Bio-Unsafety Level 3: Could the Next Lab Accident Result in a Pandemic? Threatened pandemics and laboratory escapes: Self-fulfilling prophecies Pirbright lab told to improve safety over foot and mouth UNWANTED HEADLINES! Slide 3 Reviews Series of Reports and recommendations re the future of the Pirbright facilities - HSE (2007) - Spratt (2007) - Callaghan (2007) - Anderson (2008) - House of Common Review (2008) - Beringer (2008) - H&S Biosecurity (2014) Rebuild the Pirbright facility.fit for purpose Slide 4 In 2001 there was a major FMD outbreak event in the UK .. Cost 8B+ Formative idea of a National Centre for Virology including relocation of science from VLA Weybridge.2005 Pirbright Site Redevelopment Plan 2007 another FMD outbreak: 200M focus on the infrastructure of the Institute. Requirement. Slide 5 NEW OLD Transition projects building assurance Drainage Slide 6 OLD NEW Transition projects Interim Laboratory Slide 7 OLDNEW Transition projects Effluent Treatment Slide 8 Science strategy: work on viruses only : extend to interface between animals and humans and work on zoonotic agents. Design of Plowright building CL4 containment facility All the features: HVAC/pressure cascades, Effluent treatment, sealability, generic labs flexibility CL3 labs on GF East- ACDP3 agents Science Strategy - Design Slide 9 The Big Change project: Plowright Building August 2010 construction started 2009 Slide 10 The Big Change project: Plowright Building Slide 11 Slide 12 Slide 13 Slide 14 The BBSRC National Virology Centre The Plowright Building Jan 2014 Slide 15 Acknowledgements