Lab Biosafety Committee to review biological research proposals

Contact: Nancy Ambrosiano, nwa@lanl.gov, (505) 667-0471 (02-073)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., June 19, 2002 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory's Institutional Biosafety Committee will meet 10 a.m. Tuesday (June 25) in the Los Alamos Medical Center basement conference room.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and view a related poster session with additional information on biological research projects.

Among the proposals the IBC will review is one to support national security-related research involving analysis of DNA from bacterial samples. This research requires the Laboratory to request additional registrations with the Centers for Disease Control to work with Biosafety Level 2 "select agent" pathogens.

The Institutional Biosafety Committee provides a safety review and must approve any proposed new work with biological materials prior to any final institutional authorization for the work.

"Los Alamos' assistance to federal agencies in the recent anthrax incidents has demonstrated the value of the Laboratory's unique capabilities and expertise for rapid analysis of pathogens," said Bioscience Division Leader Jill Trewhella. "The proposed new work will more fully utilize our existing BSL-2 capability to evaluate forensics and diagnostic tools and put them into the hands of law enforcement and public health officials to aid in their investigations."

The new work requires DNA analysis, but the samples received could contain residual, active organisms. After completing extraction of the DNA, researchers will sterilize all remaining sample materials to ensure destruction of any remnant organisms.

Laboratory staff will handle samples according to applicable federal safety requirements for BSL-2 organisms. BSL-2 safety standards are comparable to those found in a dentist's office and involve gloves, lab coats and masks.

The organisms for which Los Alamos intends to request CDC registration are Bacillus anthracis (in addition to the Ames strain of B. anthracis for which the Laboratory already is registered), Yersinia pestis, and species of Brucella.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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