Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

Login Options

9:13 a.m. • 2-11-12

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Mostly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 50° F
  • Sun: Clear.
    • Hi: 41° F
  • Mon: Mostly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 50° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Marketplace Links

Social Links

Main Menu

War on Bioterrorism Being Fought in Duke Facility


e-mail print friendly
War on Bioterrorism Being Fought in Duke Facility
War on Bioterrorism Being Fought in Duke Facility
A new building on the Duke University campus is not your average research facility. It is meant to keep trespassers out and deadly microbes in.

The Global Health Research Building is the first of 13 facilities to open across the country, each funded by the National Institutes of Health. Their mandate is to respond to research needs for the country related to multiple emerging infections or biological threats.

"The building was built to the highest standards of bio-containment, exceeding many of the standards for this type of research," said Dr. Richard Frothingham, director of the Global Health Research Building. "Things like tuberculosis, anthrax, plague, tularemia would then be handled here and the cells would be sorted in live fashion."

Most of the deadly microbes can spread through the air so air flow is tightly controlled. Air flows into, not out, of bio-safety labs where the pathogens are studied. Layers of germ-killing filters ensure that no germ leaves the building. Even lab mice cages are hermetically sealed.

"Once it's removed from the rack, there's no air coming in or out of this cage," Frothingham said.

What researchers learn could lead to new drugs to treat infected people or vaccines to prevent infection. Scientists are looking for ways to more rapidly develop vaccines for emerging strains of Avian flu, West Nile virus or SARS.

The labs where the dangerous germs will be studied will be operational by April.

RELATED TOPICS: Duke University, Durham

e-mail print friendly

1 Comment


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments 1 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
Anyone here ever read White Plague by Frank Herbert

View Comments 1 COMMENTS
advertisement