Biosafety Level-4 Laboratories in Europe: Opportunities for Public Health, Diagnostics, and Research

Summary of Findings and NextSteps The experience with the existing BSL-4laboratorynetworks[2]hasbeenvaluableinfacilitating information and resource shar-ing, scientific exchange and training, andorganizing external quality control assays;the result of the 2-day conference held in2010 [7] was a consensus on some key issuesthat have represented a new starting pointfor the future of the fight against HIDs: N Sustainability. Limitations in fund-ing together with the risk of prolifer-ation of new facilities in Europe andNorth America pose the question oftheir long-term sustainability. Resourc-es need to be identified for themaintenance of their diagnostic capa-bility, training, and research. In par-ticular, funding should be provided tocontinue the implementation of inter-laboratory collaboration, including co-ordinated quality control assays,training,andprofessionaldevelopment. N Biosafety and Biosecurity. A bet-ter interaction between biosafety pro-fessionals and researchers should beencouraged, as well as the adoption ofpolicies and practices that are evi-dence-based. A consensus should befound to allow the exchange of valu-able samples or reagents betweendesignated high containment facilities,and formal agreements addressingsecurity issues should be establishedbetween European countries to allowthe exchange of researchers, and togrant access to BSL-4 laboratories toscientists from countries where thereare no such facilities.