The overall goal of this project is to maintain the high containment research resources (infrastructure and facilities) required to conduct research that will facilitate the next generation therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines for infectious diseases. The Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a part of the NIAID Biodefense Facilities Network and provides maximum containment research facilities for NIAID funded investigators and other researchers, as appropriate. Additionally, the GNL is prepared and available to provide facilities and support to first line responders in the event of a public health emergency. To achieve this goal, the GNL maintains six cores focused on supporting maximum containment research facilities: 1) Administrative Core; 2) Facility Operations and Maintenance Core; 3) Biosecurity Core; 4) Environmental Health and Biosafety Regulations and Requirements Core; 5) Regulatory Requirements Core; and 6) Veterinary Support and Preclinical Services Core.

National Biocontainment Laboratories Operational Support ensures the availability of maximum containment laboratories for research that will develop the next generation of therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines for infectious diseases that can pose a public health risk. It also ensures that high containment labs are available in the event of a public health or bioterrorism emergency. This support is essential due to the high cost of building and maintaining laboratories that protect researchers, ensure the biosecurity of dangerous pathogens, and safeguard the communities where these laboratories are located.