A special space has been opened at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdansk (UG) and the Medical University of Gdansk (GUMed), where research into coronavirus and tick-borne encephalitis virus will be conducted. 

“This space is dedicated to studying the structure, function and spread of highly pathogenic viruses. This means that, in the event of future pandemics, we will be able to study such viruses in safe conditions”, says the dean of the interuniversity faculty, Dr Ewelina Król, Professor UG.

There are a number of safeguards in place in the laboratory, including a separate sewage treatment plant, special entry sluices and sterilisation chambers, or the requirement to wear specialised suits. These and other elements determine the biosafety level (BSL stands for Biosafety Level) of the laboratory. The new space at UG and GUMed has been classified as BSL-3+ (on a scale of 1 to 4). A BSL-4 laboratory does not yet exist in Poland.

Read more: https://ug.edu.pl/news/pl/6401/najnowoczesniejsze-w-polsce-laboratorium-bsl-3-ukonczone