Pacific Regional Biosafety Lab

Announcement: PacRBL Public Information Meeting at John A. Burns School of Medicine, June 25, 2008

Aloha and welcome to the Pacific Regional Biosafety Laboratory (PacRBL) website. Here, you’ll find general information about the PacRBL, project updates and information and links to our project partners.

The University of Hawaii at Mānoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) is developing the PacRBL in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The PacRBL will be part of a national network of regional labs devoted to research and detection of emerging infectious diseases. Twelve similar labs have been funded by NIH to be constructed at universities across the United States to protect the nation against natural or intentional biological threats and promote global health.

At the PacRBL, researchers will work to develop rapid and more accurate diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. This work is especially vital, given Hawaii’s position as the gateway to the U.S. from the Asia-Pacific region and the state’s vulnerability to the introduction of exotic pathogens given our geographic location and the high frequency of travelers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

This website is intended to keep the community informed and involved as plans for the PacRBL continue to evolve. Please visit our site often and contact us if you have questions, concerns or need additional information. Suggestions on how to improve this website are always welcome.

For general information contact:
Tina Shelton , Director of Public Affairs, John A. Burns School of Medicine. Ph: (808) 692-0897

For research and scientific information about the PacRBL lab contact:
Dr. Duane Gubler, PacRBL Director. Ph: (808) 692-1606

For construction, design or environmental assessment related information contact:
Keith Mattson, PacRBL Project Manager. Ph: (808) 956-6985