Unique biosafety laboratory in Switzerland up and running

Collection of a high-risk sample from the sample introduction lock. Pascal Gugler - The new BSL-3 biosafety laboratory at the University of Bern Institute of Infectious Diseases (IFIK) went into operation today in the presence of Member of the Governing Council Christoph Ammann. The laboratory is located in the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (sitem-insel) building. It is nationally one of the largest and the only BSL-3 laboratory in Switzerland to combine diagnostics, research and translation under one roof. Bacteria or viruses that are highly infectious and for which no therapy or vaccination is available are examined under the strictest safety measures in a biosafety level 3 (Biosafety Level / BSL-3) laboratory. Human pathogens will be examined and researched in future in Switzerland's newest biosafety laboratory, and findings from research will be transferred into products and therapies in the spirit of translational medicine. The new biosafety laboratory at the University of Bern Institute for Infectious Diseases in the sitem-insel building was completed on time despite the corona crisis and is now going into operation as planned.