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K-State Dedicates Biosecurity Research Institute Building Kansas State University dedicated its new 113,000-square-foot building, Pat Roberts Hall, today. By Marissa Heflin Kansas State University dedicated its new 113,000-square-foot building, Pat Roberts Hall, today. The building, which is named after U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, will be home to K-State’s $54 million Biosecurity Research Institute. The biosafety level 3 facility will give researchers a place to study pathogens and pests that threaten animal and plant-based agricultural systems, as well as develop intervention strategies to minimize impacts on the nation’s food supply and economy. “The pace of globalization has increased dramatically over the last few decades and projections are that the trends will continue,” said Jim Stack, institute director. “People and goods move over greater distances in shorter periods of time than ever before. With these people and goods move pathogens and insect pests. As a result, populations of hosts—humans, for example—pathogens and vectors are mixing at greater frequencies resulting in the emergence of new diseases and the geographic redistribution of recurring diseases. The pace of the world has quickened; disease detection, diagnosis and response must keep pace.” Stack said that the institute is unique among biocontainment research facilities because researchers will evaluate actual processing conditions and determine if there are safer methods, and they will be able to look at the plant or animal all the way to the product. Researchers will also be able to develop rapid and accurate diagnostic tools to manage disease outbreaks. Work in Pat Roberts Hall will include infectious diseases, especially diseases that affect or could threaten the state’s livestock industry; research on pathogens that harm the state’s food crops; exploring food and meat processing methods to bring safer foods and meats to consumers; general research on mechanisms animals use to ward off infectious diseases; and education and training capabilities in both agricultural and human health fields on containing a disease outbreak, either from an unintentional source or from a terrorist. It is anticipated that research within the building will begin in January. |
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