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SEBLAB investigators prioritize research on NIAID priority pathogens. Focus areas of particular strength include: SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, post-viral 2° infections, dimorphic fungi, Candida auris, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The safety records at BSL-3 labs have been outstanding through the years. Safety is the first concern when developing these facilities, both for the environment, and for the scientists who will be working in the labs, who are at greatest risk. Therefore, a variety of measures are built into the facilities to protect the people involved.

• The labs have negative air pressure; meaning air is pulled into the room and not blown out. Air that exits the lab is filtered through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate area) filters that are 99.99% efficient against bacteria and viruses.


• Alternative power and water sources are provided in case there is a rare event that the primary sources of either are disrupted.


• The interior surfaces of the lab such as walls, floors, and ceilings are constructed for easy cleaning. Bench tops are impervious to water and are resistant to moderate heat and the cleaners used for decontaminating the work surfaces and equipment.


• No glass containers are used in the lab, reducing the chances for breakage or contamination.


• Workers in the BSL-3 laboratory change from street clothes to scrubs to perform their laboratory work. When they are done, they remove the scrubs and shower in an adjacent room before exiting the facility. These measures prevent bacteria or viruses from exiting the lab.


• Safety for the researchers is paramount. They undergo extensive training and receive appropriate vaccinations. There is no risk of person-to-person transmission when researchers utilize gloves, masks, gowns, etc. All researchers receive training precautions that must be taken to ensure their safety.

Work with risk group 4 pathogens is not allowed at SEBLAB. New investigators seeking to work on risk group 3 pathogens should contact  biosafety@uab.edu to communicate with a UAB biosafety officer.

Yes, investigators from outside of UAB can work in SEBLAB. All investigators must be in compliance with UAB training and medical requirements. Research proposals need to be reviewed and approved by the UAB Biosafety officer. Please contact the SEBLAB Director for more information.

The internal regulatory committees that approve and monitor research work in SEBLAB include the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IBC is responsible for reviewing all projects involving risk group 3 pathogens, recombinant DNA, and potentially infectious materials, etc.. The IACUC reviews and approves all ABSL-3 research protocols involving vertebrate animals.

Southeastern Biosafety Laboratory Alabama Birmingham (SEBLAB) at UAB is one of 12 regional biocontainment laboratories (RBL) funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). SEBLAB’s mission is to provide a safe and cutting-edge research infrastructure to support the development of novel and timely medical countermeasures (drugs, vaccines, diagnostics) to emerging microbial threats as well as provide surge capacity for state and regional public health responses to bioterrorism emergencies, outbreaks, and pandemics. At UAB, this world-class research building and infrastructure offers the unique educational training and opportunity to make innovative research discoveries with significant local, regional, national, and global implications on human health.