Mark Wainberg CL2/3 Biocontainment Facility

The Mark Wainberg CL2/3 Biocontainment Facility is a secure, spacious, and well-equipped multi-unit core facility located on the fourth floor of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI). This facility is licensed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and provides highly controlled biosafety laboratories for the study of infectious human pathogens, adhering to the highest safety standards defined by Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines. It holds certification for handling Risk Group 2 and Risk Group 3 pathogens, specifically HIV-1 and HIV-2 under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act.

The facility is designed to accommodate virology research projects, with a primary focus on HIV viruses, including clinical isolates and recombinant forms. It also supports the manipulation of other Level 2 viruses such as SIV, Dengue virus (serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4), Zika virus, and HSV-1. Research activities conducted within the facility include the isolation of viruses from patient samples, transfection of recombinant forms, and ultra-centrifugation of virus preparations. The facility is available to LDI researchers, affiliated collaborators, and external researchers on a fee-for-service basis, with a dedicated coordinator overseeing training, guidance, and adherence to standard operating procedures.