Research alliance for veterinary science and biodefense BSL-3 network (RAV3N): report on network origin and phase I activities

Authors: HUNT, CARRIE - Texas A&M University; LANDERS, RENATA - Texas A&M University; SPENDLER, JESSICA - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States; Motroni, Roxann; Clavijo, Alfonso; ZUELKE, KURT - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Antiviral Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2023
Publication Date: 8/18/2023
Citation: Hunt, C., Landers, R., Spendler, J., Motroni, R.B., Clavijo, A., Zuelke, K. 2023. Research alliance for veterinary science and biodefense BSL-3 network (RAV3N): report on network origin and phase I activities. Antiviral Research. 217. Article 105693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105693.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105693

Interpretive Summary: Recent disease events have heightened awareness for the need for collaboration between the nation’s public health and veterinary infectious disease communities to improve preparedness for current and future biological threats. To address this need, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (USDA NBAF) has partnered with Texas A&M University through its Global Health Research Complex (TAMGHRC) to establish the Research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N). As a collaborative network of U.S. university and federal BSL-3Ag/BSL-3/BSL-4 laboratory research facilities, the objective of RAV3N is to establish strategic and coordinated approaches for harnessing collective large-animal biocontainment infrastructure and research capacity to improve bio-surveillance, diagnostics, and countermeasure development against high-consequence pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance. Here, we describe the origin and development of RAV3N and summarize the proceedings of its first membership meeting held in 2022.

Technical Abstract: Recent disease events have heightened awareness for the need for collaboration between the nation’s public health and veterinary infectious disease communities to improve preparedness for current and future biological threats. To address this need, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (USDA NBAF) has partnered with Texas A&M University through its Global Health Research Complex (TAMGHRC) to establish the Research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N). As a collaborative network of U.S. university and federal BSL-3Ag/BSL-3/BSL-4 laboratory research facilities, the objective of RAV3N is to establish strategic and coordinated approaches for harnessing collective large-animal biocontainment infrastructure and research capacity to improve bio-surveillance, diagnostics, and countermeasure development against high-consequence pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance. Here, we describe the origin and development of RAV3N and summarize the proceedings of its first membership meeting held in 2022.