Laval | INRS inaugurates a secure laboratory to handle dangerous viruses

–

Stephanie Marin
The Canadian Press

This level 3 containment laboratory, commonly called the “NC3”, is a kind of “sealed box” located at the Center Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB) of the National Scientific Research Institute (INRS), in Laval. .

It will make it possible to perform in vitro experiments on several high-risk pathogens under infectious conditions similar to those of the diseases they cause – while being safe.

Without this high-security laboratory – all the air in and out of it is filtered, preventing aerosols that may contain viruses from escaping – no way for researchers to do their work in such close to real conditions. .

The laboratory was made possible thanks to an investment of nearly $ 300,000 from INRS.

It will do a lot of things, including researching potential treatments for COVID-19, or trying to determine why some variants are more contagious than others.

Among the work that will be carried out there, the INRS highlighted those relating to the therapeutic efficacy of a bank of molecules for the treatment of COVID-19 and those that will study the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – that of causing COVID-19 – on the functions of the placenta.

“To react quickly in times of pandemic, we must work upstream,” said specialist in molecular virology Laurent Chatel-Chaix, director of this NC3 laboratory and also professor at INRS.

This most recent level 3 containment laboratory inaugurated in Quebec is located in the heart of the biotechnology city of Laval: it will make possible international collaborations and also with private companies, underlined Claude Guertin, director of the AFSB center.

“Access to a containment level 3 laboratory accredited by the Public Health Agency of Canada is one way to remain leaders in fields such as virology and immunology. ”

–