Univ. of Hawaii to Build Biocontainment Lab

HONOLULU – The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded the University of Hawaii a grant of nearly $25 million for the construction of a regional biocontainment laboratory.

The lab will conduct biodefense and emerging infectious disease research.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said Friday in a news release issued by his Washington office that the grant is important to the university, the state and the entire nation.

“The research that will be done at this regional biocontainment laboratory will be vital to developing the shields and a coordinated response to biological and chemical attacks and emerging infectious disease threat that may possibly occur in Hawaii or the United States in the future,” Inouye said.