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On December 29, 2004, the University of Washington applied for a $25 million grant from NIH to construct a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory.
To engage the community in a discussion about a RBL in the vicinity, the University set up a number of public forums and attended community meetings to discuss what types of research would be conducted in the facility and what types of safety and security measures are present in RBL's. Three public forums were conducted on February 23, March 1 and April 11, 2005.
The information gathered from the public forums, as well as views and ideas conveyed to the University through electronic or written means, were given to the President in the form of a report on May 12 (see Public Outreach Report). In addition, the Provost appointed a working group that was charged with looking at three options for potential sites. They considered the pros and cons of on campus development sites, off campus sites and status quo. The "status quo" would be to continue to do research needing biocontainment lab level 3 facilities in the Health Sciences Center. The working group report on site selection was completed on May 23 (see Siting Committee Report)
NIH began its review of grant applications in May of 2005 and will inform the grant applicants of their status in the summer or fall of 2005. During their review process they will consider many factors including the results of the Community Outreach Plan for a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory.
Following a review of the Public Outreach and the Siting Committee reports, the President wrote a follow-up letter to the Siting Committee Co-Chairs outlining the decision making process moving forward (see June 7 Letter from President Emmert to Siting Committee Co-Chairs).
Based on the information in the President's letter, his decision on whether to recommend to the Board of Regents that the University proceed with the project will not be made until later this summer or early fall, assuming all of the questions outlined in his letter have been answered.
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