Nation's First 'Biosafety Level 3 Research Facility' Opens in Daejeon

The nation’s first ‘Biosafety Level 3 Research Facility’ opened in Daejeon.

On the 2nd, Daejeon City announced that it has established and begun operating a jointly installed and operated Biosafety Level 3 ‘Pathogen Resource Shared Research Facility’ at Chungnam National University Hospital.

The Pathogen Resource Shared Research Facility is part of the Daejeon Biomedical Regulatory Free Zone infrastructure, which began construction in October 2021 and was completed in September last year.

After four months of facility verification following completion, the facility received the nation’s first joint installation and operation approval for a Biosafety Level 3 facility from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on March 29. Chungnam National University Hospital and Daejeon Technopark are responsible for the joint installation and operation.

The research facility is equipped with three Biosafety Level 3 rooms (two ABL3 rooms and one BL3 room) and ancillary facilities such as animal breeding rooms. Starting this month, it will be fully operated under the name ‘New Infectious Disease Shared Research Institute.’

This facility, available for use by small and venture companies, will meet the research and development demands for new infectious disease therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostic devices, providing opportunities for companies to conduct rapid research and early commercialization.

Additionally, to enable proactive and effective responses to infectious diseases, the facility will operate as a demand-centered open research facility, contributing to Daejeon’s leading role in establishing a domestic ecosystem for therapeutic, vaccine, and diagnostic device research and development.

Bio venture companies designated as special zone operators, granted demonstration exemptions under the Regulatory Free Zone, can enter into usage contracts with Chungnam National University Hospital and, after obtaining approval for genetically modified organism development and experiments, participate in basic research and preclinical trials for new drug development until the end of the demonstration period in December 2024.

Even after the demonstration period ends, all bio venture companies that have signed usage contracts with Chungnam National University Hospital will be able to use the research facility and receive research support services ranging from research consultation and design to the use of the latest analytical equipment, the city emphasized.

Lee Seok-bong, Deputy Mayor for Economy and Science, said, “We hope the Pathogen Resource Shared Research Facility will become a focal point driving the technological growth of local bio venture companies,” and added, “The city will continue to provide all kinds of support so that Daejeon can lead the bio industry.”