The Chronicle of Higher Education: Colloquy

Neighborhood activists and some academic scientists in Boston are trying to stop Boston University from building a $178-million laboratory to study emerging infectious diseases. Besides the safety risks, they say that the lab and other similar federal facilities are draining money and talent from more-pressing public-health problems. Boston University officials and other supporters say that the city, with its booming biotech industry, is the ideal place to build the lab and that the research will enhance scientists' overall understanding of the immune system. Is the federal government devoting too many resources to bioterrorism research? Should labs like the one proposed in Boston be built in highly populated areas? Read more ... (6/25/2004)

First, I would like to preface by stating that I will
be joining the BU staff on August 1st 2004. As for the
question of the bio lab at BU, I feel fortunate to
soon be working for a University who is on the cusp of
understanding the importance of defending against the
inevitable next round of bioterrorism attacks in the
US and abroad. However, I would rather wholeheartedly
support the actual construction of the level 4 bio lab
in a much more secluded area within the state of
Massachusetts.

Let us get serious. I am so tired of people who have two agenda points:

1. Keep all research outside of my back yard

2. Oppose all research that doesn't fit in with the fads I favor.

Getting people who are willing to work where your lab is located is a real pain if you don't put the lab in a research university area.

As for public health, emerging infectious diseases are a terribly important public health issue.

Sheesh. Too bad anon again disbanded, we'd have a great time with this thread.

I grew up in Atlanta and went to College at Emory University, both near the location of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While living in Atlanta, I do not recall any significant concerns or discussion over the operation of the CDC. I have not lived there full-time since 1975. However, since that time, I have followed numerous stories and read many articles referring to work at the CDC relative to smallpox, AIDS, anthrax, and highly infectious diseases including Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers.

It would be interesting to know of residents of the Atlanta area have had any concerns during these intervening years.

I now live and work in the Boston area. My comfort level of living and working near a facility like the CDC or the proposed BU lab remains high for now.

Stephen Nodvin

The federal government is devoting TOO LITTLE resources to bioterriorism research if you ask me. I also grew up in Atlanta and don't see such an effort as being detrimental to a city whatsoever. It's not about a single city, but about a nation. That is what is important. Let's remember that. Labs should be built in highly populated areas because that is where they will need to be functioning in the case of a bioterrorism attack. That is the reality of the situation.

The battle over a bioterrorism lab in Boston