O Brazil announces investment of BRL 1 billion in Orion laboratory, an innovative maximum biosafety (NB4) research center. This scientific project is part of the R$ 7.89 billion budget of the Federal Government's New PAC earmarked for science.
Last Friday (11), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) announced that the new laboratory complex will be built in Campinas (SP), at the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM).
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Public investment will create the only maximum biological containment laboratory in South America. According to CNPEM, only 60 laboratories operate in the maximum biosafety category in the world.
Orion: get to know Brazil's biosafety complex
Orion's security structure is designed to search for viruses and other serious biological agents, such as ebola, hemorrhagic fever and SARS-Cov-2 (Covid-19).
“The pandemic has placed at the center of the debate the importance of national ownership of a productive base in health, as well as the role of the State in coordinating agents and investments in facing the health crisis", said Minister Luciana Santos to the G1.
Therefore, the site will be responsible for research, vaccines and treatments of pathogens that can cause serious diseases or that have a high degree of transmissibility.
Another innovation of Orion is that it will be the only structure in the world to use a synchrotron light source, Sirius.
(Image: CNPEM/Reproduction)
Orion Laboratory has a unique structure in the world
With around 20,000 square meters, the biosafety research center will have, as mentioned above, the capacity to research viruses and other serious biological agents.
From basic research to advanced analysis, Orion will be a laboratory that will train professionals, relying on international partnerships and specific safety training.
In 2021, the new complex was already being planned. At that time, former Minister Marcos Pontes defended that Orion would be the necessary structure for the country to face future pandemics, such as COVID-19.
Thus, the laboratory would be the place to develop scientific solutions for Brazil. Likewise, with the New PAC in 2023, minister Luciana Santos reinforced that:
“The implementation of the level 4 biosafety laboratory is strategic for the country. The connection between the NB4 and the synchrotron light source will open up great opportunities for research and development in the area of pathogens, positioning Brazil as a global leader”.
