Biosafety level 4 laboratory in Marburg

When emerging viruses cause severe diseases, the rapid development of vaccines and antivirals against these pathogens becomes critical. Some newly emerging viruses are very dangerous and necessitate the highest of biosafety levels for research and development purposes. DZIF scientists have a biosafety level (BSL) 4 laboratory at the Philipps-Universität Marburg’s at their disposal where they can test the efficacy of emergency vaccines and immune responses to these vaccine candidates, amongst other things. Their findings form an important basis for further studies. The Marburg researchers have been involved in clinical trial testing of vaccines against the Ebola virus and the MERS coronavirus.