Member Highlights

The Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex (GHRC), headquarters of the Research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N), recently hosted a 2.5-day workshop focused on necropsy procedures in BSL-3Ag and BSL-4 level biocontainment environments. This workshop brought together 16 participants from across the network for hands-on, scenario-based training in high-containment necropsy, biosafety, and biosecurity practices. Instruction was delivered by five subject-matter experts with diverse backgrounds spanning federal research agencies and academia, with backgrounds in pathology and high-containment laboratory operations.

RAV3N is a collaborative network connecting academic and government biocontainment laboratories across the United States and Canada, established through a partnership between USDA (ARS and APHIS) and GHRC. The network is dedicated to strengthening collaboration and technical capacity among facilities working on transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and emerging zoonotic pathogens. At Texas A&M GHRC, the network is led by Dr. Kurt Zuelke, GHRC Executive Director, and Dr. Renata Landers, Program Manager. Training initiatives such as this workshop are developed in direct response to member feedback and are offered exclusively to RAV3N network members.

The workshop program was designed to build both theoretical and hands-on expertise, with a focus on species commonly used in infectious disease research across member’s institutions. Participants were trained to perform necropsies across multiple species and to collect, handle, and package diagnostic samples appropriately. They also gained an understanding of BSL-4 operational concepts, including suit systems and facility procedures. Combining classroom instruction with hands-on necropsies in poultry, small ruminants, and swine, the workshop reinforced the importance of a skilled and coordinated workforce prepared to respond to high-consequence animal and zoonotic disease threats.

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The recent RAV3N BSL‑3/BSL‑4 Facilities and Operations Workshop brought together experts from across the network for an exchange on best practices, lessons learned, and long-term sustainability of high‑containment facility operations.

Through open discussions, technical presentations and a detailed tour of NCAH facilities, this workshop provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge sharing between members and strengthened the collaboration to support operational excellence across the RAV3N Network.

The RAV3N Network held its fourth annual meeting on August 12–14 in Fort Collins, Colorado co-hosted by the Infectious Disease Research Center at Colorado State University and the USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center.

Members shared biocontainment facility updates, discussed emerging infectious disease research, and explored ways to strengthen collaboration across the network.

Thank you to all our members who attended the meeting and to our co-hosts for the support and collaboration that made this meeting a success – We are honored to work alongside all of you!

From July 15-17, 2025 in Athens, Georgia, the RAV3N Network had the pleasure of hosting a hands-on workshop that brought together members of the network to learn, share expertise, and collaborate in training for biocontainment research.

This workshop featured a hands-on activity led by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine team, who developed a "Goat Jugular Venipuncture Training Simulator", designed for BSL-3-Ag training. Participants also engaged in roundtable discussions and had the opportunity to tour members facilities: the University of Georgia, Animal Health Research Center, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. National Poultry Research Center.

Thank you to our hosts and to all participants for a great workshop! It’s exciting to see how collaborative efforts like this are advancing the future of biocontainment research training.

From June 10-11, 2025, the RAV3N Network was delighted to hold the “Decontamination & Decommissioning of PIADC Facilities Workshop”, hosted by the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC).

The 2-day workshop featured presentations about the fascinating history and mission of PIADC from over 70 years protecting the U.S. agriculture and livestock from transboundary animal diseases, as well as an overview of the Plum Island Closure and Support (PICS) Program, future transitions of the scientific mission to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, and eventual closure of the laboratory.

A special “thank you” to the Department of Homeland Security - PIADC Team for the hospitality and opportunity.

The Research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N) held for the second consecutive year a BSL-3 Necropsy Workshop, this year held at the Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex (GHRC) in College Station, Texas from May 20-22, 2025.

Over the course of 2.5-day, participants from across the network worked on increasing understanding of biosecurity/biosafety, procedures for donning and doffing PPE, handling and processing of post-mortem samples and carcass management/disposal. They also had opportunities to enter containment and perform complete necropsies on chickens, pigs, and goats, and tour the Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex.

A sincere thank you to the workshop instructors and the engaged attendees for making this a successful training, provided the feedback received from participants!