December 4, 2020

A look inside Stanford’s expanded Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) lab

University photographer Andrew Brodhead takes us inside Stanford’s expanded Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) lab. This type of lab is capable of handling microbes that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

By Andrew Brodhead and Taylor Kubota

With the aim of enhancing research on SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, Stanford University has expanded its Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) lab. This type of lab is capable of handling airborne microbes that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease. The BSL3 is administered by the Innovative Medicines Accelerator, a part of Stanford’s Long-Range Vision that is designed to help faculty generate and test new medicines to slow the spread of disease.

In late August – before the lab was officially up and running – Joe Buonomo, a postdoctoral research fellow in chemistry, and Arjun Rustagi, a postdoctoral medical fellow in infectious diseases, showed Stanford News photographer Andrew Brodhead what work in the BSL3 lab would look like. Now, the lab is fully operational and researchers there are working with SARS-CoV-2.

A typical lab bench setup in the Biosafety Level 3 lab.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Joe Buonomo, a postdoctoral research fellow in chemistry, and Arjun Rustagi, a postdoctoral medical fellow in infectious diseases, don personal protective equipment before entering the lab. Buonomo is testing his powered air-purifying respirator for flow. Rustagi is also adjusting his air-purifying respirator, which features a different design.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

In preparation for entering the Biosafety Level 3 lab, Buonomo and Rustagi wear personal protective equipment, including wraparound gowns, disposable pants, gloves, shoe coverings, face protection and respirators.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Here, Buonomo looks at a plaque assay plate, which is used to determine how much virus is in a sample.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Taking cells out of the incubator, Rustagi holds a cell locker, which maintains and quarantines infected cells.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Rustagi, showing how he would infect cells inside the biosafety cabinet – an enclosed, ventilated workspace that allows scientists to work safely with pathogens.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Still working inside the biosafety cabinet, Rustagi puts cells back into a cell locker.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Buonomo pauses for a portrait as he moves cells from the biosafety cabinet to the incubator, while Rustagi remains working inside the biosafety cabinet in the background. Rustagi explained that this is a typical “buddy system” best practice for safety: One person handles work in the biosafety cabinet and the other handles work outside the biosafety cabinet; they switch off occasionally to avoid excessive fatigue.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

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