General Secretariat of Brazil's Ministry of Defense Visits GNL

On Nov. 27 and 28, staff from the GNL hosted Colonel Marciley Thadeu Cartaxo da Costa, a military advisor to the Brazilian Department of Defense, escorted by Major Aaron Spence of the US Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Colonel Cartaxo was in the United States to meet with personnel involved in all aspects of BSL4 design, construction and operations in advance of the construction of new BSL4 labs in Brazil.  Major Spence served as his US Army Escort.

The duo received an overview of the GNL’s scientific program and participated in discussions with key personnel on topics covering all aspects of high containment research, biosafety training, facility engineering, security concerns, mechanical operations, and maintenance programs. 

In addition, the guests spent a morning learning about the training program for working in containment, met with students and staff from Brazil, and visited the Biocontainment Care Unit located adjacent to the emergency room at the Jennie Sealy Hospital on the Galveston campus.

Participants from the GNL included Dr. Gary Kobinger (science), Dr. Miguel Grimaldo (engineering), Dr. Tom Ksiazek (BSL4 specifics), Dr. Andrew Kocsis (veterinary care and animal management), Mr. Bryan Fisher (information security), and Ms. Connie Holubar (community outreach and collaboration development). Ms. Corrie Ntiforo and Ms. Nikki Ward hosted the guests at the biosafety training center, and Dr. Corri Levine and Dr. Susan McLellan hosted them at the Biocontainment Care Unit.

Another group of professionals working on Brazil’s planned BSL4 labs will arrive in Galveston on Dec. 13 to focus on architectural planning and laboratory design.  The GNL has worked with labs around the world to help ensure best practices in laboratory safety and operations.