Creating a World-Class Center for Virology ResearchThe Dedication of the John R. Flanagan Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory On Thursday, June 26, the Division of Infectious Diseases hosted the dedication of the John R. Flanagan Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory. The largest high containment virology laboratory of its kind in Chicago, the space provides a new center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine for researchers to examine bacteria and viruses that threaten severe to fatal disease in humans with no existing treatment options, such as SARS, West Nile virus, and tuberculosis. An investment analyst with a forty-year career on LaSalle Street, John Flanagan has a long history of giving to Northwestern University. An alumnus of the Kellogg School of Management, Mr. Flanagan made a $2.5 million gift to fund the laboratory after learning from Robert Murphy, MD, John Philip Phair Professor of Infectious Diseases, of the medical school’s initiative to build a high-level virology laboratory. Recalling his commitment, Mr. Flanagan remembered that Dr. Murphy called him from Rio de Janeiro personally to say “thank you.” The dedication of this state-of-the-art space was led by J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean at Northwestern University. Dean Jameson was joined by Steven Wolinsky, MD, Samuel J. Sackett Professor of Medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Murphy, faculty researchers, and family and friends of the guest-of-honor, Mr. Flanagan, including his niece, Kathleen, her husband, Ralph McCarty, and their daughter Mary Katherine. Guests were treated to lunch and comments from Drs. Jameson, Wolinsky, and Murphy, as well as Mr. Flanagan, before the ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the lab. The Flanagan BSL3 Laboratory is a critical partner to the Drucker Family Foundation Laboratory for Virology Research, a floor-wide space for four principal investigators and a total of approximately 80 research personnel. Describing the laboratory as unique and vital to the success of the research effort, Mr. Flanagan acknowledged the importance of immunology research in emerging global health. Located on the ninth floor of the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, the Flanagan BSL3 Laboratory is a highly-regulated, secure laboratory. A BSL4 is the highest designation for these types of laboratories, usually reserved for top national security bio-defense projects. Photo Credit: Jim Ziv
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