NEIKER inaugurates its new biocontainment laboratory facilities and strengthens research into animal health

The NEIKER technology centre, located on the Zamudio/Derio Campus of the Basque Country Technology Park, has inaugurated its new level 3 biocontainment laboratory (NCB3) facilities, following a comprehensive refurbishment that has increased its capacity and reinforced safety and energy efficiency standards.

This infrastructure allows for the safe investigation of pathogens that require high levels of biosafety. Its laboratories study agents responsible for diseases that affect livestock and which, in some cases, can be transmitted to humans, such as animal tuberculosis, avian influenza and Q fever.

The opening ceremony, presided over by Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, was also attended by Amaia Barredo, Basque Government Minister for Food, Rural Development and Fisheries; and Olatz Unamunzaga, Director General of NEIKER, as well as representatives from scientific institutions and key players in the Basque livestock sector.

Before the institutional ceremony, a guided tour of the new facilities was conducted, during which the main technical advances incorporated were presented and the role played by these laboratories in the surveillance, control and prevention of animal diseases was explained, as well as their contribution to strengthening the animal health research network in the Basque Country.

200 m2 more space and new collaborations

The refurbishment has resulted in an expansion of 200 square metres, with the reorganisation of the spaces to create five independent laboratories, an animal facility with four rooms for small species, four boxes for large animals, a necropsy room and technical areas, all adapted to the latest animal welfare standards.

This new configuration also expands the possibilities for cooperation with other research groups and companies. ‘These facilities are particularly valuable for pharmaceutical companies in the veterinary sector, which need to test prototypes on large animals in safe conditions,’ Garrido emphasised.

The improvements also include redundant and optimised critical systems, which increase the safety and reliability of operations, as well as the incorporation of geothermal energy in the air conditioning system, which improves energy efficiency and contributes to the more sustainable operation of the facility.

Thanks to these efforts, the facility not only expands its research and collaboration capacity, but also reinforces the Basque Country’s position as a leader in animal health and biosecurity. This institutional support was reflected during the opening ceremony, which was attended by Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, accompanied by the Director General of NEIKER, Olatz Unamunzaga, as well as representatives from scientific institutions and the main players in the Basque Country’s livestock sector.