{"doi":"10.47328/ufvbbt.2024.220","title":"Enhancing biosafety management and governance: a comprehensive assessment of high-containment biological laboratories in Brazil","abstract":"High-containment biological laboratories are crucial in preventing and addressing high-risk infectious diseases, encompassing human and animal health. This comprehensive study presents an in-depth analysis of such laboratories in Brazil, covering their quantity, distribution, infrastructure, scope, regulatory compliance, and associated challenges. From a preliminary list of 92 presumed high-containment biological laboratories in Brazil, a total of 66 laboratories from 54 institutions currently operating under characteristics of a biosafety level 3 facility were identified, with 32 participating in the current research by responding to a comprehensive questionnaire. Key findings indicate a lack of official data, emphasizing the need for a National Biosafety and Biosecurity Policy and a strategic plan to assess and optimize the functionality and distribution of these facilities across the country. The study revealed that many high-containment biological laboratories may not comply with essential biosafety and biosecurity standards due to the absence of a national regulatory framework specifically addressing these issues. Furthermore, the sustainability of these laboratories is often jeopardized by financial constraints, particularly those associated with operational costs not covered by research grants. The establishment of a centralized system for laboratory oversight, akin to models in the US and Canada, emerges as a crucial recommendation. Such a framework would ensure standardized practices, facilitate sharing resources and information, and enhance Brazil’s overall biosafety and biosecurity culture. In conclusion, the study advocates for urgent reforms in Brazil’s approach to managing high- containment biological laboratories, including the development of a robust regulatory framework, enhanced government oversight, and the promotion of a strong culture of safety and security within the scientific community. These measures are deemed essential for safeguarding public and animal health and ensuring the country is equipped to address current and future biosecurity challenges. Keywords: High-Containment Biological Laboratories; Biosafety and Biosecurity; Regulatory Framework. Risk Management in Laboratories; Laboratory Sustainability; National Biosafety and Biosecurity Policy; Capacity Building in Biosafety; Biocontainment Facilities; Laboratory Oversight and Governance; Biorisk Management System.","journal":"LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)","year":2024,"id":491549,"datarank":0.0,"base_score":0.0,"endowment":0.0,"self_citation_contribution":0.0,"citation_network_contribution":0.0,"self_endowment_contribution":0.0,"citer_contribution":0.0,"corpus_percentile":null,"corpus_rank":null,"citation_count":1,"citer_count":0,"citers_with_citation_signal":0,"citers_with_endowment":0,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_dataset_confidence":0.794,"is_data_producer":false,"deposit_databanks":null,"is_oa":true,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"2024-01-01","fair_score":null,"fair_percentile":null,"algorithm_id":"datarank_citation_only_1hop_v6","ranking_scope":"data_only","authors":[{"id":1337508,"name":"André de Oliveira Mendonça","orcid":null,"position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":172,"raw_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-07-19T02:08:45.247225Z","pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"fair_f":null,"fair_a":null,"fair_i":null,"fair_r":null,"fair_zscore":null,"fair_rationale":null,"fair_model":null,"fair_agent_version":null,"fair_fulltext_source":null,"fair_has_llm":null,"fair_computed_at":null,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}