Philipps University Marburg lays foundation for new high-security biosafety laboratory

Philipps University Marburg has begun construction on the Marburg Centre for Epidemic Preparedness (MCEP), a high-security biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory set to open by the end of 2026. The new BSL-4 lab is one of few facilities worldwide equipped for this level of advanced virological research. It is intended to provide scientists with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology needed to continue the university’s longstanding research into high-pathogen viruses and epidemic/pandemic preparedness.

With approximately 400 square meters of laboratory space, construction of the MCEP will cost an estimated €46 million, with funding coming from the German federal government (€19 million) and the state of Hessen (€27 million).

The complex design of the high-security facility is a “building within a building” for maximum safety. It will be built adjacent to the existing BSL-4 lab, which has operated incident-free for nearly two decades but has reached its capacity due to the substantial increase in demand. The university needs to create more space for new technologies and more staff working in these highly specialized and secure conditions.

The lab’s design follows stringent safety regulations and standards, ensuring staff and environmental protection. All work areas are designed to maintain critical systems during technical disruptions. The research will occur in a containment area where researchers wear full protective suits with an external air supply. The facility also helps protect the environment by generating renewable energy from photovoltaic modules on the roof and facades.

At a recent ceremony to lay the foundation stone, Hessen Minister of Science Timon Gremmels stated that epidemic research and prevention are essential in an era marked by global health crises. The MCEP will help strengthen society’s resilience to future epidemics.