Video: MSU Researchers Talk Safety Measures While Studying Diseases

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — With the deadly Ebola virus fresh on many people’s minds, how do researchers stay safe while studying different types of diseases?

Some Mississippi State University researchers are looking to develop new methods for treating infectious diseases.

“The goal is to try to develop better treatments, or better vaccines, or better methods to cure these infections,” said Dr. Stephen Pruett, a MSU researcher. “The infections range from food-borne diseases to flu, to salmonella, streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes most of the cases of pneumonia worldwide.”

While the university doesn’t work with diseases as dangerous as Ebola, researchers still have precautions in place to keep from getting sick.

MSU has a full-time biosafety officer, and a committee that reviews every procedure.

“If a person wants to work with a BSL2 organism or higher, they have to go through that committee, and submit detailed procedures of how they’re going to work with that organism, exactly what they’re going to do, what their safety protocols are going to be,” Pruett said.

Researchers also wear lab coats, gloves, and sometimes masks for protection.

Pruett says they’re even working on updating their labs to make them safer – improving air flow, adding biological safety cabinets, and making the labs more open.

“This one will add some capacity,” Pruett said. “We’ll be able to have more people doing more of this type of work in a safe environment.”

Pruett says they hope to have the labs updated by February or March.