San Antonio "hot zone" lab works with world's deadliest diseases

Inside the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, experts are working with the world's deadliest diseases in hopes of finding treatment for them.

"You have in your hand, a tube on Ebola virus that without the precautions is highly lethal but once you're in the lab, you're focused on the task at hand," said Ricardo Carrion, Jr., Ph.D, Professor, Director of Maximum Containment Contract Research.

A team of about 35 scientists suit up to enter The Biosafety Level 4 lab. Protective safety gear is critical. A positive-pressure suit coves their body from head to toe.

"You have to prepare your whole day around going into the BSL4 including hunger and thirst," said Hilary Staples, study compliance manager at Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

The Biosafety Level 4 lab is one of only five in the United States and the only one to have a primate research center on it's campus.

"It gives us the advantage that we can move further in development in drugs and vaccines because we can do research that requires testing in nonhuman primates," said Professor Jean Patterson.

The Biomed team works on researching a number of infectious diseases. Right now, the San Antonio team is working to assist in a major Ebola outbreak in Africa.

"It's happening right now so currently, there's an outbreak in Africa and these vaccines and therapeutics are being deployed there currently," said Carrion.

The research not only helps Africa treatment centers but also American troops, travelers and overall public health.

"It can very quickly, because of air travel, cross countries and boundaries so we are looking to protect primary responders, our military as they're deployed to these areas and as well as people in Africa who may be part of outbreaks," said Carrion.

The San Antonio-based center is having an impact worldwide.

"The team that we have established here in San Antonio is making a big difference in our national security by being able to develop these vaccines and therapies against agencies," said Carrion.