CDC publishes investigation report, warns Texas A&M of indefinite ban

By: Stephanie McMillen

Posted: 9/5/07

Texas A&M University will not be allowed to resume biodefense research after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a federal investigation in July on the University's failure to report lab workers who were exposed to dangerous biological agents in 2006.

The CDC published a 21 page agency report on Aug. 21 outlining the week-long investigation and warning that the University won't be allowed to resume biodefense research until it is sure campus labs are safe.

Eddie J. Davis, interim president of Texas A&M, said that when the CDC officials came in July they were very appreciative of the cooperation that was given to them.

Since April, CDC officials have been investigating an A&M student researcher, who was exposed to Brucella, while cleaning a lab cage, and three researchers, who were exposed to Q fever, both of which are CDC-listed bioterrorism agents.

The University could face a funding suspension or up to $500,000 in fines for failing to report the cases. The University will not know if any such penalties will be imposed until the inspector general at the U.S. Health and Human Services Department publishes a separate report.

The University admitted that it failed to properly notifying the CDC of the cases involving infectious agents, conducting experiments in unapproved labs, and for allowing unauthorized lab workers to use the agents.

The University has taken steps toward improving laboratory safety, research and documentation since the investigations began.

The recently vacated position of vice president of research was filled on an interim basis by Jim Calvin, who was previously the associate vice president for research.

A&M hired Claudia Mickelson, a bio safety expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to serve as a consultant for select agent research and to monitor safety techniques.

Davis said he wants them to help improve the actual documentation techniques to make sure the University is always reporting what is required by Sarbanes-Oxley (Public Company Accounting Act) and the CDC.

"We need to always be improving our safety procedures surrounding ongoing activity," Davis said. "Procedural issues need to be monitored closely, we need to pay attention to access credentials, clothing the workers are wearing, entry procedures, everything."

A&M recently lost its bid to construct the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a $450 million national defense lab, though federal officials said the decision was not based on the A&M security breaches.