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2000. THE NEW NUMBER OF CASES FELL FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT DAY. TULANE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO STUDY THE VIRUS AND BRING THE DISEASE TO OUR AREA TO DO IT. RESEARCHERS ARE CREATING A NEW PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A VACCINE AND TEST TREATMENT OPTIONS. MORGAN LENT US VISITED THE FACILITY. SHE JOINS US IN STUDIO. IS THIS RESEARCH SAFE? REPORTER: THAT’S A BIG QUESTION. RESEARCHERS SAY IT IS. THEY CAN AND HAVE DEALT WITH THESE SITUATIONS BEFORE, AND THIS ONE IS NO DIFFERENT. THEY HAD TO GET AN APPROVAL FROM THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL TO RECEIVE SAMPLES. NOW THAT THAT’S DONE, THEY SHOULD ARRIVE SOON. ONCE THE CORONAVIRUS IS ON CAMPUS, IT WILL BE STUDIED IN THEIR REGIONAL BIO CONTAINMENT LAB. IT’S EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE CORONAVIRUS AND OTHERS LIKE IT. THE DIRECTOR SAYS THEY HAVE STRONG SAFETY PROCEDURES AND COUNTLESS EXPERTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT. >> THE IDEA IS THIS FACILITY HAS UNIQUE CAPABILITIES THAT ALLOW GOOD CONTAINMENT, STRONG SAFETY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SAFETY STAFF SO THE COMMUNITY CAN MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF COMFORT AND SECURITY WITH THE WORK WE ARE DOING. REPORTER: THE IDEA OF THE PROGRAM IS TO STUDY NONHUMAN PRIMATES TO SEE HOW THE DISEASE AFFECTS US. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, NEIGHBORS HAVE MIX

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Tulane University has announced it will study the coronavirus to develop a vaccine and other treatment options.The Tulane National Primate Research Center in Covington will oversee the new program.Angela Birnbaum, director of biosafety and containment operations, said the disease will be studied in the center's Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. She told WDSU that the building is equipped for the high level containment required for diseases like the coronavirus."This facility has unique capabilities that allow good containment and strong safety procedures for the staff that are working with it," said Birnbaum. "I feel that there is not a better place to be able to study this type of virus."Birnbaum, a mother, said she understands the surrounding community might be concerned."I understand concern and I understand that I have an 8-year-old daughter at my house, and I want to ensure that I feel comfortable going home with all of the practices and procedures that I set," said Birnbaum.Strains of the disease have not been delivered to the primate center yet, but could be soon. Birnbaum said once it arrives, researchers will study how it affects nonhuman primates to determine what that could mean for people."That animal model is going to be a critical piece to moving forward in the public health response because, without it, human beings aren't going to understand how it transfers, transmits and makes people sick," said Birnbaum.WDSU talked to neighbors who live near the center. Ann Kallauner said she has mixed feelings about the research."I have two feelings about it," said Kallauner. "I think it's a good idea that the United States is doing research, but two, it's a little scary when it's in your own backyard."Birnbaum said she hopes the community will take pride in the research being done to solve a global problem."We are going to be very interested in vaccine testing and evaluation because if there's a preventive opportunity to get ahead of this virus, we have the expertise to be able to support that," said Birnbaum.