The CISA High Biosafety Laboratory was created in 1993. This Center is located in Valdeolmos (Madrid) and depends on the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), dependent on the CSIC. This facility has Biological Containment Level 3 (NCB-3 according to the World Health Organization and 4 according to the World Animal Health Organization) and has 40 laboratories and common rooms, as well as 19 animal stays designed to house various species, from fish to horses. It allows animal experimentation and research on highly transmissible and high-impact diseases in both animal and public health (zoonosis).
Two of the CISA laboratories are authorized to carry out research and development work with exotic high-risk viruses that could affect humans (NCB-3+, the highest in the national territory). In total, these facilities cover an area of 10,824 m2.
The mission of CISA is the study, prevention and control of infectious and exotic diseases of the Spanish livestock and wild fauna, participating very actively in the technological development of diagnostic and control systems. To this end, it develops and promotes research in animal health at the highest scientific level and participates as a support laboratory for national reference laboratories under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
