Technology & Infrastructure

IPK employs dynamic robotic platforms for high-throughput / high-content screening of chemical libraries and RNAi collections. Our fully-automated robotic platforms are located in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories suitable for most pathogens and biological research. The identified candidates from the screening is further developed in chemical laboratories to have more drug-like properties by SAR, toxicity, and lead optimization studies and their in-vivo efficacy is evaluated through animal experiments in the exquisitely controlled animal laboratory, ABSL-2, and ABSL-3.

BIOSAFETY LEVEL 3
LABORATORY (BSL-3)
BIOSAFETY LEVEL 2(+)
LABORATORY (BSL-2)
CHEMICAL LABORATORY
ANIMAL LABORATORY,
ABSL-2, ABSL-3

BIOSAFETY LEVEL 3 LABORATORY (BSL-3)

Certified with the approval of Korea Center for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC, currently KDCA) in March, 2009 (Reconfirmed in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021) (KCDC-09-3-03)

Designed to handle risk group 3 pathogens such as M. tuberculosis, avian influenza virus infecting humans, SFTSV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV

Screening Platform in BSL-3: Opera and Operetta

330m² space with airtight room under independent air supply, and exhaust air handling units with bubble tight backdraft damper installed at HEPA filter box, cooling and heating system
15 biosafety cabinets, 3 double door autoclave steam sterilizers for decontaminating waste and 2 Isocage systems (36 cages/system)
BSL-3 decontamination tank to sterilize cooling water from autoclaves, functional eye washer and shower room
24-hour monitoring at the main control room and BSL-3 monitoring room
Visual monitoring of room temperature, humidity and differential pressure
Access control and management system with card key
Activation of audible and visible alarm system both inside and outside of laboratory area and text message alert system when the facility operation fails

BIOSAFETY LEVEL 2(+) LABORATORY (BSL-2)

Registered to Korean Ministry of Science and ICT according to the Act on Transboundary Movement of Living Modified Organisms of Korea

Designed to handle risk group 2 pathogens such as influenza virus, HBV, HCV, leishmania, T. cruzi and S. aureus.

310m² space with 10+ laboratories including anteroom
HEPA filtration applied in the exhaust air handing units
Visual monitoring of room temperature and differential pressure
Hands-free hand washing sinks, waste water treatment facilities to treat waste water from sinks
29 biosafety cabinets and high-pressure steam sterilizers for sterilization of waste
Access control system with card key
Screening Platform in BSL-2: Opera, Operetta, and Cell Explorer

CHEMICAL LABORATORY

Equipped with a synthesis facility that minimizes exposure of experimenters to harmful chemical vapors and dust

Has analytical equipment necessary for compound synthesis, separation and structural analysis

462m² space with carbon filter units to reduce emissions from chemical agents and 12 fume hoods each having independent exhaust fans and ducts
Inner-ventilated chemical safety cabinets for both flammable and inflammable chemicals
Indoor hazardous-material storage installed
25.19m² space of storage room for dangerous substances

ANIMAL LABORATORY, ABSL-2, ABSL-3

Composed of specific pathogen-free laboratory (SPF), animal biosafety level 2 laboratory (ABSL-2) and animal biosafety level 3 laboratory (ABSL-3) with individual ventilation system for each cage

445m² space under AHU unit with pre & medium filters, activated carbon filters and HEPA filters allowing fresh air supply and 100% exhaust air
Cooling and heating system
Double door autoclave steam sterilizer and cage washer available for decontaminating wastes
Exquisitely controlled environment for the care and management of experimental animals under constant, 24-hour ambient conditions with HEPA-filtered air, 22 ± 2°C temperature and 50 ± 10% humidity
Equipped with 5 IVC racks and BSCs connected to independent exhaust facilities
Current animals in care: mouse and rat