The second meeting marked the coordination of the working group with researchers from Rede Vírus to deepen the scientific capabilities and operational strategies of the Orion laboratory complex
Caption: In addition to the Rede Vírus Steering Committee, the second meeting brought together different thematic fronts involved in Project Orion (Credit: CNPEM disclosure).
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) held, on May 20, the second expanded meeting with members of the Steering Committee of Rede Vírus within the scope of project Orion. Established by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Rede Vírus is a network that brings together researchers and experts from different areas to strengthen national scientific collaboration in virology, surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and response to public health emergencies.
Right at the start of the meeting, participants highlighted the structuring of a working group focused on deepening and detailing project Orion’s scientific priorities, with the participation of the scientific community linked to the Rede Vírus network. The proposal foresees the consolidation of technical contributions related to the future scientific and operational capabilities of the laboratory complex, supporting the joint development of guidelines for the project.
The meeting continued the discussions initiated at the first meeting between CNPEM and Rede Vírus, which at the time included thematic sub-networks and took place on February 4 of this year. As in the first one, the second meeting deepened discussions on the scientific capabilities envisioned for Orion, contributing to the consolidation of the strategic priorities of the future laboratory complex, which will house the first maximum biological containment laboratory (BSL-4) in Latin America, and the first facilities of this type in the world connected to a synchrotron light source.
The program included presentations on the work’s progress, scientific equipment, experimental capabilities and possibilities for phasing the project, as well as technical discussions conducted with researchers from Rede Vírus and specialists involved in the development of Orion. During the opening ceremony, CNPEM Director-General, Antonio José Roque da Silva, emphasized the importance of the scientific community’s participation in shaping the scientific guidelines of the project. “The operating model has to be defined by the community. CNPEM will engage in dialogue with the community,” he said.
Among the topics discussed were the BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratory environments, the engineering and biocontainment solutions adopted for the project, the redundant safety systems, as well as the planned capabilities for cell biology, molecular biology, bioimaging, genetic sequencing, comparative medicine and animal experimentation.
During the meeting, project representatives detailed the choice of the modular stainless steel model for the maximum biological containment areas, a solution adopted after international technical visits and comparative analyses with other BSL-4 laboratories. According to the participants, the strategy should increase the durability of the structures, reduce construction risks, and facilitate future laboratory maintenance and operation.
The discussions also addressed the scientific capabilities envisioned for Orion in the areas of cell culture, viral production, molecular biology, genetic sequencing, bioimaging, and comparative medicine, as well as the integration between laboratory environments of different biosafety levels and future connections with the Sirius beamlines. The researchers also discussed strategies for optimizing workflows in maximum containment environments, including process automation and the integration of advanced imaging and sequencing technologies.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was the planned structure for research with animal models, considered relevant for certain biomedical studies and regulatory assessments related to vaccines, therapies, and pathogens of high sanitary relevance.
At the end of the meeting, members of Rede Vírus were invited to submit additional contributions to support the preparation of the technical document that will guide the detailing of Project Orion’s scientific and operational priorities in the next stages of development.
“The participation of Rede Vírus is fundamental to ensuring that the scientific priorities of the Orion project are defined collaboratively, strategically, and in line with national needs. This network will act as a structured channel for dialogue between the project and researchers from different institutions, fields of knowledge, and regions of the country. By acting as a link between Orion, the scientific community, and public managers, Rede Vírus will assist in building an operational model that maximizes the use of infrastructure by the national research and innovation ecosystem, ensuring that the complex’s scientific capabilities meet Brazil’s needs and strengthen our capacity for prevention, readiness, and response to biological threats and health emergencies”, highlights Thiago Moraes, member of the Rede Vírus Steering Committee and general coordinator of Health, Biotechnological and Agricultural Sciences at MCTI.
The Rede Vírus Steering Committee is a group established under MCTI Decree No. 9,287 of July 31, 2025, which created Rede Vírus, and whose composition is defined by SEPPE/MCTI Ordinance No. 9,678 of December 12, 2025.
Project Orion
Project Orion will be a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research, and will include Latin America's first maximum biological containment level facilities (BSL-4), the only labs of this kind in the world connected to a synchrotron light source, Sirius. Currently under construction in the city of Campinas, São Paulo on the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) campus, this project will combine analytic techniques and advanced competencies in bioimaging which will be open to the scientific community and public agencies. By permitting advances in knowledge on pathogens and related diseases, Orion will support health surveillance activities and policies, as well as the development of diagnostic methods, vaccines, treatments, and epidemiological strategies. Orion will support national sovereignty in facing health crises, and has the potential to benefit various areas such as health, science and technology, defense, and the environment. The implementation of Project Orion is overseen by CNPEM, a social organization linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), with the involvement of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM's research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology.
