The project aims to further expand the European network of P4 laboratories (high security laboratories), with a focus on biosafety and biosecurity issues and standardisation of diagnostics. Assistance will be offered to EU and international health organisations, to Member States not equipped with P4 laboratories and to new European P4 laboratories.

An enhanced European network of P4 laboratories will contribute to a rapid, effective and coordinated European response to public health threats.

The European network of P4 laboratories (ENP4 Lab) will build on experience gained in the previous Euronetp4 project, preserving and strengthening collaboration among European P4 laboratories. The project will organise meetings of network partners and invited experts on biosafety or diagnostic issues for group 4 agents. It will focus on harmonisation and standardisation of existing practices, and of biosafety and biosecurity issues connected with the laboratory diagnosis of group 4 agents.

The project will:
design and evaluate a biosafety checklist to be used as an assessment tool for audits of new P4 laboratories;
implement quality assurance exercises and a feasibility study on the implementation of a deployable laboratory for outbreak investigations in or outside Europe;
strengthen collaboration among European P4 laboratories.