Cornell ushers in a new era of disease diagnosis and prevention Friday, Oct. 1, with the opening of the state-of-the-art New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to monitor human and animal disease.

A grand opening of the facility is slated for Oct. 1, 1-1:30 p.m.; the public is invited to attend.

The new laboratory, at 240 Farrier Drive at the College of Veterinary Medicine on the Cornell campus, "will inspire 21st century discovery, strengthen our ability to successfully respond to emergencies and protect the animals and citizens of New York state," said Michael Kotlikoff, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, who will speak at the grand opening with Cornell President David Skorton and Patrick Hooker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

The diagnostic laboratory at Cornell is a key state asset for maintaining the health of animals, protecting the food supply, ensuring public health and sustaining the economic vitality of several industries, including the dairy industry, that support the state's financial health, Kotlikoff said.

The new facility includes seven biosafety level-three research facilities, which are necessary for clinical, diagnostic, teaching and research activities that involve pathogenic agents. These facilities include fully outfitted, flexible, specially designed and engineered laboratories.

"Cutting-edge tools and equipment will drive research discoveries destined to address public safety, homeland security and empower scientists to develop options that will lessen the threat of bioterrorism by working with live viruses that have the power to change the landscape," says the facility's website.

Ground was broken in May 2008 for the $70 million, 125,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility built with a $50 million state allocation through the Department of Agriculture and Markets, along with $20 million from Cornell and other sources. The new building brings many units together and upgrades the current New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the only full-service, multidisciplinary animal disease diagnostic facility in the Northeast. Each year, the facility has been receiving more than 300,000 samples and conducts more than 1 million tests.

For more information about the facility and the College of Veterinary Medicine, visit http://www.vet.cornell.edu/.