Plant and Animal Agrosecurity Research Facility (PAAR)
Ohio’s High‑Containment Research Facility for Plant and Animal Health
The Plant and Animal Agrosecurity Research Facility (PAAR) is Ohio’s only research facility designed to support BSL‑3 and BSL‑3 Ag studies involving high‑consequence plant and animal diseases. Located on The Ohio State University’s CFAES Wooster campus, PAAR enables critical research that strengthens agricultural resilience, advances disease preparedness, and protects public confidence in food and agricultural systems.
PAAR provides secure, compliant infrastructure for research that cannot be conducted in standard laboratory or animal facilities, while operating under rigorous federal and institutional oversight.
Explore PAAR
For Investigators
Learn how to access the facility, understand eligibility requirements, and see how research projects move from concept to execution.
Research Capabilities
Explore the types of research supported at PAAR and the high‑containment infrastructure that enables it.
Compliance & Oversight
Understand how PAAR operates safely and responsibly through layered containment, training, and oversight.
Why PAAR Matters
- Protects agriculture and food systems by supporting research on high‑impact plant and animal diseases
- Advances scientific preparedness through diagnostics, vaccines, and mitigation strategies
- Provides unique capability at the state and national level for high‑containment agricultural research
PAAR supports Ohio State’s land‑grant mission by enabling research that addresses real‑world challenges facing agriculture, animal health, and biosecurity.
Safety and Responsibility
Safety is foundational to everything conducted at PAAR. The facility is designed and operated using multiple layers of containment, specialized engineering controls, and established operational procedures to prevent the release of hazardous biological materials.
All research activities at PAAR are conducted in accordance with applicable federal regulations, institutional biosafety policies, and animal care standards, and are subject to ongoing oversight and review.
About the Facility
PAAR supports both laboratory‑based and animal‑based research under high‑containment conditions. The facility includes specialized laboratories, animal isolation areas, decontamination systems, and support spaces required for compliant research operations.
By integrating secure infrastructure with trained personnel and oversight, PAAR enables responsible research that contributes to the protection of agriculture and public trust.
Learn More or Get Started
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Interested in conducting research at PAAR?
Visit For Investigators to learn how to begin. -
Looking for general information about safety or oversight?
Explore Public Information or Compliance & Oversight. -
Have a question or inquiry?
Visit Contact to reach the appropriate PAAR team.