Hawai'i's chances of getting a regional biosafety laboratory that could quickly identify a potential pandemic virus entering the state now hinges on National Institute of Health approval of a proposed Kaka'ako site.

The NIH currently has nine Level-3 regional biocontainment laboratories and two national biocontainment labs on the Mainland, but none west of Fort Collins, Colo.

The NIH awarded the University of Hawai'i-Manoa a $25 million grant to build a lab at Waimano Ridge in Pearl City, with the agreement it had to be opened by 2010. But Waimano Ridge needs an estimated $38 million of repairs and infrastructure work that would not likely be completed by 2010, which prompted UH to reapply with NIH for a lab at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka'ako.

State lawmakers on Friday supported the Kaka'ako location by budgeting $12.5 million for the project. The amount represents the state's share of matching funds, half of the NIH award.

"The RBL (regional biocontainment laboratory) will be a valuable resource in Hawai'i, but Waimano is just the wrong place for such a project," said state Sen. David Ige, D-16th (Pearl City, Pacific Palisades, Waimalu, 'Aiea, Halawa Heights).

If NIH rejects the new application, UH officials will drop the project, said Gregg Takayama, medical school spokesman.

"It will take some weeks for NIH to review the application and give a response," said Dr. James Gaines, UH vice president for research. "The Waimano property doesn't have the needed infrastructure to support a facility like the RBL."

John Breinch, chairman of Neighborhood Board No. 11 (Ala Moana/Kaka'ako), said officials have not contacted his board about the prospect of a biosafety lab in their area. Among preliminary concerns, Breinch pointed out, is that the proposed laboratory would be close to a populated area and could be in a tsunami zone.

Takayama said tentative plans call for the lab to be built on the mauka side of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, outside of the tsunami inundation zone. It would also be above ground level, Takayama said.

A regional biocontainment lab in Hawai'i would save time in processing tests needed to identify viruses such as avian influenza and West Nile because the specimens wouldn't have to be sent to the Mainland, Takayama said.

"It could save weeks," Takayama said. "This is meant to protect the safety of the people here. Scientific researchers in a safe laboratory would be able to identify and act. Any day, we could have someone walking around from Asia (who has a virus)."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.