Sir

Your News story 'Britain hits a hurdle in replacing key animal-pathogen facility' (Nature 457, 769; 2009) describes the problems faced by the Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright. It is deplorable that this world-class institute is uncertain of being able to develop a key animal-pathogen facility and other adequate infrastructure.

In contrast, Germany's federal ministry of food, agriculture and consumer protection is investing nearly €300 million (US$395 million) to create a state-of-the-art facility for infectious-disease research at our institute on the Isle of Riems in the Baltic Sea. New laboratory and animal facilities will be constructed, including a biosafety-level-4 facility for large animals that is unique in Europe. The plans were developed in the mid-1990s and construction should be largely finished in time for the institute's centenary in late 2010.