The NIH Blue Ribbon Panel was established to provide independent and scientifically based advice to the NIH Director on risk assessment studies to be performed for the Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), as well as to advise on principles to enhance local community relations and communications regarding the NEIDL. In fulfillment of the latter charge, the Blue Ribbon Panel is in the process of developing a series of principles for fostering community engagement in the planning and oversight of all Regional Biocontainment Laboratories and National Biocontainment Laboratories funded by NIH, including the NEIDL. The purpose of the meeting is to seek community input on these draft principles as they are being developed.