National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) applies science to challenges critical to defending the nation against bioterrorism.  The Department of Homeland Security's Directorate for Science and Technology established the NBACC to be a national resource to understand the scientific basis of the risks posed by biological threats and to attribute their use in bioterrorism or biocrime events. 

NBACC's National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC) conducts bioforensic analysis of evidence from a biocrime or terrorist attack to attain a "biological fingerprint" to help investigators identify perpetrators and determine the origin and method of attack.  NBFAC is designated by Presidential Directive to be the lead federal facility to conduct and facilitate the technical forensic analysis and interpretation of materials recovered following a biological attack in support of the appropriate lead federal agency.

NBFAC maintains accreditation to a rigorous international standard of testing and calibration, and has established itself as a model for bioforensic laboratory practices.

NBACC's National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC) conducts studies and laboratory experiments to fill in information gaps to better understand current and future biological threats; to assess vulnerabilities and conduct risk assessments; and to determine potential impacts to guide the development of countermeasures such as detectors, drugs, vaccines, and decontamination technologies.

In 2008, NBTCC supported the Department's delivery to the President of the second Bioterrorism Risk Assessment - a comprehensive evaluation of the risks posed from biological threat agents in the hands of a terrorist.

NBACC is operated as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for the Department by the Batelle National Biodefense Institute, LLC.  Construction of the new $143 million NBACC Laboratory facility will be completed in March 2009.  Once fully operational, NBACC will employ a staff of 150 with an annual operations Budget of $50 million. NBACC is located within the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick, Maryland.  Please visit the NBACC Web site for more information.