The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

1. Bernard C. Courtney, Ph.D. • Scientific Director, • National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center • Science & Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security Committee on Methodological Improvement to the Department of Homeland Security’s 2006 Bioterrorism Risk Assessment 28 August 2006 The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

2. DHS/S&T Headquarters Washington, DC Plum Island Animal Disease Center Orient Pt., New York HS Biodefense Complex: Microcosm of the Homeland Security Complex National Center for Food Protection & Defense University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota Biodefense Knowledge Center Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, California National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Frederick, Maryland National Center for Foreign Animal & Zoonotic Disease DefenseTexas A&M, College Station, Texas

3. National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Mission • Provide the nation with the scientific basis for awareness of biological threats and attribution of their use against the American public Goals • Understand current and future biological threats, assess vulnerabilities, and determine potential impacts to guide the development of biodefense countermeasures. • Provide national capability to conduct forensic analysis of evidence from bio-crimes and terrorism, to attain a “biological fingerprint” to identify perpetrators and determine the origin and method of attack. • Provide national scientific reach-back capability, biodefense knowledge stewardship, and threat awareness products.

4. CONSTRUCTION PLANNING FY04 FY03 FY05 Concept Design Appropriated Appropriated $5M $88M $35M NBACC Facility Description Description / Capabilities Budget • Dedicated, secure, and responsive biocontainment laboratory capability to conduct bioterror threat characterization and risk assessment • Dedicated bioforensics operational capability Estimated size: 160,000 Gross sq. ft. Net - laboratory: 70,000 sq. ft. - 20% BSL- 4 - 80% BSL- 2 & 3 Estimated staff: approximately 120 Timeline NBACC Facility 3rd Q/08 Artist’s Rendition

5. NBACC: A Center of Centers Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTCC) Characterizes biothreats, anticipates future threats. Conducts comprehensive risk assessments and targeted laboratory studies to guide the development of policy and countermeasures National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC) Conducts forensic analysis to attain a “biological fingerprint” to identify perpetrators and determine the origin and method of attack Biodefense Knowledge Center (BKC) Integrates biological threat data and emerging scientific research findings to enable expert analysis with knowledge discovery tools and to support 24/7 reachback

6. NBACC: Key Accomplishments Biological Threat Characterization Center • Completed first-of-its-kind biennial Bioterrorism Risk Assessment Report (BTRA) • Published animal model standards reports for 7 high-consequence biothreat agents National Bioforensic Analysis Center • Completed processing of 45 bioterror/biocrime cases for the FBI (thousands of samples and detailed implementation and analysis plans) • 24/7 bioforensic analysis capability Biodefense Knowledge Center • Completed 5 Material Threat Assessments (An additional 3 are in Final Production) • 24/7 Reach-back for DHS operational entities • Partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Lab

7. The Mission of BTCC is to Increase Threat Awareness Biological Threat Characterization Program • Produces laboratory-based assessments of biological threats and vulnerabilities that will directly increase threat awareness. • Executes critical targeted research projects that: • may occur under high containment (BSL-4) • employ various model systems including non-human primates • may be classified • Provides validation of potential technical capabilities identified by intelligence sources Risk Assessment Program • Conducts in-depth risk assessments of current and emerging biological threats • Identifies knowledge gaps and vulnerabilities to biological threat agents BTCC results will inform biodefense policy and countermeasures strategies

8. plague tularemia botulinum toxins enteric bacteria influenza viruses anthrax encephalitic viruses hemorrhagic fever viruses orthopoxviruses ricin BTCC Assesses the Near-term and the Long-term Threat EnhancedAgents selected or modified to increase virulence, stability or circumvent counter-measures● Assessing difficulty of selection for enhanced organisms (Yersinia pestis) AdvancedNon-naturally occurring, engineered agents. Complex or novel delivery systems●Establish processto identify & evaluate enabling technical advances ●Craft procedure to identify, evaluate & integrate technical & Intel information TraditionalNaturally occurring bacteria, viruses and toxins. Simple delivery mechanisms●Assessing BW-enabling characteristics●Comparing virulence by exposure route●Threats to Food EmergingNewly emerging diseases or traditional agents acquired, produced or delivered in a new method●Establish process to identify & evaluate emerging bio threats ●Assess potential bio hazard posed by highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus Inform Novel Defensive Strategies and Architectures

9. The BTRA Supports Biodefense Decision-making A Flexible Risk Analysis Tool • Per HSPD-10: first systematic end-to-end risk assessment of bioterrorism, incorporating subject matter expert and literature input from intelligence, law enforcement, scientific, public health, and classified biodefense research information • Allows decision makers and risk managers to create tailored risk assessments and examine risk mitigation strategies for bioterrorism risk and impact. RISK Consequences Likelihood • Guides • DHS biodefense research • Next generation BioWatch detectors • Prioritization the Material • Threat Assessments for BioShield

10. Closing Critical Risk Knowledge Gaps

11. BTCC Integrates Biothreat Characterization and Risk Assessment

12. Both Science and Intelligence Inform the BTCP Process • Intelligence reporting and open source information are used to identify credible immediate and future threats • Scientific and technical knowledge are integrated with intelligence to determine which threats are realistic • Threats and vulnerabilities are evaluated in collaboration with federal agencies (NIH, FDA, USDA, Customs and Border Patrol) and industry partners AGENT CHARACTERISTICS ADVERSARIES’ Capability And Intent VULNERABILITIES Credible, High-impact threats

13. NBFAC Integrates Sample Analysis and R&D Evidence Collection National Bioforensic Analysis Program Coordinate “directed” Bioforensic research to fill capability gaps Unique fingerprint of biological agent NBFAC Operations • Characterization of: • Agent • Matrix • Support of traditional forensics with bio agent contaminated evidence NBFAC Bioforensics R&D

14. NBFAC Operates as a “Hub” and “Spoke” NBFAC provides a national capability to conduct and coordinate forensic analyses of evidence from biocrimes and bioterrorism

15. The Mission of the BKC is to Enable a Better, more Timely Understanding of the Threat fromBioterrorism Information …you know …you don’t know • Exploit the existing scientific knowledge base • ‘Reachback’ support • Collaboration tools • SME access/directories Actionable information Identified gaps You know • Accelerate understanding of the biological threat • Material threat assessments • Knowledge gap ID/communication • Emerging threat awareness Biodefense Knowledge Center You don’t know Non-accessed information Unidentified gaps • Enable these objectives through technology • Knowledge discovery tools • Threat awareness tools • Dual-use technology awareness

16. OperationalSupport Biothreat Awareness Knowledge Discovery Tools Biodefense Knowledge Stewardship Four BKC Functions Facilitate Bioterror Threat Anticipation, Prevention, and Response Operational Support 24/7 science and technology (S&T) 'Reachback' service to operational entities within theDepartment of Homeland Security Biological Threat Awareness In-depth analysis of biodefense issues, including material threat assessments for Project BioShield and 'Awareness Bulletins', focused on homeland security-relevant biological events and emerging biotechnology Knowledge Discovery Tool Development State-of-the-art analysis tools, providing unique data integration, analysis, and visualization capabilities Biodefense Knowledge Stewardship A biodefense knowledge management infrastructure built as an enduring asset to NBACC and the biodefense community

17. Material Threat Assessments Provide the Foundation for BioShield Procurements

18. BKC Awareness Bulletins: Topical Information for a Policy Audience • Technology focused: • Cloning kits • Nebulizers • Large porous particle technology • Synthesis of genes/proteins • Viral purification technologies • Formulation • Stabilizing technologies • Aerosol vaccine technology • Agricultural biocontrol devices • Etc.

19. Knowledge Center, Bioforensics & Threat Characterization Program Integration Intelligence Collection & Analysis Operational & Reachback Support Biodefense Knowledge Center BT & BW related Intelligence (Capabilities & Intent) Material Threat Assessments (Actionable S&T) Future Threat Anticipation (Emerging Technology) Major S&T Gap Identification Biological Characterization Center Bioforensics Analysis Center Risk Assessment Experimental closure of scientific gaps

20. Questions?