Security & Engineering Biology
As the tools of engineering biology develop and unlock solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges, the potential grows for those same technologies to be used in ways that ultimately cause harm to people or planet, resulting from either intentional, nefarious use, or from the unintended consequences of well-intentioned efforts. The EBRC Security Focus Area supports activities that bring academic, government, and industry engineering biology stakeholders together to understand the nature of these potential negative outcomes and build strategies to minimize and mitigate them. By weaving engagement with security issues into the fabric of engineering biology training and research, we aim to support the field as it delivers on the promises of engineering biology without assuming unacceptable risks of negative outcomes.
Programs & Activities
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Enabling Quality, Measurable Synthetic DNA Sequence Screening
This project aims to improve DNA synthesis screening by enabling the development of better tools and mechanisms for screening performance evaluation. Synthetic DNA enables life sciences research that can be […]
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Malice Analysis: Assessing Biotechnology Research for Security Concerns
EBRC’s Malice Analysis Workshops endeavor to build and support security awareness within the engineering biology community. Workshops train researchers and others associated with engineering biology to evaluate their own work for security concerns. By providing participants with the tools and framework to engage in this type of analysis, EBRC hopes participants will be prepared to consider, discuss, and improve security in engineering biology research throughout their careers. These efforts are funded by the US Department of Homeland Security.
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BIoSecurity Opportunities Nexus
BIoSecurity Opportunities Nexus (BISON) compiles student and postdoc-relevant biosecurity opportunities, including graduate and postdoc academic programs, scholarships, fellowships, and internships. BISON includes both international and domestic (US) opportunities.
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Improving Security Considerations in Engineering Biology Research
The EBRC Improving Security Considerations program is a broad effort to encourage researchers in engineering biology to consider the security implications of their work. Through workshops and other educational activities, we aim to establish norms and practices for researchers and the research-support community to better incorporate security into the research enterprise.
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Workshops with the National Security Community
EBRC holds periodic workshops and other events to bring engineering biology researchers and the national security community together to discuss trends in the field, address potential concerns, and establish long term relationships.
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Working Group
The Security Working Group is comprised of synthetic biology professionals from academia, industry, and government who keep abreast of new developments in the field and communicate the security implications of these developments to appropriate stakeholders. This group also serves as a resource for external organizations to draw upon for technical expertise from practitioners with an understanding of security implications.
Chair: Kate Adamala
Staff Director: Becky Mackelprang
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Council Member
Kate Adamala
University of Minnesota
Assistant Professor
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Christopher Anderson
University of California, Berkeley
Associate Professor
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Council Member
Nicole Buan
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Associate Professor
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Council Member
Sarah Carter
Science Policy Consulting LLC
Principal
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Carolyn Chapman
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead Investigator
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Virginia Cornish
Columbia University
Helena Rubinstein Professor
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Council Member
James Diggans
Twist Bioscience Corporation
Director, Bioinformatics and Biosecurity
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Council Member
John Dileo
MITRE
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Council Member
Robert Egbert
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Staff Scientist
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Andrew Ellington
University of Texas at Austin
Professor
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Council Member
Sam Weiss Evans
Harvard University
Lecturer and Research Associate
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Council Member
John Glass
J. Craig Venter Institute
Professor
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Council Member
Nathan Hillson
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Staff Scientist
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Farren Isaacs
Yale University
Associate Professor
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Gregory Koblentz
George Mason University
Associate Professor and Director, Biodefense Graduate Program
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Becky Mackelprang
EBRC
Director for Security Programs
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June Medford
Colorado State University
Professor
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Council Member
Tae Seok Moon
J. Craig Venter Institute
Professor
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Council Member
Vincent Noireaux
University of Minnesota
Professor
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Meagan Olsen
Northwestern University
Ph.D. Candidate
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Council Member
Jean Peccoud
Colorado State University
Professor, Abell Chair in Synthetic Biology
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Elibio Rech
National Institute of S&T in Synthetic Biology/EMBRAPA
Dr.
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Cameron Roots
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Todd Treangen
Rice University
Assistant Professor
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Council Member
Laurie Zoloth
University of Chicago
Professor
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Security News
- February 19, 2024
Enabling Quality, Measurable Synthetic DNA Sequence Screening
This project aims to improve DNA synthesis screening by enabling the development of better tools and mechanisms for screening performance evaluation.
- March 4, 2019
North Korea’s Less-Known Military Threat: Biological Weapons
Military analysts are increasingly concerned about the nation’s “advanced, underestimated and highly lethal” bioweapons program.
- March 4, 2019
National Biodefense Strategy
National Biodefense Strategy
- February 16, 2019
New Addition to the EBRC staff
We welcome Dr. Clem Fortman to the EBRC staff at the Director for National Security Engagements!
- February 16, 2019
PNNL has developed a new, publicly available, tool
PNNL has developed a new, publicly available, tool for understanding the current state of the U.S. biodefense enterprise. The Biodefense Policy Landscape Analysis Tool (B-PLAT, v2.0) →.
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