Head of New Biodefense Lab Visits CSIS

On Monday, Dr. Patrick Fitch, Laboratory Director, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) and President, Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI), visited CSIS. He discussed the progress made in constructing the NBACC’s building in Fort Detrick, MD and the challenges inherent in getting this new organization off the ground. The Department of Homeland Security awarded the contract for running a new biodefense analysis facility to BNBI in 2006. Since then the project has drawn criticism from some who fear the lab’s activities might constitute a violation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, agreed to by the US and the USSR in 1972. Dr. Fitch tried to allay these concerns by focusing on transparency. He emphasized the fact that most of the lab’s programs will not be classified, and the titles of the programs will still be released even for those that are. Dr. Fitch hopes the NBACC will be in full operational mode by 2010. For the full audio and video of the event, click here.