The Department of Homeland Security is set to transfer ownership of the science and technology directorate’s National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to the Department of Agriculture. As part of an agreement, USDA will manage operations and planning functions, while DHS will complete construction efforts for the facility, USDA said Thursday.
The Manhattan, Kan.- based facility will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York and is set to function as a biosafety level-4 laboratory.
“NBAF will be the first facility in the United States with maximum biocontainment, BSL-4 labs, where we can develop vaccines and diagnostics for high-consequence animal diseases – including those that can also affect human health,†said Greg Ibach, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA.
