Participating Labs by Discipline: Biotechnology

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), as an integral part of the Army Futures Command, is the U.S Army’s foundational research laboratory that has the mission of operationalizing science. The DEVCOM ARL mission essential task of foundational research has the objective to conduct research and reconnaissance to inform future Army science, technology, and engineering and invest in areas that ensure overmatch. DEVCOM ARL executes research in 11 competencies that provide the Army foundational expertise and specialized capabilities grounded in scientific excellence and driven by unique Army challenges. These competencies are: Biological and Biotechnology Sciences; Electromagnetic Spectrum Sciences; Energy Sciences, Humans in Complex Systems; Mechanical Sciences; Military Information Sciences; Network, Cyber, and Computational Sciences; Photonics, Electronics, and Quantum Sciences; Sciences of Extreme Materials; Terminal Effects; and Weapons Sciences.

DEVCOM Soldier Center (SC) is located at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) which was established in the 1950s in Natick, Massachusetts. Known locally as ‘Natick Labs’, it is deeply rooted in the area’s innovative academic and industrial Science & Technology (S&T) communities and is the lead organization for the Army’s Soldier Domain Technology. DEVCOM SC focuses on the Soldier and incorporates the latest innovations to maximize the Warfighter’s combat readiness, survivability, sustainability, mobility, combat effectiveness and field quality of life. Soldier Center is “The Science Behind the Soldier” as diverse groups of scientists and engineers provide the Army with innovative Science and Technology solutions to optimize the performance of our Soldiers. DEVCOM SC maintains and enhances core competencies such as Soldier Performance/Integration, Individual/Collective Protection, Material Science Fiber/Textile, Military Nutrition/Food Service Logistics, Aerial Delivery, and Army Training Technology that are relevant and critical to support the Soldier of today and tomorrow. We leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum effects, autonomy, advanced energetics, and synthetic biology to give Soldiers the ability to see, sense, decide, and act faster than their adversaries. Our Simulation and Training Technology Division located in Orlando, FL continues the mission to develop, mature and transition innovative training and simulation technologies to maximize Soldier effectiveness and Warfighter readiness.

USAMRIID is the DoD’s lead laboratory for medical biological defense research. USAMRIID’s mission is to provide leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological agents that threaten both the military and the nation. It is a unique laboratory with the capability of advancing medical countermeasures from discovery through product development, has fielded diagnostic tools and developed multiple vaccine and therapeutic candidates, and responded to crises. USAMRIID’s unique capabilities include BSL-3 and -4 laboratories, world-class expertise in biosafety and biosecurity, test and evaluation of candidate vaccines and therapeutics, and fully accredited animal research facilities to support animal model development. Scientists are internationally renowned experts in genomics, virology, bacteriology, entomology, toxicology, biochemistry, pathology, veterinary medicine, aerobiology, synthetic biology, immunology, and regulatory science.