OUR RESEARCH

Bioscience and Bioengineering

Who We Are

Our bioscience experts — leading researchers in immunology, genomics, synthetic biology, biotechnology and biomaterials — partner with academia, industry and other institutions to foster innovation. Meet a few of the people who work in bioscience and bioengineering:

 

Feliza Bourguet
Biosciences and Biotechnology Division
Razi Haque
Implantable Microsystems Group
Helgi Ingolfsson
Biosciences and Biotechnology Division
Crystal Jaing
Biological Science and Security Program
Carlos Valdez
Forensic Science Center
Allison Yorita
She/Her
Implantables Microsystems Group

Our Latest News

Our Current Projects

We take on the entire life cycle of biological challenges — from awareness to prevention, preparedness to detection and response to recovery — to develop innovative solutions across a range of missions.

 

rendered image of carbon nanotubes

 

Countering Biothreats with Nanoscale Solutions

Our nanoscale technology plays a key role in efforts to develop next-generation material to protect warfighters and first responders from biological and chemical warfare agents. Carbon nanotubes, with pores a few nanometers wide, provide a base layer for lightweight, breathable fabric that offers protection against biothreats and can be worn in hot environments. We are also studying how carbon nanotubes can be used to produce biomimetic membranes with high throughput and high selectivity that can enable ultra-fast dialysis for patients.

 

zoomed in view of mircobes

 

Microbiome Research Takes Flight

We study microbial communities to understand how they influence human health. Our microbial analysis system evaluates the microbiome of combat wounds, identifying biomarkers that signal virulence pathogens or antibiotic-resistant organisms and providing key wound care information. We also collaborated with NASA to understand how space flight affects the human microbiome, using our high-throughput microbial detection system — now licensed by industry — to identify microorganisms in samples from International Space Station crews.

 

rendered image of a modeled brain on a chip

 

Biotechnology Aids Research in Brain Pathology

Some of our most significant advances are very tiny, such as a brain-on-a-chip device that records the neural activity of living brain cell cultures, enabling researchers to study the function of the human brain — outside of the body. Using a 3D microelectrode array platform, researchers can keep thousands of human-derived neurons alive, networked and communicating, while non-invasively recording their electrical activity. The device will advance research aimed at modeling disease or infections, drug discovery and developing countermeasures for chemical or biological agents.

 

Our Facilities, Centers and Institutes

The Laboratory is home to several state-of-the-art facilities and centers to help researchers tackle the hardest and most complex biosecurity and bioscience challenges.

 

Related Organizations

World-class science takes teamwork. Explore the organizations that contribute to our research in bioscience and bioengineering by clicking the images below.

 

Join Our Team

We offer opportunities in a variety of fields, not just science and technology. We are home to a diverse staff of professionals that includes administrators, researchers, creatives, supply chain staff, health services workers and more. Visit our careers page to learn more about the different career paths we offer and find the one that speaks to you. Make your mark on the world!