National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
NBAF logo
Front of the NBAF
Established2015
Laboratory type
Biosafety level 4 research laboratory
Research typeScientific research and biodefense
BudgetUS$1.25 billion (2021)
Field of research
Human, zoonotic, and foreign animal diseases
DirectorAlfonso Clavijo
Staff250–350
LocationManhattan, Kansas, U.S.
39°12′11″N 96°35′03″W / 39.20306°N 96.58417°W / 39.20306; -96.58417
66506
Campus574,000 square feet (53,300 m2)
NicknameNBAF
AffiliationsKansas State University
Operating agency
United States Department of Agriculture
WebsiteUSDA website
NBAF is located in Kansas
NBAF
NBAF
Location within the State of Kansas

The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is a biosafety level 4 research laboratory in Manhattan, Kansas, operated by the United States Department of Agriculture. The facility opened in June 2023.[1] The facility is designed to combat biological threats involving human, zoonotic, and foreign animal diseases. The NBAF replaced the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) on Plum Island, New York.[2] The primary research tenants of the facility are the Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA-APHIS-VS).[2][3] Construction on the 574,000-square-foot (53,300 m2) facility officially began in May 2015, and was scheduled to be completed by May 2021. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, has delayed scheduled commissioning to October 2021, followed by further delays to Spring, and finally summer 2023.[2][4][5][6] Operations will be fully transferred from the Plum Island facility by 2023.[7] The facility employs between 250 and 350 people.[2][3] The facility is a constituent member of the Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network, and is currently led by Alfonso Clavijo.

  1. ^ "DHS Completes Construction, Commissioning of National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility | Homeland Security". www.dhs.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  2. ^ a b c d "National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Archived from the original on 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  3. ^ a b "Facility Research & Staffing". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  4. ^ Viviani, Nick; Thompson, Monty (May 27, 2015), Hundreds Turn Out For NBAF Groundbreaking, wibw.com, retrieved June 9, 2015
  5. ^ Carpenter, Tim (April 10, 2013). "Obama Budget Offers $714M for NBAF". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  6. ^ "NBAF delays full open to summer 2022 amid technology upgrades". News Radio KMAN. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  7. ^ Lysen, Dylan (February 5, 2017). "On Track: NBAF construction 'on time, budget' according to officials". The Manhattan Mercury. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)