ATCC, industry, government, advocacy, and academic leaders met with NSCEB Commissioners for pivotal discussions on the critical role of authenticated biomaterials in a secure and resilient bioeconomy
ATCC, the world’s leading private, non-profit biological resources and standards organization, hosted an event titled “Empowering the Future of Biotechnology Through Trusted Science” at its headquarters in Manassas, Virginia. Held in partnership with the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) as part of the Commission’s nationwide “Biotech Across America” roadshow, the gathering brought together ATCC leadership and key biotechnology stakeholders from across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. The discussion centered on the future of U.S. biotechnology and biosecurity, highlighting the essential role of robust infrastructure, skilled workforce development, and authenticated biological data and materials in strengthening national competitiveness.
ATCC President and CEO Ruth Cheng, PhD, emphasized the significance of the event, noting that convening top regional leaders and decision-makers was crucial to advancing bold ideas and shared commitments that will shape the future of biotechnology innovation. She added that the event showcased ATCC’s century-long dedication to gold-standard science and provided an opportunity to hear directly from the NSCEB and other organizations working to advance U.S. biotechnology policy and security. Cheng underscored ATCC’s global reputation for reliability, rigorous quality processes, and expertise, positioning the organization as an essential partner in the nation’s growing bioeconomy.
A key highlight of the program was a fireside conversation featuring NSCEB Executive Director Caitlin Frazer and NSCEB Commissioner Dawn Meyerriecks, who reflected on progress made since the release of the Commission’s April 2025 report, Charting the Future of Biotechnology. They discussed how authenticated biological data will play a pivotal role in implementing the report’s recommendations. A panel discussion titled “Biotech’s Backbone: The Role of Authenticated Inputs in a Secure and Resilient Bioeconomy,” moderated by Victor Suarez, Founder of Blu Zone Bioscience & Supply Chain Solutions and U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.), brought together industry leaders including Meyerriecks, Patrick Boyle, PhD (Interim Chief Scientific Officer, ATCC), Eric Edwards, MD, PhD (CEO, Phlow Corporation), Andrew Magyar, PhD (Founder and CSO, Capra Biosciences), and Nili Ostrov, PhD (CSO, Cultivarium). The panel explored how trusted data, strong infrastructure, and biomaterial integrity underpin advancements in AI, automation, and scalable biomanufacturing.
Juan Pablo Segura, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia, delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration among government, industry, academia, and organizations like ATCC. He highlighted the need for aligned policies, workforce development, and innovation ecosystems that support the growth of the biotechnology sector. The event concluded with an engaging conversation between John Newby, JD, CEO of Virginia Bio, and Phyllis Arthur, MBA, Executive Vice President at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), who discussed how national and regional institutions are working to drive industry growth, strengthen innovation pipelines, and connect policy frameworks with real-world scientific and industrial needs.
The event was supported by several partners, including BioBuzz, BioHealth Innovation, Capra Biosciences, George Mason University Institute for Biohealth Innovation, G2G Consulting, Prince William Economic Development, and Virginia Bio. The NSCEB’s Biotech Across America tour aims to spotlight the diverse ecosystem of U.S. companies, academic institutions, alliances, workforce programs, and policy initiatives that are defining the next era of biotechnology. The tour also seeks to gather insights on the field’s most pressing opportunities and challenges, aligning with key priorities outlined in the Commission’s report to Congress. These priorities include elevating biotechnology as a national imperative, mobilizing the private sector to scale domestic production, maximizing biotechnology’s benefits for national defense, out-innovating global competitors, building a future-ready workforce, and strengthening collaborations with allies.
Rebecca Bradford, MBA, MS, PMP, Senior Vice President of ATCC Federal Solutions, noted that ATCC is already advancing the Commission’s recommendations through long-term commitments and strategic partnerships across the scientific community. She emphasized ATCC’s six-decade role as a trusted federal partner and provider of authenticated biological materials that uphold national biosafety and biosecurity standards. Looking ahead, ATCC’s new biomanufacturing facility, scheduled to open in 2026, will support the government’s pandemic preparedness strategy, bolster defense-related biotechnology capabilities, and create 75 new life sciences jobs. Bradford also highlighted ATCC’s contributions to building the Web of Biological Data (WOBD), citing innovations such as the ATCC Genome Portal, a secure and rapidly expanding database of high-quality, annotated whole-genome sequences. ATCC’s partnership with The Align Foundation will further accelerate scientific discovery through the world’s largest open-access microbial phenotyping dataset.
Bradford affirmed ATCC’s commitment to remaining a global leader in authenticated biomaterials and biological data, supporting biosafety and enabling AI-driven discovery. NSCEB Commissioner Dawn Meyerriecks expressed gratitude to ATCC for convening this vital dialogue and for its continued leadership in elevating U.S. biotechnology capabilities. She noted that as the NSCEB continues its work, the insights and collaboration provided by organizations like ATCC will play a pivotal role in strengthening national economic resilience and global competitiveness in biotechnology.
About ATCC
ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization, and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning more than a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world’s largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with research and technology centers of excellence in Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland.
