Since 1969, USAMRIID has served as the Department of Defense's (DoD) lead laboratory for medical biological defense research. While our core mission is to protect the warfighter from biological threats, we also investigate disease outbreaks and threats to public health. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions – therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and information – that benefit both military personnel and civilians. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command.
— Mission —
To provide leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend
against current and emerging biological threat agents.
— Vision —
To advance medical biological defense
to protect our military and the nation.
— Core Competencies —
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- Prepare for uncertainty
- Rapidly identify and characterize biological agents
- Provide world-class expertise in medical biological defense
- Develop, test, and evaluate medical countermeasures
- Maintain biosafety and biosecurity standards
- Train and educate the force
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— Medical Product Development —
USAMRIID's research, development, testing and evaluation efforts have resulted
in the development of vaccines, currently in various stages of clinical trials,
to protect against the following biological threats:
- Anthrax
- Botulism
- Plague
- Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers
- Hantavirus
- Ricin toxin
- Staphylococcal enterotoxin B
We continue to develop new and improved vaccines, working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to move medical products forward using the "animal rule."
Under this rule, specifically designed for biodefense vaccines and drugs, products can be considered
for FDA licensure using data from animal studies in cases where human clinical trials cannot be conducted.
USAMRIID continues to be a leader in developing animal models for a variety of biological threat agents and
validating that these models adequately reproduce critical aspects of human disease.
USAMRIID's therapeutics program is focused on broad-spectrum antiviral and antimicrobial drugs against multiple
biological agents. We also continue to discover and develop therapeutic interventions for diseases caused
by toxins such as botulinum neurotoxin.
— Rapid Identification of Biological Agents —
USAMRIID develops new, faster diagnostic assays for medical identification to protect the warfighter against
biological threats. We also evaluate and develop diagnostic instruments and technologies for use in forward
field medical laboratories and with the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Detection System (JBAIDS),
the diagnostics platform used across the DoD.
Through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the DoD Global Emerging
Infections Surveillance and Response System, USAMRIID transitioned the CDC diagnostic assays for avian
influenza and swine flu to the JBAIDS platform, enabling all military organizations with the JBAIDS platform
to use the CDC assays for rapid detection of these viruses.
In addition, we performed the necessary studies leading to an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA
for use of these assays on the JBAIDS platform. That work has led us to preposition a number of additional
diagnostic assay data packages for rapid EUAs in the event of an emerging biological threat.
— Maintaining Safety, Security and Surety Standards —
USAMRIID's biological surety program is governed by a broad set of Federal, DoD and U.S. Army
regulations and policies. The program, which enables us to safeguard both the biological
materials we use in our laboratories and the personnel who work here, consists of four key areas:
- Biological Safety – emphasizes safety training, risk management, environmental
surveillance and occupational health screening.
- Physical Security – employs layered security measures to allow only authorized
employees to access the areas in which biological materials are stored or used.
- Personnel Reliability – requires that all individuals with access to these
materials meet the highest standards of reliability, including satisfactory
completion of medical screening, safety training and background investigations.
- Agent Accountability – involves inventory control, shipping, transfer and
destruction records, and observation of laboratory procedures.
— Training and Education Initiatives —
Research performed at USAMRIID is translated into state-of-the-art information for
medical providers, laboratory personnel and first responders through our training
and education programs:
- Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (MCBC) – prepares
military and civilian health care professionals to effectively manage
casualties of chemical and biological agent exposure (offered in conjunction
with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense).
- Field Identification of Biological Warfare Agents (FIBWA) – trains medical
laboratory personnel in a realistic field setting.
— Support to the Nation and the World —
If USAMRIID is called to assist with a disease outbreak investigation or a threat to public
health, our Diagnostic Systems Division and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will surge to
meet the demand. As part of the nation's Laboratory Response Network, USAMRIID would
collaborate with CDC to rapidly characterize suspected pathogens. Our EOC can consult
the right subject matter experts for the most challenging cases. Whether the request
comes from a Combatant Command or another Federal agency, USAMRIID stands ready to assist
in any biological contingency.
— On the Horizon —
The new USAMRIID facility, adjacent to the existing Building 1425, is currently under construction.
It will expand the Institute's capacity to test products developed by our partners in biodefense research;
incorporate newer technologies for developing vaccines, drugs and diagnostics; and better accommodate our
workforce, which has more than doubled since the program began.
USAMRIID is proud to be a founding member of the National Interagency Confederation for
Biological Research, and will continue to support and collaborate with other agencies
conducting research to benefit military and public health.
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