- Mission [1]
- The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006 directed the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) to establish the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB). The NBSB has been created to provide expert advice and guidance
to the Secretary on scientific, technical and other matters of special interest to HHS regarding activities to prevent, prepare
for and respond to adverse health effects of public health emergencies resulting from current and future chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear agents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. The Secretary of HHS leads all Federal
public health and medical response to public health emergencies. The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness
and Response (ASPR), coordinates the national Emergency Support Function #8 preparedness, response, and recovery actions.
This includes the responsibility to define and prioritize requirements for public health medical countermeasures; coordinate
research, development, and procurement activities; and set deployment and use strategies for medical countermeasures held
in the national stockpile.The NBSB will directly facilitate the mission of HHS by providing expert, independent advice and
recommendations to the Secretary and/or ASPR. Specifically, the Board shall function to examine current and future trends,
challenges, and opportunities presented by advances in biological and life sciences, biotechnology, and genetic engineering
with respect to threats posed by naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate dissemination of infectious diseases and chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear agents. In addition, the Board will support the HHS Strategic Plan 2007-2012 by reviewing
and considering any information and findings received from the working groups that are to be established under the authority
of the Board. At the request of the Secretary and/or ASPR, the Board shall provide recommendations and findings for expanded,
intensified, and coordinated biodefense research and developmental activities to promote and assist in the efforts of establishing
a Nation prepared to prevent, respond to, and reduce the adverse health effects of public emergencies and disasters.
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