Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act
The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act amends existing federal research law to establish a new program focused on developing safety standards and best practices for nucleic acid synthesis screening. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are the building blocks of life, and synthetic versions can be created in laboratories. The bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct research and convene industry and academic stakeholders to develop technical standards, testing methods, and security guidelines to prevent the misuse of synthetic nucleic acids for harmful purposes. The bill allocates $5 million annually for five years (2026-2030) to support this biosecurity initiative. This legislation addresses growing concerns about "dual-use" biotechnology—legitimate scientific tools that could potentially be misused. By establishing standardized screening procedures and best practices, the bill aims to help DNA and RNA synthesis companies identify and prevent orders for sequences that could be used to create dangerous pathogens, while maintaining the ability of legitimate researchers to access the materials they need.
Key Points
- 1Nucleic Acid Screening Focus: Directs NIST to develop and improve technical standards and best practices for screening synthetic DNA and RNA orders to identify potentially dangerous sequences before synthesis occurs.
- 2Consortium Requirement: Mandates creation of a stakeholder consortium including industry, universities, nonprofits, and customers to develop consensus priorities, best practices, and implementation roadmaps for screening mechanisms.
- 3Comprehensive Standards Development: Includes research on testing accuracy, security protocols, database management, implementation guidance, and methods to evaluate screening effectiveness.
- 4Reporting Requirement: Requires NIST to submit a report to Congress within 18 months of the consortium's first meeting summarizing findings and recommendations.
- 5Funding Authorization: Allocates $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026-2030 to support NIST's measurement research and standards development activities.