NIAID Selects ATCC to Lead Multimillion-Dollar Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Biological Resource Repository Program

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded ATCC, a global leader in biological materials management and standards, a multimillion dollar recompete contract for its Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Biological Resource Repository (MID-BRR) program. ATCC received an initial award of $13,230,145 with a contract value of up to $101 million over a seven-year period, should all options be exercised.

Under the contract, ATCC will continue to acquire, authenticate, produce, and distribute diverse materials covering Category A, B, and C priority pathogens and related reagents through the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Resources web portal (www.beiresources.org). BEI Resources is a critical component of the government’s response to public health emergencies.

“With more than 90 years as a biological resource center, ATCC is uniquely qualified to support NIAID’s MID-BRR program,” said Dr. Joseph Leonelli, vice president for ATCC’s Federal Solutions business. “Our expertise has been the foundation for MID-BRR since 2003. Today, the program offers a unified global reagent distribution network with more than 13,300 high-quality authenticated reagents. We will ensure that it continues to meet the needs of infectious disease researchers, while remaining agile enough to respond to newly identified, emerging needs such as Ebola and Zika virus.”

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 nearly 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 with headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, and a research and technology center of excellence in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Contact: Kim Testa, senior director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, ATCC, [email protected]

MID-BRR serves as a central repository for the broad community of microbiology and infectious disease researchers helping them carry out basic research and develop improved diagnostic tests, vaccines, and therapies. The repository receives, acquires, authenticates, produces, preserves, stores, and distributes organisms, reagents, and supporting data to qualified, NIAID-approved investigators worldwide under regulatory-compliant biosafety and biosecurity procedures. The MID-BRR portfolio includes bacteria, viruses, protists, parasites, fungi, toxins, arthropod vectors, and related reagents. Currently, there are more than 6,200 registered users with the program. ATCC has supported the program since 2003.