National Biodefense Science Board Members Announced

December 17, 2007 -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the members of the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB). The NBSB will provide expert advice and guidance to the Secretary on scientific, technical and other matters of special interest to the department regarding activities to prevent, prepare for and respond to adverse health effects of public health emergencies resulting from current and future chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological agents.

The NBSB was created under the authority of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, signed into law on December 19, 2006. By statute, the NBSB has 13 voting members with a broad range of expertise in science, medicine, and public health. "This board will play an important role in ensuring that our nation is well-prepared to prevent and respond to public health emergencies," Secretary Leavitt said. "The members' depth of expertise will be invaluable as we continue to prepare."

The board is holding its first meeting today and tomorrow in Washington. Proposed topics, based on the published agenda, include:

• Evaluate Research and Development Components of the HHS Influenza Preparedness Strategy
• Supporting Medical Countermeasure Development
• Addressing Gaps in the Medical Countermeasures Marketplace
• Modeling and Metrics to Inform Medical Consequence Assessment
• Special and at-Risk Populations – Considerations for Medical Countermeasure Research, Development, and Deployment Plans