Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§18931 Engineering biology and biometrology

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 163— - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, COMPETITION, AND INNOVATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE › Part Part A— - Measurement Research › § 18931

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director, working with the National Engineering Biology Research and Development Initiative, must fund and support measurement science for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biometrology. This includes work to measure how DNA makes cells work, tools to measure biomolecules and related systems, new data methods to improve the field, and other key measurement areas. The Director must also help build measurement infrastructure and standards, bring together industry, universities, nonprofits, and federal labs to make shared technical roadmaps for measuring cell molecules, give outside groups access to advanced research facilities, form partnerships across sectors, and support graduate and post‑graduate training. These activities do not change any federal agency rules or practices for biomedical research and development that were in effect on August 9, 2022, including how agencies request and review outside research proposals. The Secretary must put in proper security controls to protect sensitive information.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §18931

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director, in coordination with the National Engineering Biology Research and Development Initiative established pursuant to subchapter IV, shall—

(1)support basic measurement science and technology research for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biometrology to advance—

(A)measurement technologies to support foundational understanding of the mechanisms of conversion of DNA information into cellular function;

(B)technologies for measurement of such biomolecular components and related systems;

(C)new data tools, techniques, and processes to improve engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biometrology research; and

(D)other areas of measurement science and technology research determined by the Director to be critical to the development and deployment of engineering biology, biomanufacturing and biometrology;

(2)support activities to inform and expand the development of measurements infrastructure needed to develop technical standards to establish interoperability and facilitate commercial development of biomolecular measurement technology and engineering biology applications;

(3)convene industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, Federal laboratories, and other Federal agencies engaged in engineering biology research and development to develop coordinated technical roadmaps for authoritative measurement of the molecular components of the cell;

(4)provide access to user facilities with advanced or unique equipment, services, materials, and other resources to industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to perform research and testing;

(5)establish or expand collaborative partnerships or consortia with other Federal agencies engaged in engineering biology research and development, institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, and industry to advance engineering biology applications; and

(6)support graduate and postgraduate research and training in biometrology, biomanufacturing, and engineering biology.

(b)Nothing in this section may be construed to alter the policies, processes, or practices of individual Federal agencies in effect on the day before August 9, 2022, relating to the conduct or support of biomedical research and advanced development, including the solicitation and review of extramural research proposals.

(c)In carrying out activities authorized by this section, the Secretary shall ensure proper security controls are in place to protect sensitive information, as appropriate.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 18931

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73