Flexible, lightweight NSRI facility quickly responds to chemical and biological defense needs
Technological breakthroughs that advance safety and societal wellbeing require sustained effort. The fundamental research revealing nature's properties and validating scientific theories demands years of dedicated study. Yet emerging biological and chemical threats necessitate faster responses than traditional research timelines allow. While major scientific discoveries cannot be rushed, specialized expert teams can rapidly develop defensive solutions when circumstances demand immediate action.
That’s why NSRI’s Space Coast Field Office & Laboratory exists.
Located close to Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral, the facility was constructed with the goal of providing resources to quickly respond to the biological and chemical defense research needs of nearby U.S. Department of War (DOW) customers.
"We have better, more frequent interaction with our DOW customers when we’re performing work in their backyard, as opposed to doing that work remotely in far-off states,” said David Roberts, NSRI research director for special programs and a key member of the facility’s staff. “A lot of customers are very hands-on, and putting the facility here, close to where they’re located, means they can see actual progress being made and get fast results."
About NSRI Space Coast
NSRI Space Coast is a lightweight, flexible facility that specializes in biology and chemistry defense research, in addition to housing some engineering capacity. Built in Melbourne, Florida, in 2020, the facility has efficiently contributed to a number of DOW projects, most recently serving as the hub for a $50 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicle with a DOW agency.
Given continued high demand since it was constructed, the facility launched a significant expansion in 2024 to add additional lab space focused on next-generation sequencing. The new space will operate at a biosafety level of 2, allowing the team to safely perform sequencing on pathogenic organisms. The lab includes a Gyros PurePep Chorus Multi-Channel Peptide Synthesizer to evaluate and design synthesized proteins.
The real advantage of NSRI Space Coast, Roberts said, is that its proximity to DOW customers allows the customers to get more involved in projects and researchers to better understand customer needs.
"A lot of research done in labs does not translate easily to the field," he explained. "You can’t always put a 20-ton centrifuge on a plane and fly it where it needs to be. Our lab is lightweight by design so the work we do can be translated directly to the end user in the field."
Very often, NSRI Space Coast’s customers are those end users, and the lab’s research results go directly into the hands of front-line operators. These operators take prototype equipment into the field where they know they will experience problems during practical use of the equipment.
"We’ve been very successful supporting our customers with whatever crazy ideas they come up with," Roberts said. "We’re never sure what the next project is going to be, and that makes it fun. We’ve worked with bugs, animals, bacteria and viruses. We’ve been able to work with all kinds of people and all kinds of devices."
Advanced Technology
Illumina MiSeq Sequencers
Compact DNA sequencers are designed to quickly and conveniently capture sequencing data without interrupting the researcher’s workflow. The equipment’s ability to collect detailed information with such a small footprint leaves more lab space for other necessary equipment and workspace for researchers, while its push-button operation and automated data analysis allow researchers to get the information they need without too much hassle or downtime.
Agilent Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer & Cleanroom
Isolated, highly controlled space that is designed for researchers to conduct chemical analysis with little fear of contamination. Featuring high-grade air filtration and specially designed slick surfaces that are easy to clean and sterilize, the cleanroom surrounds a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer that can measure mass accuracy of a molecule with a precision of parts per million. Researchers can completely isolate the instrument and have confidence that the data they collect is accurate.
Illumina Next-Generation Sequencer
Cutting-edge DNA sequencer from Illumina (MiSeq and NextSeq) allows NSRI Space Coast researchers to gather much more robust data about the genomes they are researching. Some subjects, such as certain funguses, have very complex genomes, and some DNA sequencers are unable to capture the needed information in a reasonable timeframe. The NextSeq sequencer captures relevant data at a much smaller file size, allowing for faster processing times and larger batches.
Engineering Lab
Featuring a 3D printer, drill press and wide variety of hand tools NSRI Space Coast researchers repair or adjust equipment being tested at the facility. With these tools, they can take care of problems on-site instead of having to send equipment across the country to where it was developed, significantly reducing potential delays.
Experienced Experts
Research Director
Special Programs
25+ years of experience as a scientist, principal investigator and program manager. 10+ years of experience with mobile laboratories, including BSL-3 level Tier 1 Select Agents. Served as Alpha and Team 1 lead for an Ebola diagnostic mobile laboratory funded by DTRA.
Director of Sample Exploitation and Sequencing
15+ years of experience in sample exploitation and sequencing. 12+ ears working in BSL-3 laboratories with Tier 1 Select Agents. Experience with wide variety of samples for infectious disease surveillance, biothreat detection, human forensics and animal health. Certified medical technologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
Deputy Director
Advanced Sequencing
Expert on bioinformatics and sequencing in both unique and novel approaches to sample preparations. Able to extract meaningful sequence data from complex samples and assemble that data to provide actionable results.
Contributions to Our Defenders
The facility’s flexible nature allows the team to contribute to defense in unexpected ways, such as serving as an objective independent evaluator to test equipment.
A dedicated classroom space is used for training events, hosting several events each year for civil support teams on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) topics. The DOW also leveraged the space to maintain six-foot separation regulations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But NSRI Space Coast’s foundation has been and will remain creating tools that solve problems for real-world operators.
For example, the team recently delivered a device that automatically and autonomously detects the presence of a biological threat. It needed to be compact and light enough to be attached to a drone and fly into an area with a suspected biological release to conduct tests so commanders could be confident sending soldiers into the area without exposing them to a bacterial or viral agent.
NSRI Space Coast researchers designed the system using off-the-shelf polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology with the ability to investigate a sample on-board the drone and identify the threat during flight.
"The process was pulled initially from literature research," Roberts, explained, "then we leveraged NSRI’s aerosol experts to design a collection device that would convert aerosol samples into a liquid sample."
Practicality is an important part of the puzzle of connecting highly skilled researchers with U.S. defense agencies to make the Nation more secure. Whether the threat is an intentional release of a harmful biological compound, an unchecked pathogen or an impending chemical attack, NSRI Space Coast researchers stand ready to expeditiously leverage significant abilities and resources, quickly and efficiently mitigate chemical and biological threats and explore emerging technologies for the future.
"The satisfying part of working at this location and with these customers is that we see the real-time impact of the results of our projects,” Roberts said. “Most of the time, whatever device or method we come up with goes directly into the hands of our end users. Here, all the results are very tangible. It’s very rewarding in that regard — we go to bed at night and feel like we’ve made a difference."
Connect With NSRI
As the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designated by the U.S. Department of War, sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command and affiliated with the University of Nebraska System, the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) delivers solutions for strategic deterrence and CWMD mission requirements. Our rapid-response capabilities and efficient contracting vehicle can help federal government program managers meet critical research and development needs. Connect with us to learn more.
Get Started