Market

Life Sciences Research

For over 40 years, government and commercial clients have counted on Battelle’s life sciences research expertise and facilities to protect human health by developing, testing, and validating vaccines, therapeutics and assays.
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Insights with Impact

Battelle provides insights for making informed program and policy decisions on a broad range of issues–from health preparedness to infectious disease prevention. Our research has been the foundation for program development and public policy for organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Environmental Protection Agency. We deliver operational support and expertise for a wide variety of public health issues.

Our Solutions

  • Photo; scientist studying a sample through a microscope solution

    Therapeutics, Prophylaxis and Diagnostics

    Battelle operates the world’s largest non-governmental containment laboratories that help clients deliver life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for victims of chemical and biological warfare or pandemic diseases.
  • Photo: 4 doctors analyzing data in a lab solution

    Precision Public Health

    Battelle delivers the right intervention, to the right population, at the right time. Our interdisciplinary team of public health experts, data scientists and molecular geneticists improve health outcomes while promoting health equity.
  • Photo: scientist examining samples at the battelle biomedical research center solution

    Chemical Agent Countermeasures

    Battelle is a global leader in understanding the impact of chemical agents on our national security. Our experts execute the most thorough testing procedures and processes available under stringent quality management systems, providing guiding insights for the most important decisions.

By the Numbers

40 +

Years of Experience

200 k+

ft2 biological research laboratories

77 k

ft2 of chemical research laboratories

22 k+

ft2 of BSL-3 lab space

70 k+

ft2 of BSL-2 lab space

World Class Facilities

Our highly specialized laboratories and equipment enhance the quality and value of our work for faster, more reliable results. Our facilities include the largest privately owned enhanced Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3+) facility in the United States as well as 5 chemical surety laboratories.

 

Explore the BRC

Biological Defense Research Facility

92,000 sq. ft; 22,000 ft2 ABSL-3 containment area with 15 animal rooms and 22 ABSL-3 laboratories; 2 ABSL-2 animal rooms and 8 ABSL-2 laboratories.

Aerosol Exposure Laboratory

Specialized laboratories for generating aerosol exposure challenges of ABSL-2 and -3 threat organisms and highly toxic materials.

Highly Toxic Materials Laboratory

77,000 sq. ft. area consisting of 29 ABSL-2 animal rooms; 15 laboratory areas with 144 linear feet of filtered chemical fume hoods.

Our Insights

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Our Experts


  • Nicole Brennan

    Public Health Thought Leader and Division Manager
    Nicole brings over 20 years of public health and healthcare quality expertise to Battelle’s Health Research Division. She leads a team of domestic and international health researchers, scientists and practitioners with expertise in diverse aspects of health science, including healthcare quality measurement, environmental health, genomics, gerontology, behavioral science, preparedness, and military health. Nicole and the members of her team enable discovery to decision support through applied science. 

  • Gabe Meister

    Research Leader
    Gabe Meister is a Sr. Scientist with 20 years of experience working in the discovery and preclinical phases of vaccine and drug development. Dr. Meister has led multiple programs at Battelle that have resulted in FDA approval of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare and life-threatening diseases. Most recently Dr. Meister leads a diverse group of scientists and engineers in developing novel drug delivery technologies.

  • Drew Cawthon

    Business Line Director, Life Sciences Research
    Drew manages just over 300 staff engaged in pre-clinical and clinical research for both government and commercial clients. Drew’s team provides integrated scientific and technological capabilities in high hazard and biocontainment toxicology, assay development and validation services, and toxicology and pharmacology for support for investigational new drug studies. Drew and the members of his team also support clinical research through the Battelle Public Health Research Center in Baltimore, Maryland and provide onsite scientific support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA.

  • Daniel Sanford

    Research Leader, High-Containment Biology
    Dr. Daniel Sanford is a Research Leader at Battelle’s Biomedical Research Center (BRC). He has served as Study Director on more than 75 studies conducted in Battelle’s high-containment laboratory during the past 16 years, with a focus on model development, bacterial/viral pathogenesis, and medical countermeasure development/evaluation. Dr. Sanford has experience with a number of pathogens/toxins, including Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, botulinum neurotoxin, ricin, Zika Virus, rabbitpox virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Sanford played a significant role in overseeing the execution of studies to support the FDA licensure of Raxibacumab, Anthim, and Tembexa. He has participated in four FDA directed inspections of the BRC, which involved FDA review of nine studies for which he served as Study Director. In addition, Dr. Sanford has presented at FDA on his experience serving as a Study Director on GLP studies conducted in a high-containment lab.