News and Outreach

The NBAF Communications Team is available to address questions, respond to media inquiries, deliver presentations, and discuss participation in community outreach activities. Please contact nbaf@usda.gov with these requests.

NBAF’s communications team also posts information on Twitter and LinkedIn pages. A sample of the news content regarding NBAF is listed below.

Featured News

• NBAF, BioKansas Partner to Offer STEM Internships to Underrepresented Populations
  March 16, 2023
• A Period of Endurance
  February 2023 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• Moving Forward
  January 2023 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury

General NBAF News

• A Period of Endurance
  February 2023 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• Moving Forward
  January 2023 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• NBAF completes long-awaited commissioning process
  Jan. 5, 2023 (Publish by KMAN News Radio)
• Continuing a Legacy
  Nov. 2022 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• NBAF Awarded Prestigious LEED Gold Certification
  March 9, 2022 release from DHS S&T
• Going the extra mile
  November 2021 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• Dept. of Homeland Security and USDA transitioning responsibility of NBAF in phases
  Oct. 6, 2021 (Published on WIBW Channel 13)
• National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Makes Lemonade Out of the Year 2020
  Feb. 22, 2021 (Published in Agricultural Resource Service’s Tellus)
• Collaboration drives us forward with new milestones
  Jan. 23, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Supporting the science
  Jan. 3, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• USDA and DHS S&T Revise NBAF Project Timeline
  Dec. 15, 2020
• Animal Disease Research Gets High-Tech New Home
  Nov. 9, 2020 (Published in Agricultural Resource Service’s Tellus)
• Serving the greater good
  Oct. 25, 2020 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Celebrating achievements
  Sept. 20, 2020 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Signing Ceremony Sets Terms of NBAF Transfer from Homeland Security to USDA
  June 20, 2019

NBAF’s Scientific News

• RCSA, USDA fund 7 team projects in Mitigating Zoonotic Threats
  Jan. 4, 2023 (Published in National Hog Farmer)
• Protecting the U.S. Agricultural Economy
  Dec. 2022 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• The future home of the world’s most dangerous pathogens
  Dec. 5, 2022 (Published in Coda Story)
• Preparing to Tackle Zoonotic and Emerging Diseases
  Oct. 2022 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• Passionate and Dedicated
  May 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• Made in Manhattan
  April 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• A greater reward
  March 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• NBAF discusses Biologics Development Module
  Sept. 3, 2021 (Published by 1350 KMAN Radio)
• Expanding on the Legacy of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center
  Aug. 2, 2021 (Published by ARS Tellus)
• Fellows Selected for New Scialog: Mitigating Zoonotic Threats
  June 29, 2021 (Published by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement)
• RCSA, USDA Partner to Launch New Scialog: Mitigating Zoonotic Threats
  Aug. 31, 2020 (Published by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement)

Articles Explaining the Benefits of NBAF in the Heartland

• Why Kansas, K-State are prime location for lab
  Sept. 18, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• When the Next Animal Plague Hits, Can This Lab Stop It?
  July 6, 2021 (Published by Wired Magazine)
• Animal Disease Labs Stepped Up During COVID-19 And Could Help Prevent The Next Pandemic
  May 25, 2021 (Published in Harvest Public Media)
• Why USDA’s mission is moving west
  May 21, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• A critical asset to protecting animal health
  April 16, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• A vision for a safer, more resilient America
  Feb. 20, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• What role could NBAF play in future pandemics?
  Apr. 5, 2020

News Reflecting NBAF’s Safety and Security Features

• NBAF progress continues as scientists begin assessing laboratories, equipment
  March 3, 2023 (Published on KMAN 1350 Radio)
• When it comes to safety, slow and steady wins.
  Sept. 2022 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• See it. Say it. Fix it.
  July 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• Safety and Welfare for all
  June 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• Ironing out the details
  February 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• There’s a procedure for that
  October 2021 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• NBAF aims for quality assurance
  Oct. 8, 2021 (Published by KMAN)
• A well-oiled and high-tech machine
  June 19, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Becoming highly reliable in protecting the U.S.
  March 20, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• How will NBAF keep contaminants out of the local water supply?
  December 4, 2020 (Published by KMAN)
• Safety is fundamental to our success
  July 19, 2020 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)

Articles Featuring NBAF Employees and Workforce Development Programs

• NBAF, BioKansas Partner to Offer STEM Internships to Underrepresented Populations
  March 16, 2023
• Sense of Community
  Aug. 2022 NBAF Update to the Manhattan Mercury
• Building Scientific expertise
  January 2022 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• Lifetime resolutions
  December 2021 NBAF Update to Manhattan Mercury
• USDA and Boehringer Ingelheim expand summer research opportunities for veterinary students
  Dec. 8, 2021 (Published on Boehringer Ingelheim)
• Cleaning out closets
  Aug. 20, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• With patience comes great reward
  July 24, 2021 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• NBAF employees help with FEMA-led vaccination effort
  July 16, 2021
• Community’s support of veterans leads to quality NBAF workforce
  Dec. 13, 2020 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Veterans’ Strengths Positively Contribute to NBAF’s Unified Culture
  Nov. 9, 2020
• USDA Program Partners with K-State to Train the Next Generation of NBAF Scientists
  Aug. 31, 2020
• Building a diverse workforce
  Aug. 31, 2020 (Published in the Manhattan Mercury)
• Dr. Alfonso Clavijo Named Director of USDA National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
  Oct. 1, 2019
• NBAF Coordinator Visits Great Bend
  Aug. 7, 2019 (Published by the Great Bend Tribune)

News Articles from Non-Federal Sources

• Scientist Training Program Advances Research Initiatives, Student Careers
  June 21, 2021 (The Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership)
• NBAF continues to put operations into place
  June 3, 2021 (KMAN)
• Moran backs safety, security of NBAF
  April 24, 2021 (Manhattan Mercury)
• Dear Facebook commenter, Plum Island wasn't that scary
  April 23, 2021 (Manhattan Mercury)
• Despite ongoing pandemic, NBAF continues to work towards opening
  March 4, 2021 (KMAN)
• NBAF to Hire More Than 60 Facility, Animal Care Positions in FY2021; Scientist Jobs to Follow
  Oct. 9, 2020 (The Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership)
• USDA National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility: A Game-Changer for Animal Health and Disease Research
  July 20, 2020 (The Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership)

Radio Interviews with NBAF Employees

• KMAN In Focus with Steven Kappes, Associate Administrator of Agricultural Research Service Office of National Programs
  March 2, 2023
• KMAN In Focus with Jessica Pulz, Executive Liaison for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
  Feb. 2, 2023
• KMAN In Focus with Tim Barr, DHS program manager for NBAF
  Jan. 5, 2023
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Robin Holland, Diagnostic Services Section of the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island Animal Disease Center
  Dec. 1, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Jeff Brakke, Supervisory Engineer and Facilities Unit Director
  Nov. 3, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Lisa Hensley, ZEDRU unit leader
  Oct. 6, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Tony Losito, security director
  Sept. 1, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Patrick Moylan, NBAF operations director
  Aug. 4, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Cheryl Doerr, biorisk program manager
  July 7, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Maggie Behnke, NBAF attending veterinarian
  June 2, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Muzafar Makhdoomi, associate director of the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
  May 5, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Chad Mire, Research Leader for the Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit
  April 7, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Jeff Silverstein, Deputy Administrator for USDA’s Office of National Programs Animal Production and Protection
  March 3, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Freeda Isaac, Executive Director of APHIS Diagnostics and Biologics
  Feb. 3, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Roxann Motroni, ARS National Program Leader for Animal Health
  Jan. 6, 2022
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Alfonso Clavijo, NBAF Director
  Dec. 2, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with Anthony Rodriguez, Chief of Safety, Health and Environment Management
  Nov. 4, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with Veronica Fris, Quality Assurance Manager
  Oct. 7, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with Steve Witte, director of NBAF’s Biologics Development Module
  Sept. 2, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Chuck Dodd, transition program manager at PIADC
  Aug. 5, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Deputy Director Dr. Sarah Ziegler
  July 1, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Operations Director Patrick Moylan
  June 3, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with Dr. Jamie Barnabei
  May 6, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Transition Coordinator Diana Whipple
  April 1, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Biorisk Management Training Program Coordinator Dr. Chad Austin
  March 4, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit Research Leader Dr. Luis Rodriguez
  Feb. 4, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Program Manager Tim Barr
  Jan. 7, 2021
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Support Services Supervisor Heather Knox
  Dec. 3, 2020
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Program Analyst Sharone Washington
  Nov. 2, 2020
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Senior Science Advisor Bill Wilson
  Oct. 1, 2020
• KMAN In Focus with NBAF Director Dr. Alfonso Clavijo
  Sept. 2, 2020