---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18931"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18931"
heading: "Engineering biology and biometrology"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18931"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter II — National Institute of Standards and Technology for the Future"
  - "Part A — Measurement Research"
---

# §18931. Engineering biology and biometrology

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1), in coordination with the National [Engineering Biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6) Research and Development Initiative established pursuant to subchapter IV, shall—
  - (1) support basic measurement science and technology research for [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6), [biomanufacturing](/usc/42/18901.md?p=4), 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](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6), [biomanufacturing](/usc/42/18901.md?p=4), and biometrology research; and
    - (D) other areas of measurement science and technology research determined by the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) to be critical to the development and deployment of [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6), [biomanufacturing](/usc/42/18901.md?p=4) and biometrology;
  - (2) support activities to inform and expand the development of measurements infrastructure needed to develop [technical standards](/usc/42/18901.md?p=29) to establish interoperability and facilitate commercial development of biomolecular measurement technology and [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6) applications;
  - (3) convene industry, institutions of higher education, [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations, [Federal laboratories](/usc/42/18901.md?p=9), and other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) engaged in [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6) 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](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations, and government [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to perform research and testing;
  - (5) establish or expand collaborative partnerships or consortia with other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) engaged in [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6) research and development, institutions of higher education, [Federal laboratories](/usc/42/18901.md?p=9), and industry to advance [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6) applications; and
  - (6) support graduate and postgraduate research and training in biometrology, [biomanufacturing](/usc/42/18901.md?p=4), and [engineering biology](/usc/42/18901.md?p=6).
- (b) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed to alter the policies, processes, or [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of individual Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) 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) **Controls—** In carrying out activities authorized by this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/18921.md?p=6) shall ensure proper security controls are in place to protect sensitive information, as appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title II, § 10221, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1474.)