Network of National Biosecurity Centres

The network of national biosecurity centres will bolster the UK’s resilience to deliberate, accidental or naturally occurring biological incidents

The billion pound investment into establishing a Network of National Biosecurity Centres was announced under the 2025 National Security Strategy, as part of a comprehensive package to strengthen sovereign capabilities. 

The biological risk landscape is shifting and the biological threats we face continue to become more diverse, complex and intersect in new ways. The 2023 UK Biological Security Strategy was published in response to this threat landscape, and outlines our commitment to invest in a world-class science base to ensure our science and technology capabilities are resilient to the spectrum of biological threats facing the UK. 

The Network of National Biosecurity Centres will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations between the UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It will ensure we are better prepared for a crisis, can respond more effectively when an incident does happen, and deliver a more holistic, One Health and National Security approach to biological research.

National Biosecurity Centres are government owned and operated facilities that meet three principal criteria:

  • They provide a sovereign national capability upon which the UK is dependent for its biosecurity
  • They have an international reputation and upon which there is an international dependency.
  • They provide capabilities required for frontline response to bio-incidents, including high-containment laboratory facilities.

DEFRA announced in March 2025 that the first National Biosecurity Centre will be built at Weybridge. Initial capability will be built and operational from 2027 onwards. With the full National Biosecurity Centre in operation by 2034.

The network will initially consist of three government-owned facilities:

  • The UK Health Security Agency maintains a network of specialist reference laboratories to monitor, warn and prepare for public health threats to the UK.
  • The Animal and Plant Health Agency works to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.
  • The Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory provides unique science and technology expertise, insights and solutions for the UK’s security and defence.

The Network will seek to strengthen and formalise the strong, existing collaborations between the three agencies as they develop new National Biosecurity Centres. The network will strengthen our scientific talent pool, reinforce our healthcare ecosystem, support food and farming sectors, and foster economic growth.