SCALE Biology Act (H.R. 8981)

Standards and Calibration for American Leadership in Engineering Biology Act or the SCALE Biology Act

This bill establishes a biometrology laboratory program within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and expands NIST’s role in related research and support activities. 

Biometrology applies the science of measurement to the study of living organisms. Biometrology is used in many disciplines, including biomanufacturing, engineering biology, and biotechnology. Current law requires NIST to support biometrology research and related activities.

The bill directs NIST to establish a biometrology laboratory program to enable innovation, improve biological data, and support the safe and responsible development and application of biological technologies.

The bill expands NIST’s existing biometrology-related activities to include

• establishing common terminology and definitions related to engineering biology, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and the bioeconomy;
• supporting external research that advances biometrology and related disciplines; and
• identifying areas where technical standards and other governance mechanisms are needed.

In carrying out these activities, NIST must coordinate with other federal agencies and specified federal programs as appropriate.

The bill also directs NIST to support the development of specialized engineering biology facilities (i.e., foundries) in partnership with industry and other specified stakeholders. (Engineering biology involves the synthetic programming of cellular systems. NIST currently operates a Living Measurement Systems Foundry, which supports biometrology and engineering biology research and testing.)

The bill also explicitly authorizes NIST to conduct research to support the development of voluntary, consensus-based technical standards, best practices, and other resources for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and biometrology.