ATCC wins prestigious National Institutes of Health Replication Prize for advancing reproducibility in virus research. News Release Global biological resource center recognized for groundbreaking work that makes high-stakes biomedical research more trustworthy and repeatable. May 14, 2026 ATCC is a winner of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund Replication Prize, a prestigious national competition designed to advance scientific research by identifying strategies to make biomedical research more replicable. ATCC is recognized as one of 35 winners, and one of 15 selected winners for the Replication Exemplars Track. ATCC was recognized for its innovative approach to producing Well-characterized Challenge Material (WCCM) - standardized, rigorously tested virus samples that enable researchers across institutions to generate comparable, reproducible results for high-containment virus research. The NIH Replication Prize, launched with NASA's Tournament Lab, addresses critical challenges in biomedical research where many peer-reviewed studies cannot be reliably replicated due to incomplete documentation and variability in materials. The program aims to shift scientific culture by embedding replication as a standard practice rather than an afterthought. ATCC won for developing a comprehensive strategy that produces viral challenge materials with consistent genomic and functional characteristics across multiple production runs. The approach ensures independent lots meet quality standards and can be used interchangeably without additional manipulation. This capability is critical for high-containment virus studies including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viruses. Reduced variability in these materials strengthens the reliability of evaluating vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. "This recognition validates ATCC's commitment to reproducible science and highlights the critical importance of standardized, high-quality biological materials in advancing research," said Rebecca Bradford, senior vice president of Federal Solutions at ATCC. "By eliminating variability in viral challenge materials, we're building a foundation for more reliable research across institutions worldwide." ATCC's winning replication strategy involved three critical phases: * Controlled optimization studies to identify optimal cell line selection (HeLa, Caco-2, U-87 MG, and SW-13), seeding density, multiplicity of infection, and harvest timing * Small-scale engineering runs to confirm reproducibility * Large-scale production exceeding one liter per batch Each run underwent rigorous quality control including whole-genome sequencing, sterility and mycoplasma screening, and functional validation through TCID[50] and plaque assays. The ATCC team produced over 30 production runs generating more than 1,000 vials per run while maintaining genomic stability with only low-frequency variants detected through integrated next-generation sequencing. The out-of-the-vial model eliminated additional passages by researchers, reducing experimental variability and decreasing quality control turnaround time by 30%. The impact extends beyond individual projects to strengthen global pandemic preparedness. Through management of BEI Resources, ATCC enables worldwide distribution of standardized materials for eligible researchers. The scalable platform allows rapid production of challenge material for emerging pathogens, ensuring validated viral stocks can be deployed quickly during public health emergencies. Proven during the COVID-19 response, this capability positions the global scientific community for faster, more coordinated responses to future outbreaks. This recognition reinforces ATCC's leadership in advancing reproducible science and its ongoing commitment to supporting the global research community with trusted biological resources.

Building a bioliterate workforce in Prince William County. The Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Tourism (PWCDEDT) participated in the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) roadshow event Empowering the Future of Biotechnology through Trusted Science at American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)'s corporate headquarters in Innovation Park, Manassas on November 21. The exclusive gathering included an intersection of key leaders in academia, industry, and government for the NSCEB's Biotech Across America Roadshow program, which comes on the heels of the comprehensive 200-page report presented to the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee in April 2025. This stop featured global leadership in the bioeconomy, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and Virginia Bio. Major biomanufacturing startups from across the Capital BioHealth Region were featured on panels, including the Endeavor234 incubator graduate, Capra Biosciences, who is working with ATCC on projects related to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Switch program. "We grow and protect the essential resources that can harness the immense power of biology - impacting everything from cancer and infectious diseases to agriculture. Every milestone related to scientific biological discovery is recorded at ATCC," said ATCC president and CEO Ruth Cheng, PhD. "The bioeconomy is a shared mission for resiliency which starts with the talent pipeline." Located in Manassas for nearly 30 years, the private non-profit is an anchor life science and biomanufacturing company for the county's burgeoning Innovation District, which is powered by PWCDEDT, the City of Manassas, and George Mason University (GMU). In addition to successful workforce programs such as Virgina Bio's STEM2VA and VIPC's Lab-to-Launch, GMU just launched the Northern Virginia International Soft-Landing Accelerator (NISA) program designed to help start-ups from around the globe find guidance, connections, and lab or office space in Innovation District. "ATCC's growing campus in Prince William County highlights a major economic opportunity for us," said Christina Winn, executive director, PWCDEDT. "Businesses are actively looking for modern industrial space, places where advanced biomanufacturing, tech innovators, and their suppliers can scale their ideas. The demand is there, and we're in a competitive position to capture it." The event coincided with ATCC's 100th anniversary year, and key leaders were given a guided tour of the new biomanufacturing facility that's under construction. ATCC invested $54.6 million to build the new lab and when complete, it will create 75 new high-paying jobs... ATCC will continue its central role in supporting U.S. priorities in health, biosecurity, and domestic biomanufacturing. "This is the next century of biology, and we at ATCC are proud to be supporting it." said Cheng. "Our global competitiveness depends on deep collaboration and collective action." About NSCEB The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov. Share this.