Since 2022, the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) has been running the B24IC program—Biointelligence and Biosecurity for the Intelligence Community. This program pioneers the use of living organisms as biological intelligence tools and simultaneously addresses biosecurity concerns.
Under B24IC, nine key contractors, including major defense players Raytheon BBN and Battelle Memorial Institute, develop groundbreaking bio-surveillance technologies such as living detectors made from genetically engineered bacteria. These microbes fluoresce upon detecting chemical signatures of covert enemy production, change color in contact with explosives or nerve agents, and identify nuclear materials or toxins in real-time.
The program also explores DNA as a biological “black box,” where cells record chemical exposures and later reveal data for forensic analysis. Genetic forensics are being refined to trace origins of biological agents, distinguishing between natural and lab-created pathogens, pinpointing specific laboratories and technologies involved.
B24IC aims for total ecological surveillance, covertly sampling air, water, and soil in adversary regions to detect secret biological activities early and map vulnerabilities. Testing and evaluations are led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, institutions deeply embedded in biosecurity and cyber defense.
Los Alamos brings expertise from its bio-weapons heritage and modern genomics, Sandia leads in cybersecurity of biotechnologies, and Naval Information Warfare focuses on ISR and offensive-defensive cyber capabilities. IARPA’s convergence of biology and cutting-edge tech envisions a future where life itself becomes a frontline intelligence asset.
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