Building a secure future for biotechnology requires shared responsibility, not just regulation, said Becky Mackelprang. By working together across disciplines and borders, we can make biosecurity an integral part of how science is done, not an afterthought.

Becky Mackelprang is a leading expert in biosecurity policy and responsible innovation in engineering biology. As Director for Security Programs at the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC), she oversees the organization’s Security Focus Area, bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to strengthen the integration of biosecurity awareness and practices across the biotechnology ecosystem.

Becky has spearheaded several national and international initiatives to build consensus around biosecurity norms and standards, with a particular focus on nucleic acid synthesis screening and secure design practices. Her work sits at the intersection of science, policy, and governance, helping ensure that the next generation of biotechnologies are developed safely, transparently, and with global trust.

Within the IBBIS Technical Consortium, Becky contributes her deep expertise in policy alignment, stakeholder engagement, and community-driven standard-setting, helping to ensure that international DNA synthesis screening standards are both practical and responsive to the realities of fast-moving innovation.