Maryland Biotech Ecosystem Working to Strengthen U.S. Supply Chain Security
As China seeks to establish global biotech dominance, Maryland is investing in solutions to strengthen biotech supply chain security here at home.
15, September 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rockville, Maryland – Yesterday, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) traveled to Maryland for the latest stop on its Biotech Across America Roadshow. NSCEB Commissioner Dov Zakheim visited United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a standards-setting organization that supports high-quality supply chains for medicines around the world, to meet with state officials and industry leaders to learn more about how Maryland is addressing some of the biggest challenges in biotechnology supply chains.
“Maryland is addressing biotech supply chain vulnerability head-on,” said NSCEB Commissioner Dov Zakheim. “The United States has lacked the infrastructure to scale biotechnology products and bring them to market, and it was clear today that states like Maryland would benefit from more effective coordination at the federal level to fully achieve supply chain resilience.”
“Today’s Biotech Across America Roadshow roundtable showcased exactly why Maryland’s life sciences sector paces the nation in jobs, investment, and innovation,” said Brad Gillenwater, Life Sciences Manager for the Maryland Department of Commerce. “We are grateful to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology for the opportunity to discuss how Maryland can further strengthen its leadership in biomanufacturing, and we hope to continue these conversations with our private-sector and government partners in the near future.”
“TEDCO was honored to join the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology for today’s roundtables in Rockville,” said Tammi Thomas, president, TEDCO. “Maryland already operates the kind of coordinated, end-to-end biotech pipeline the Commission’s report calls for nationally — from early-stage research funding through venture capital — and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share how that pipeline is working, and where it can grow, with national leaders. We look forward to continuing this partnership as Maryland’s life science ecosystem drives the next generation of American biotechnology innovation.”
“This NSCEB-led convening underscored the importance and power of working together across federal, state, private and public entities to harness and scale America’s innovation engine,” said Emily Kaine, M.D., Senior Vice President, Global Health and Manufacturing Services at USP. “Key additional enablers will also include smart policy, sustained investment and, also, international standards to facilitate research and development, reduce uncertainty and streamline regulatory pathways.”
Event Details:
The event began with opening remarks that set the scene for a larger roundtable discussion exploring what a coordinated federal biotechnology strategy could look like and how it would benefit Maryland’s biotech industry and our domestic supply chain security.
Commissioner Zakheim joined state and local industry leaders to discuss the role of the federal government in promoting innovation and strengthening the U.S. biotech industry through efforts to expand biomanufacturing capabilities and grow the workforce. Maryland is already home to major Federal biotech assets like the NIH and NIST, as well as many more organizations with a long history of partnership with the Federal government. Participants also discussed how state policies impact growth in these areas. The group identified gaps in infrastructure and ways Maryland’s leadership can drive the larger U.S. biotech industry.
Participants included:
- Astra Zeneca
- BioHub Maryland
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
- Maryland Department of Commerce
- MilliporeSigma
- NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Office of U.S. Representative Andy Harris
- Office of U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney
- Office of U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks
- Office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen
- TEDCO
- United States Pharmacopeia
Biotech Across America Roadshow: The Commission is hitting the road to highlight biotechnology across America, including the companies, academic institutions, workforce development programs, and policy initiatives that are driving the future for this rapidly growing industry. Commissioners will continue learning about the work being done across this vibrant ecosystem while engaging on the key findings and recommendations from the Commission’s recent report to Congress.
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.
Contacts:
NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov
