Firepower in the Lab examines how the nation can combat this triple threat by improving our ability to detect, measure, and monitor harmful biological agents. It explores the potential of today's exciting new laboratory automation and computer technologies as well as the emerging tools of molecular biology -- how we can generate and analyze more data quickly and reduce human hands-on involvement, which inevitably introduces errors.

The book discusses how to improve and apply technologies such as robotics, laboratory automation, "lab on a chip", bioinformatics, and Internet control innovations. It reviews lessons learned from our experience with pandemic flu viruses and presents strategies for developing new high-throughput technologies, including how to address the lack of public funding for critical research undertakings.