The Nucleic Acid Observatory is now SecureBio Detection
The Nucleic Acid Observatory is getting a new name: SecureBio Detection. We’re still the same team working on the same problem, but the name makes it clearer how this effort fits into SecureBio as a whole.
The NAO was founded in 2021 as a project within MIT’s Sculpting Evolution group, before spinning out under SecureBio in phases. Having distinct NAO branding made sense: the project spanned two organizations, and we needed a clear identity that wasn’t tied to either parent. Now that we’re fully part of SecureBio, however, it’s become increasingly a source of confusion. A large fraction of calls with new contacts include a “can you explain the relationship between the NAO and SecureBio?” When people see a separate website, logo, and color scheme this suggests an independent organization.
SecureBio now has two major areas of work: Detection and AI. The two teams increasingly collaborate closely, and having both operate clearly under the SecureBio name makes it easier for people to understand what we do and how the pieces fit together.
Specifically, we’re changing the project’s:
- Name: “SecureBio Detection”, parallel to “SecureBio AI”.
- Website: securebio.org/detection. We’ve set up redirects, so all URLs should still work. Please let us know if something doesn’t!
- Contact: write to us at detection-inquiries@securebio.org
Our work is not changing: we’ll continue defending against pathogens designed to evade detection, by evaluating biosurveillance approaches, developing laboratory and computational methods for pathogen detection, and piloting early warning systems.
Retiring the NAO brand does make me sad: as with many on the team, I’ve grown very attached to it. But names are primarily for people outside the organization, and presenting ourselves as SecureBio Detection makes it clear what we do and where we fit.
If you have questions about the transition or are interested in collaborating, please reach out at detection-inquiries@securebio.org.