Funding for the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility, however, has slowed in recent years because of tight federal funding sources and ongoing reviews of the laboratory's size, scope and risk.

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"Proper sampling from the mobile laboratory is urgently needed to determine the scope and magnitude of the crisis and to assist in developing a rigorous response, " OCHA said in a statement.

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But with many laboratory tasks being automated, there should also be scope to begin new activities, and the partners believe one key role for the ISS going forward will be as a development platform for deep space exploration.

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