The NSABB shall consist of not more than 25 voting members, including the Chair. Members will be appointed by the Secretary, HHS in consultation with the heads of federal departments and agencies that conduct or support life science research.

A broad range of expertise is represented on the NSABB, including molecular biology, microbiology, infectious diseases, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, public health/epidemiology, health physics, pharmaceutical production, veterinary medicine, plant health, food production, bioethics, national security, biodefense, intelligence, law and law enforcement, scientific publishing, institutional biosafety committees, recombinant DNA and export control.