The National Strategy for Biosurveillance (Strategy), published in July 2012, calls for "a coordinated approach that brings together Federal, state, local, and tribal governments; the private sector; nongovernmental organizations; and international partners" to enhance existing biosurveillance capabilities and, where necessary, develop new ones that provide decision makers and responders with the essential information they need to mitigate impacts of threats to health and associated economic, societal, and political consequences. The Strategy recognizes that a well-integrated national biosurveillance enterprise can saves lives by providing essential information for better decision making at all levels. The interagency Biosurveillance Science and Technology Working Group (BST WG), chartered in May 2012, was established under the Subcommittee on Biological Defense Research and Development of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Homeland and National Security to develop national biosurveillance research and development priorities to enable the Core Functions of the Strategy.