International Conference on Biodefense & Natural Disasters (Natural Disasters-2013) hosted by OMICS group was held on August 21-23, 2013 at Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport, Orlando-Florida, USA.

Natural Disasters-2013 created new strategies and innovative approaches towards the arena of Bio defense and Natural disasters. The event brought substantial response from scientific fraternity and renowned delegates from the companies.

The conference was well supported by participation from Editorial Board Members, Organizing Committee Members, researchers, scientists, technologists and students from various parts of the world.
Natural Disasters-2013 has gathered the scientific thoughts from different research area and proved the importance of the hazards management to cope with the future threats. The conference has tried grounding every aspect related to the Biodefense and Natural Disasters research area with the theme of “Unravelling the Key Elements of Biological and Environmental Science" which encompassed the following scientific tracks:  

• Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Immunotherapeutics & Vaccines
• Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures
• Bio-detectors & Biosensors
• Public Health in Concern to Biothreat and Biodefense
• Applied Research and Technology in Biodefense
• Environmental Hazards & Natural Disasters Management
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather
• Earthscience and Ecology
• Current Approaches in Environmental Studies
• Spatial Monitoring and Response Technology for Disasters Management

Natural Disasters-2013 was moderated by Dr. James R Sutton, Sigma Iberia. Inc., USA.
The conference has also gathered support from universities, companies, organization and research centres. The highlights of the meeting were the eponymous lectures, delivered by Dr. Stef Stienstra from The Royal Dutch Navy, The Netherland. His talk highlighted the use of anthrax and orthopox therapeutic antibodies from human origin in Biodefense. Integrated genomic-based biosurveillance enterprise for operational awareness was discussed by Dr. Juergen Richt, Department of Homeland Security, USA during the conference.

The conference was chaired by: Mingtao Zeng, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, USA, Madhav L Khandekar, Environment Canada, Canada and Stef Stienstra, The Royal Dutch Navy, Netherlands.

OMICS Group has taken the privilege of felicitating Natural Disasters-2013 Organizing Committee, Editorial Board Members and Keynote Speakers who supported towards the success of this event. Teresa Vieira dos S. Oliveira, Foundation Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil, presented the best poster and was awarded for their outstanding contribution. We appreciate all the participants who have put their efforts in oral presentations and sincerely wish them success in future endeavours.  

The esteemed guests, Keynote speakers, well-known researchers and delegates shared their innovative research and vast experience through their fabulous presentations at the podium of grand Natural Disasters-2013. We are delighted to publish all accepted abstracts in the related OMICS Group Journal of Geography & Natural Disasters and Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense as a special issue.

We are also thankful to various delegate experts, company representatives and other eminent personalities who supported the conference and we are sincerely thanking the Organizing Committee Members for their gracious presence, support, and assistance.