Talk of biological warfare has come to the forefront in the last year or so. Scientists are now working on an artificial immune system to defend against such a threat.

The Department of Defense has awarded a $3.7 million grant to researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center. It's for the creation of an artificial immune system.

The immune system would reduce the need for testing on humans and reduce the time it takes for a vaccine to get to the public.

The researchers are developing ways to grow stem cells for the research.

"We're taking umbilical cord cells, and modifying them genetically and then putting them in a three-dimensional matrix and then putting that three-dimensional matrix into a culture machine that we will develop," said Dr. Larry Lasky, Ohio State University.

Scientists believe the artificial immune system could also help with testing treatments for Parkinson's disease and cardiac disease.