Pandora Report 1.30.2026

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

 Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue highlights the OPCW findings to address threat of chemical weapons by Syrian regime in 2016; the 2026 Doomsday Clock update that shows the growing urgency surrounding nuclear, AI, and biological threats; the first H5N1 detection in European cattle and ongoing avian influenza collaborations; U.S. national security implications for emerging biotechnology; and the latest guidance on managing biological AI tools. 

Thinking About Graduate School?  

George Mason University is hosting Mason Square Open House to allow prospective students to explore the different degree programs offered at the master’s, doctoral, and professional levels, as well as graduate-level certificates.  

Van Metre Hall Multipurpose Room 

3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, US 

Thinking about Getting a Master’s in Biodefense?  

GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government has an upcoming recruitment event: 

Figure 1. GMU Biodefense students attend the Capitol Hill Steering Committee event, “PAHPA turns 20: Reauthorizing Readiness for Domestic Health Security Threats,” at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC on January 21, 2026.   

Why Biotechnology is Shaping U.S. National Security  

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Biotechnology is no longer limited to laboratories or the healthcare industry. As biological systems converge with data, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, and advanced manufacturing, they now serve as dual-use strategic assets, driving both economic growth and innovation while also introducing new national and biosecurity risks. Strengthening governance frameworks, public-private partnerships, and securing biomanufacturing and data ecosystems will be essential to sustaining U.S. technical leadership and national resilience. 

Strengthening Global Norms Against Chemical Weapons Use  

On January 21, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) released its fifth report by the Investigation and Identification Team, “Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use,” examining the 2016 chlorine attack in Kafr Zeita, Syria. The Secretariat concluded that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Forces were responsible for the chemical attack.  

The Hill reported that justice for the victims and survivors carried out by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is now closer than ever. In an opinion piece, George Mason University Biodefense Director Dr. Gregory D. Koblentz emphasized that the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 represents an unprecedented opportunity to pursue accountability. He stressed that holding the Assad regime responsible for its use of chemical weapons is not only a matter of justice, but a critical step to strengthen the global norm against chemical weapons and deter future leaders from their use.   

THE OPCW’s findings were supported by unprecedented cooperation from Syria’s new authorities, and reflects renewed international efforts to document past abuses, verify declarations, and advance accountability from State Parties under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).  

The Netherlands Confirms First Bird Flu Detection in European Cattle 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

European health authorities are on alert following the first documented detection of H5N1 antibodies in a Dutch dairy cow. Although H5N1 bird flu has been detected in many dairy herds across the United States since March 2024, this is the first detection in cattle outside the U.S.  

The discovery occurred in the Netherlands’ Friesland province after the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) was notified in late December 2025 that a cat tested positive for bird flu and subsequently died two days later. The cat was traced back to a particular dairy farm, and a random sample of the farm’s cows were screened for avian influenza on January 15, 2026. Screening revealed antibodies in milk samples from just one cow, indicating a previous infection in that animal, though no active virus or sick animals were detected on the farm. NVWA followed up on January 22nd to collect blood and milk samples from all cattle present. Again, no active avian influenza virus was detected; however, the results of the antibody tests are still pending. 

European Institutions Unite to Combat H5N1 Threat 

The Dutch cattle detection underscores growing concerns about H5N1’s expanding host range as each spillover event raises the possibility of viral adaptation that could increase the risk to humans. To address the rising threat posed by avian influenza, particularly in livestock species, a new, three-year international research project has been announced. Funded through the EU Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW), this initiative will be led by the University of Copenhagen and involve leading European institutions, including the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment in France, the University of Freiburg in Germany, and the Pirbright Institute in the United Kingdom. The project focuses on H5 avian influenza and will investigate viral genetics, assess mammalian host susceptibility with an emphasis on cattle and pigs, and evaluate immune response and vaccination strategies in animals.   

Further Reading:  

2026 Doomsday Clock Statement: It is now 85 seconds to midnight 

From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: “On January 27, 2026, the Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. The Bulletin’s Science and Security Board (SASB), which sets the Clock, called for urgent action to limit nuclear arsenals, create international guidelines on the use of AI, and form multilateral agreements to address global biological threats.”  

New Paper on Safeguarding the Responsible Use of Biological AI Tools  

In a new report, Sarah Carter and Greg Butchello from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) have proposed a new, tiered, and managed access framework for biological AI tools. Their paper addresses the convergence of AI and life sciences, providing guidance on risk levels bio-design tools, criteria for user legitimacy, and practices for verifying users.  

Further Reading:  

In Other News 

Global Health and WHO Developments 

Pandemic Preparedness and Bioethics  

Genetics, Ethics and Misuse of Science 

Podcast: Behind the scenes of “A House of Dynamite” George Mason’s Access to Excellence 

NEW: The 100 Days Mission: Defending Against Pandemic and Biological Risks in a Fragmented World  

From Foreign Policy: “The 100 Days Mission—led by CEPI and endorsed by G7 and G20 leaders—is establishing tools and capabilities to ensure that safe and effective vaccines can be developed within 100 days of a new viral threat. What will it take to embed these capabilities into national security strategies, defense planning, and sustained financing—before the next crisis tests the system? Held against the backdrop of the 2026 Munich Security Conference, Foreign Policy and CEPI will host an official side event to examine how cross-sector partnerships, shared planning, and coordinated financing can close preparedness gaps and strengthen collective defenses against future biological threats.”  

This event will be held in-person in Munich, Germany, on February 14 from 9:00 – 10:30 am CET. Learn more and register here. 

EBSA – Cyberbiosecurity: A Unique Marriage of Biosecurity and Information Systems 

From EBSA: “Increasing reliance on the internet and technology in research and biomedical laboratories has opened these organizations up to increased focus for cyberattacks. These attacks may be perpetrated by external actors or individuals internal to the organization (purposefully or accidentally) and can take advantage of a lack of knowledge by research staff about phishing, access control best practices, and network security especially of research instrumentation, automated laboratory equipment, and building automation and control systems that may be connected to the internet/cloud. This talk will introduce the types of cyberthreats that have been commonly perpetrated against research and biomedical organizations. We will discuss existing guidance documents from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that address critical infrastructure cybersecurity and information systems security controls and how they can be applied to all biomedical research organizations (BSL-1 through BSL-4). Finally, we will explain some of the best practices described in these documents relating to identity management and access control, awareness and training, and data security to give biorisk management and laboratory personnel a better working understanding of cyberbiosecurity.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, February 19 from 14:00 – 16:00 CET. Learn more and register here. 

Pick Your Poison: The Enduring Threat of Biological Toxins 

From the Atlantic Council: “The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council will host its latest meeting, mapping the threat picture of biological toxins and its implications for future biological attacks. Easy availability and control of ricin, botulinum and other toxins make them attractive weapons for use by US adversaries. This meeting of the Commission will discuss the historical and evolving threat of biological toxins and the unique scientific challenges inherent in detecting, characterizing, and attributing toxin attacks. The discussions will also touch upon the vulnerability of food and agricultural systems to toxin threats and the measures required to secure the supply chain from intentional adulteration.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, February 26 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM ET. More details to come.  

 Johns Hopkins H5N1 Influenza Preparedness & Response Forum 

From Johns Hopkins: “Join us in person for the Johns Hopkins H5N1 Influenza Preparedness & Response Forum! This Forum convenes state and local public health officials, federal agency representatives, Congressional staff, veterinarians, diagnosticians, and leading scientific researchers to address the urgent challenges posed by H5N1 and future influenza threats. H5N1 already poses a major threat to the nation’s livestock and poultry industries. If it were to acquire the ability to spread from person to person, there would be increased challenges for detection, containment, and response. This Forum will focus on actionable, science-based recommendations and foster cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen preparedness and response capacity across the One Health spectrum.” 

This event will take place in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 3 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET. Learn more and register here. 

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington, DC, on March 4-5, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

CBRNe Convergence Canada 2026

CBRNe World is hosting its fourth CBRNe Convergence Canada event this year in Toronto! This event will focus on a range of topical issues, including responding to potential CBRN incidents in the High North, response to terrorist attacks at major sporting events, and presentations on Canadian response capabilities, and the largest CBRN/Hazmat exhibition in Canada.

This event will take place April 13-15 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Toronto Downtown. Learn more here, and stay tuned for forthcoming information about CBRNe Convergence this November in Knoxville, TN!

International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France, from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

One Health Commission Board of Directors – Call for Applications 

From OHC: “The One Health Commission (OHC) is pleased to announce an open call for board members to join our governing body. As we implement our new constitution and bylaws, we are seeking distinguished experts who embody collaborative, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches for addressing shared health challenges across human, animal, environmental, and plant health domains.” 

The deadline to submit applications is February 15. Learn more and submit your application here. 

OPCW Senior Science Policy Officer (AI, Data Sciences and Knowledge Management) (P-4) – Job Opening 

From OPCW: “The Office of Strategy and Policy (OSP) develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as incidents of chemical weapons use, non-routine missions, chemical security, engagement with international organisations and chemical industry, education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology. This role in OSP ensures that the Science Policy Adviser is provided with expert advice on advancements in science and technology, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital sciences, through continuous monitoring and provision of specialised advice on applicability to the work of the OPCW. The individual will also help lead, coordinate, and integrate AI and data science-driven approaches and solutions to and in the work of the Secretariat. This role will also take the lead on the Organisation’s knowledge management activities, with a focus on the development and implementation of knowledge management systems and the development and application of digital tools to knowledge management processes.” 

The deadline to apply is February 18. Learn more and submit your application here. 

ICGEB Fellowships for Scientists in Biosecurity  

From the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: “With the co-funding of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation through the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), BWC ISU, the ICGEB offers early-career scientists from OECD/DAC countries a fellowship at ICGEB laboratories in Italy, India, South Africa and at the ICGEB Regional Research Centre in China, to receive hands on training in life sciences and detection and response to biological threats.” 

The closing date for applications is March 31, 23:59 CET. Learn more and apply here. 

Pandora Report 1.23.2026

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue highlights the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO and its implications for global health and biodefense, ongoing H5N1 outbreaks in the U.S. and Europe, GMU’s role in dual-use research training, and global partnership CBRN updates.  

Thinking About Graduate School?  

George Mason University is hosting Mason Square Open House to allow prospective students to explore the different degree programs offered at the master’s, doctoral, and professional levels, as well as graduate-level certificates.  

Van Metre Hall Multipurpose Room 

3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, US 

Thinking about Getting a Master’s in Biodefense?  

GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government has an upcoming recruitment event: 

U.S. Withdrawal from WHO Signals Shift in Global Health and Biodefense Posture 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Figure 1. World Health Organization (WHO). Credit: Pixabay. 

The U.S. officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday, a move with implications that will shake up U.S. health and global health governance. President Trump initiated the withdrawal process on the first day of his second presidency in 2025, via an executive order. However, under U.S. law, the U.S. has exited with unpaid financial contributions to the tune of $278 million for the 2024-2025 period. On Thursday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson cited dissatisfaction with WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for their departure.  

These developments coincide with the release of a compromise FY2026 foreign assistance appropriations bill by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The bill allocates roughly $50 billion for foreign assistance – nearly $20 billion above the administration’s budget request, though still representing a 16% cut from the previous fiscal year. Global health programs emerged as relative winners, retaining more than $9.4 billion in funding for priorities including child survival, immunization, public health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention, and humanitarian assistance. The bill also included language from Congress directing the administration to manage a transition of HIV programs under the “America First” global health policy, signaling pressure for program evolution and congressional scrutiny. 

Domestically, the CDC deputy director downplayed the significance of the loss of U.S. measles elimination status, framing it as a “cost of doing business” amid increased international travel and ongoing vaccine skepticism. Measles elimination status is lost when a country is unable to halt disease transmission following an imported case. The CDC is working with states to help quell these outbreaks, with some transmission occurring in communities where parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children, citing personal freedoms. “As CDC, it is also our responsibility and our goal to support these communities in any way that we can to minimize the effects that measles would have, especially on the pediatric population,” Ralph Abraham, former Louisiana surgeon general. Abraham says he and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. have emphasized continued promotion of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.  

Further Reading: 

Global Partnership to Prevent and Mitigate CBRN and Biothreats 

The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction is a G7-led international initiative aimed at preventing state and non-state proliferation of and mitigating threats posed by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons.  

GMU Expertise Supporting WHO Training on Dual-Use Research and Biosecurity  

GMU’s Biodefense Director, Dr. Gregory Koblentz, has contributed to the development of a new training course with the World Health Organization (WHO) on ‘Dual-Use Research and the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences’ located on the WHO Academy Platform. Now available in French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian (with Portuguese forthcoming), the course examines dual-use research (DUR) issues and discusses ways to identify and mitigate potential biorisks as part of a multisectoral and cooperative approach across One Health, promoting the responsible use of the life sciences. Developed with contributions from international experts, the training aims to build awareness and capacity to prevent the misuse of biological research while advancing scientific innovation.  

Avian Influenza Continues to Impact Poultry Industries Across U.S. and Europe 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) continues to impact commercial poultry operations across the United States, with significant outbreaks reported in Kansas, Minnesota, Delaware, and Georgia since the start of the new year. Kansas has been the hardest hit thus far in 2026 with over 400,000 birds affected. Meanwhile, Delaware’s Kent County reported loss of 147,900 birds at a commercial broiler operation, while Georgia’s Walker County recorded 71,300 infected birds at a breeder facility. Smaller detections have also been reported in Colorado, North Carolina, Indiana, Arkansas and Oregon.  

On January 16, Minnesota reported an outbreak in commercial turkey meat birds affecting just over 250,000 birds. Amidst claims of alleged fraud, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a blanket freeze in USDA financial awards to Minnesota, causing temporary loss of funding to University of Minnesota’s Poultry Testing Laboratory, a vital diagnostic resource for the state’s poultry industry. After supporters requested an exemption on January 15, they were informed that the facility had already been included in a reversal issued the day prior. Despite the uncertainty and rapid changes in federal support, the university-run lab remains committed to providing surveillance of and testing for avian influenza and other poultry diseases for the state’s many producers.  

Europe is also experiencing a severe wave of H5N1 outbreaks. The continent recorded substantially more cases in 2025 than 2024, with 729 commercial poultry outbreaks compared to 451 the previous year. So far this year, 11 countries in the European Union and Great Britain have already reported 42 commercial poultry outbreaks, with Poland reporting the most farm detections (17), followed by 5 in each of France, Germany, and Hungary. Belgium’s West Flanders province faces unprecedented devastation, with over 5 million birds culled since early January. As West Flanders is responsible for 40% of Belgium’s poultry meat and egg production, the outbreaks have had a significant impact on the country’s supply of poultry products. Egg prices rose 25% domestically and supermarket rationing was instituted. Direct economic losses are estimated to reach €150 million by the end of the month. With dozens of outbreaks only three weeks into 2026, it remains to be seen whether this year may bring even greater challenges for Europe’s poultry industry despite continued diligent biosecurity and other countermeasures.  

Further Reading: 

In Other News 

Emerging Biosecurity Risks  

Global Health News 

NEW: EBSA – Cyberbiosecurity: A Unique Marriage of Biosecurity and Information Systems 

From EBSA: “Increasing reliance on the internet and technology in research and biomedical laboratories has opened these organizations up to increased focus for cyberattacks. These attacks may be perpetrated by external actors or individuals internal to the organization (purposefully or accidentally) and can take advantage of a lack of knowledge by research staff about phishing, access control best practices, and network security especially of research instrumentation, automated laboratory equipment, and building automation and control systems that may be connected to the internet/cloud. This talk will introduce the types of cyberthreats that have been commonly perpetrated against research and biomedical organizations. We will discuss existing guidance documents from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that address critical infrastructure cybersecurity and information systems security controls and how they can be applied to all biomedical research organizations (BSL-1 through BSL-4). Finally, we will explain some of the best practices described in these documents relating to identity management and access control, awareness and training, and data security to give biorisk management and laboratory personnel a better working understanding of cyberbiosecurity.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, February 19 from 14:00 – 16:00 CET. Learn more and register here. 

 NEW: Pick Your Poison: The Enduring Threat of Biological Toxins 

From the Atlantic Council: “The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council will host its latest meeting, mapping the threat picture of biological toxins and its implications for future biological attacks. Easy availability and control of ricin, botulinum and other toxins make them attractive weapons for use by US adversaries. This meeting of the Commission will discuss the historical and evolving threat of biological toxins and the unique scientific challenges inherent in detecting, characterizing, and attributing toxin attacks. The discussions will also touch upon the vulnerability of food and agricultural systems to toxin threats and the measures required to secure the supply chain from intentional adulteration.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, February 26 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM ET. More details to come.  

NEW: Johns Hopkins H5N1 Influenza Preparedness & Response Forum 

From Johns Hopkins: “Join us in person for the Johns Hopkins H5N1 Influenza Preparedness & Response Forum! This Forum convenes state and local public health officials, federal agency representatives, Congressional staff, veterinarians, diagnosticians, and leading scientific researchers to address the urgent challenges posed by H5N1 and future influenza threats. H5N1 already poses a major threat to the nation’s livestock and poultry industries. If it were to acquire the ability to spread from person to person, there would be increased challenges for detection, containment, and response. This Forum will focus on actionable, science-based recommendations and foster cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen preparedness and response capacity across the One Health spectrum.” 

This event will take place in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 3 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET. Learn more and register here. 

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington DC on March 4-5, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

CBRNe Convergence Canada 2026

CBRNe World is hosting its fourth CBRNe Convergence Canada event this year in Toronto! This event will focus on a range of topical issues, including responding to potential CBRN incidents in the High North, response to terrorist attacks at major sporting events, and presentations on Canadian response capabilities, and the largest CBRN/Hazmat exhibition in Canada.

This event will take place April 13-15 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Toronto Downtown. Learn more here, and stay tuned for forthcoming information about CBRNe Convergence this November in Knoxville, TN!

International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

NEW: OPCW Senior Science Policy Officer (AI, Data Sciences and Knowledge Management) (P-4) – Job Opening 

From OPCW: “The Office of Strategy and Policy (OSP) develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as incidents of chemical weapons use, non-routine missions, chemical security, engagement with international organisations and chemical industry, education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology. This role in OSP ensures that the Science Policy Adviser is provided with expert advice on advancements in science and technology, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital sciences, through continuous monitoring and provision of specialised advice on applicability to the work of the OPCW. The individual will also help lead, coordinate, and integrate AI and data science-driven approaches and solutions to and in the work of the Secretariat. This role will also take the lead on the Organisation’s knowledge management activities, with a focus on the development and implementation of knowledge management systems and the development and application of digital tools to knowledge management processes.” 

The deadline to apply is February 18. Learn more and submit your application here. 

OPCW Senior Science Policy Officer (Biochemistry) (P-4) – Job Opening 

From OPCW: “The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and senior management. The strategy and policy formulation and implementation relate to a range of cross-cutting topics, including incidents of chemical weapons use, engagement with chemical industry, chemical security, counterterrorism, and science and technology. 

The Senior Science Policy Officer will focus on monitoring advances in science and technology relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention, with particular emphasis on fields at the convergence of chemistry and biology. The incumbent of this post will keep pace with developments, analyse and understand their implications for implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and communicate this information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.” 

The deadline to apply is January 30. Learn more and submit your application here. 

Cyberbiosecurity Workshop Has Opened Its Call for Papers 

The IEEE Cyberbiosecurity Workshop has opened its Call for Papers for the Cyberbiosecurity Workshop. They invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leader to submit original work addressing the growing security challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity, biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, AI, and the bioeconomy. Topics include (but are not limited to) biological infrastructure security, AI safety in biotechnology, DNA synthesis and screening, neurotechnology security, agricultural cyberbiosecurity, data protection and privacy, regulatory frameworks, and real-world case studies.  

Paper submissions are due January 30, 2026, and accepted papers will be published in the IEEE Computer Society Press proceedings. Learn more and submit here.  

One Health Commission Board of Directors – Call for Applications 

From OHC: “The One Health Commission (OHC) is pleased to announce an open call for board members to join our governing body. As we implement our new constitution and bylaws, we are seeking distinguished experts who embody collaborative, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches for addressing shared health challenges across human, animal, environmental, and plant health domains.” 

The deadline to submit applications is February 15. Learn more and submit your application here. 

ICGEB Fellowships for Scientists in Biosecurity  

From the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: “With the co-funding of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation through the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), BWC ISU, the ICGEB offers early-career scientists from OECD/DAC countries a fellowship at ICGEB laboratories in Italy, India, South Africa and at the ICGEB Regional Research Centre in China, to receive hands on training in life sciences and detection and response to biological threats.” 

The closing date for applications is March 31, 23:59 CET. Learn more and apply here. 

Pandora Report 1.16.2026

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue features an overhaul of U.S. global health leadership under the new “America First Global Health Strategy”; the U.S. withdrawal from the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine and its implications for WMD nonproliferation; and groundbreaking research on a nasal spray bird flu vaccine showing protection in ferrets.   

US Withdraws from Nonproliferation Center in Ukraine 

By Gregory Koblentz, Editor in Chief of the Pandora Report; Director, Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason University. 

Among the 66 international organizations, the Trump Administration has announced its intent to withdraw from the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU), an internationally funded organization based in Kyiv dedicated to preventing the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The organization, founded in 1993, creates education, training, and mentorship programs to promote international best practices to mitigate chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats through civilian science and technology partnerships. STCU has been the subject of relentless, unfounded allegations by Russia that it has supported the development of biological weapons in Ukraine. As Biodefense Program Director, Gregory Koblentz has described in a talk at NTI, this false narrative was a key component of Russia’s disinformation campaign to justify its illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Needless to say, Russian state media is ecstatic about this decision by the Trump Administration. Professor Koblentz, Biodefense PhD student Ryan Houser, and Kings College professor Filippa Lentzos co-authored an article in 2023 about Ukraine’s legitimate efforts to strengthen its biosafety and biosecurity and the importance of international assistance from the United States, STCU, and others, to help Ukraine achieve this objective. The Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD sponsors a WMD Counter Disinfo project (co-lead by Dr. Lentzos) that provides more information about Russian disinformation related to biological weapons (and other weapons of mass destruction) and how to counter this disinformation. 

Further Reading: 

America First, Again: The Biggest Shake-Up in US Global Health Leadership in Decades 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Called the America First Global Health Strategy, the program aims to strengthen U.S. geopolitical and economic leverage in developing countries – particularly across Africa – while reducing reliance on non-government organizations (NGOs) that previously delivered aid through USAID. To date, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed 14 bilateral health agreements with African countries, focusing on areas such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and maternal health. Some of the deals are tied to specific political commitments, including Nigeria’s pledge to protect Christians from persecution. Negotiations with copper-rich Zambia are also ongoing, but have reportedly been stalled amid U.S. officials’ complaints about limited mining access for American firms. Public details remain scarce in these deals, though available agreements include language promoting U.S. commercial engagement – for example, Cote D’Ivoire’s MOU highlights “expanded opportunities for US companies”, while one with Rwanda says it “helps further American commercial interest in Rwanda and Africa more broadly.” In November, the Telegraph reported on leaked documents suggesting the Trump administration was also seeking long-term digital access to partner nations’ health information systems – potentially for up to 25 years – as a condition of receiving U.S. assistance.  

Further Reading: 

Nasal Spray Vaccine Shows Promise Against Bird Flu in Ferrets 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

In a study published on January 13 in Nature Communications, a nasal spray vaccine has demonstrated effective protection against H5N1 and H7N9 bird flu in laboratory ferrets, offering a new potential vaccine platform for influenza pandemic preparedness as avian influenza continues spreading across wildlife and livestock populations.  

Researchers at the Access to Advanced Health Institute vaccinated ferrets with either the experimental intranasal RNA vaccine or a traditional intramuscular injection, then challenged both groups alongside unvaccinated controls with a high dose of virus delivered directly into their nasal passages. Ferrets vaccinated against H7N9 remained free of clinical signs throughout while the unvaccinated controls developed fever and illness. The virus was no longer detectable in the nasal passages of vaccinated animals by day 5 post-infection. The results against H5N1 were even more remarkable. All six ferrets that received the nasal spray vaccine survived and without ever developing symptoms, while all unvaccinated ferrets died within one week and the older injectable H5N1 vaccine group had one fatality on day 9. 

Traditional flu shots only generate immunity in the bloodstream; however, the nasal spray generates comparable blood antibody levels to injectable vaccines as well as protective defenses directly in the respiratory tract where flu infections begin. The vaccine uses self-amplifying RNA technology, similar to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, and produces specialized IgA antibodies in the lungs along with resident immune cells that remain stationed in lung tissue. 

In addition to its efficacy, the intranasal influenza vaccine could also offer practical advantages for pandemic preparedness. Manufacturers would be able to stockpile stable components and then quickly produce new RNA vaccines to target emerging viral strains, bypassing the months-long process of growing viruses in chicken eggs. After freeze-drying, the vaccine remains stable for at least two years without ultra-cold storage, eliminating the need for ultra-cold freezers which complicated the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines. In 2024, the FDA approved self-administration of FluMist, a vaccine for influenza virus subtypes A and B, to allow administration without a health care provider. This precedent could allow for future approval and distribution of a needle-free, at-home vaccination for bird flu in the event of a pandemic. 

While human clinical trials are still needed, this platform could represent a significant advance in pandemic response capabilities. 

Experts Urge USDA to Reconsider Vaccination Strategy 

Veterinary scientists Ellen P. Carlin and Gwendolen Reyes-Illg published a compelling opinion piece in STAT News this week, criticizing the USDA’s current approach to the ongoing avian influenza pandemic and urging for nation-wide poultry vaccination.  

Since 2022, nearly 185 million birds have been lost as a result of the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. Most birds were preemptively killed when housed near infected flocks, following the current USDA policy focused on elimination of birds on affected farms and increased biosecurity to prevent reinfection. Carlin and Reyes-Illg argue this “depopulate and repeat” approach is failing, especially as bird flu becomes endemic in wild birds and evidence suggests possible airborne transmission. In addition to the animal welfare concerns of this mass culling strategy, the economic impact has been significant. Nearly $2 billion of tax-payer money has been spent on response, primarily in compensation to farmers for animal losses from depopulation and consumer spending on eggs rose $14.5 billion in one year alone.  

Unfortunately, the primary obstacle to widespread vaccination is diplomatic rather than scientific. The USDA has already licensed at least eight effective vaccines developed with federal funding, and successful vaccination of ducks in France reduced outbreak sizes up to 99%. However, there is concern some trading partners might restrict imports from countries with vaccinated flocks, fearing spread of infection from asymptomatic birds. Carlin and Reyes-Illg propose coupling vaccination with robust diagnostic surveillance to provide confidence that exported poultry remain disease-free, an approach supported by the World Organization for Animal Health. They emphasize that trade agreements can be renegotiated, noting, “It’s happening every day for tariffs; why not for chickens?”  

Further Reading: 

In Other News 

Pandemic Preparedness and One Health  

Biosafety, Biosecurity, & Biotech Regulation  

NEW: Managing Borders during Global Public Health Emergencies; Lessons learned from COVID-19 – A Public Lecture 

From Asia Centre for Health Security: “The unprecedented use of international travel measures (ITMs) during the COVID-19 pandemic became a challenging and, eventually, controversial policy issue.  Evidence from the pandemic shows that these measures can play an important role in slowing or reducing the introduction and onward spread of pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.  At the same time, the largely uncoordinated, varied and frequently changing way in which ITMs were used during the pandemic led to suboptimal public health outcomes. The measures also caused widespread secondary impacts that were costly, inequitable, and societally divisive. 

The complexity of whether, when and how to apply different types of ITMs means that the evidence-base continues to evolve on best practices. As future pandemic events are likely to involve a fast-moving novel pathogen, spreading in a highly globalised world, public health responses will again need to make decisions about mitigating travel-related risks in real time. 

Drawing on more than five years of research on ITMs and pandemic events by the Pandemics and Borders Project, this lecture will review the current evidence on their use and the key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be followed by a panel discussion about experiences in the Southeast Asian region and then audience Q&A.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, January 22 from 10:00-11:30 AM (GMT+8, Singapore Time). Learn more and RSVP here. 

NEW: Global Biorisk Index for AI-Powered Biodesign Tools – A Webinar 

From Asia Centre for Health Security: “Artificial intelligence-enabled biological design tools (AI-BDTs) transform life sciences with the potential to accelerate discovery and lower technical barriers to achieve impact. These advances promise major innovation gains with outcomes relevant to public health. However, they also introduce novel pathways for misuse, amplification of biological risks, and challenges for global governance. 

This presentation will introduce the RAND CLTR* AI-BDT Global Risk Index, an evidence-based framework to assess the biological capabilities and potential misuse of AI-BDTs. The talk will describe the analytic approach, key findings, and insights. We will also discuss implications for policy, responsible innovation, and international coordination in order to ensure AI-BDTs remain safe, secure, and beneficial.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, January 22 from 5:00-6:00 PM (GMT+8, Singapore Time). Learn more and RSVP here. 

NEW: mRNA: A Key to National Security – A Hybrid Summit 

From the Council on Strategic Risks: “Through an engaging set of presentations and panel discussions, this symposium will: 

  • Discuss the most pressing risks to national security from infectious diseases 
  • Educate participants on the fundamentals of mRNA medicine 
  • Explain mRNA medicines’ essential role in military readiness and national defense, and  
  • Examine the national security risks if adversarial nations advance their mRNA capabilities while the United States reduces investment in this strategic technology.” 

This event will be hybrid – online and in-person at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center on Thursday, January 22 from 1:00-4:00 PM ET. Learn more and RSVP here.  

NEW: Genomic Surveillance & Pathogen Data Sharing: A New Era for Scientific Diplomacy – A Virtual Fireside Chat 

From Harvard’s Belfer Center: “Join us for a virtual fireside chat on emerging technology, scientific advancement, and global policy, featuring Belfer Center Fellow Dr. Syra Madad and Dr. Kristian Andersen, Director of Infectious Disease Genomics at the Scripps Research Translational Institute.” 

This event will take place virtually on Thursday, January 22 at 4:00-5:00 PM ET. Learn more and RSVP here. 

NEW: CBRNe Convergence Canada 2026

CBRNe World is hosting its fourth CBRNe Convergence Canada event this year in Toronto! This event will focus on a range of topical issues, including responding to potential CBRN incidents in the High North, response to terrorist attacks at major sporting events, and presentations on Canadian response capabilities, and the largest CBRN/Hazmat exhibition in Canada.

This event will take place April 13-15 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Toronto Downtown. Learn more here, and stay tuned for forthcoming information about CBRNe Convergence this November in Knoxville, TN!

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington DC on March 4-5, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

NEW: OPCW Senior Science Policy Officer (Biochemistry) (P-4) – Job Opening 

From OPCW: “The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and senior management. The strategy and policy formulation and implementation relate to a range of cross-cutting topics, including incidents of chemical weapons use, engagement with chemical industry, chemical security, counterterrorism, and science and technology. 

The Senior Science Policy Officer will focus on monitoring advances in science and technology relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention, with particular emphasis on fields at the convergence of chemistry and biology. The incumbent of this post will keep pace with developments, analyse and understand their implications for implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and communicate this information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.” 

The deadline to apply is January 30. Learn more and submit your application here. 

NEW: Cyberbiosecurity Workshop Has Opened Its Call for Papers 

The IEEE Cyberbiosecurity Workshop has opened its Call for Papers for the Cyberbiosecurity Workshop. They invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leader to submit original work addressing the growing security challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity, biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, AI, and the bioeconomy. Topics include (but are not limited to) biological infrastructure security, AI safety in biotechnology, DNA synthesis and screening, neurotechnology security, agricultural cyberbiosecurity, data protection and privacy, regulatory frameworks, and real-world case studies.  

Paper submissions are due January 30, 2026, and accepted papers will be published in the IEEE Computer Society Press proceedings. Learn more and submit here.  

NEW: One Health Commission Board of Directors – Call for Applications 

From OHC: “The One Health Commission (OHC) is pleased to announce an open call for board members to join our governing body. As we implement our new constitution and bylaws, we are seeking distinguished experts who embody collaborative, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches for addressing shared health challenges across human, animal, environmental, and plant health domains.” 

The deadline to submit applications is February 15. Learn more and submit your application here. 

NEW: ICGEB Fellowships for Scientists in Biosecurity  

From the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: “With the co-funding of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation through the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), BWC ISU, the ICGEB offers early-career scientists from OECD/DAC countries a fellowship at ICGEB laboratories in Italy, India, South Africa and at the ICGEB Regional Research Centre in China, to receive hands on training in life sciences and detection and response to biological threats.” 

The closing date for applications is March 31, 23:59 CET. Learn more and apply here. 

Pandora Report 1.9.2026

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! Happy New Year! 🎉  This issue highlights breakthroughs in global health, including HIV and malaria milestones, ongoing challenges from U.S. foreign aid cuts, and cutting-edge developments in AI, biotechnology, and pandemic preparedness.  

Biodefense Doctoral Student Selected for Prestigious Biosecurity Fellowship 

Kimberly Ma, a Biodefense PhD student at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, has been selected for the 2026 class of the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) fellowship. The ELBI Fellowship, offered by the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the most distinguished fellowship available to rising members of the biosecurity profession.  

Kimmy is a Policy Advisor at the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), where she leads the biosecurity workstream and co-leads the infrastructure workstream. Her work consists primarily of supporting NSCEB Commissioners in developing policy recommendations, legislative proposals, and external engagements with stakeholders and experts. Kimmy, who is in her fourth year in the Biodefense PhD program, said, “My time in George Mason’s Biodefense program as a PhD student has been a huge force in sharpening my mind when it comes to biosecurity and biodefense matters. I have no doubt that it has played a major factor in my professional success and selection into the ELBI cohort for this coming year. I look forward to building on my time at GMU this coming year through both my continued BIOD studies and ELBI engagements!”  

During the ELBI fellowship, participants will participate in biosecurity workshops, networking events, and research symposiums, both in Washington DC and abroad. Kimmy is the ninth Biodefense student or alum to be selected as an ELBI Fellow.

Global Health at a Crossroads: Turbulence and Transformation in 2025  

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report  

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on 2025 – a year marked by deep challenges but also meaningful progress in global health.  

Several major changes left the global health system on shaky grounds. Severe U.S. foreign aid cuts, the dissolution of USAID, and shifting priorities among major donors – including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – left considerable gaps in disease-focused programs worldwide.  

And yet, 2025 also delivered historic milestones as well. The Maldives eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, while Brazil was validated by WHO for reducing vertical HIV transmission, becoming the largest country in the Americas to reach this achievement. Suriname, Timor-Leste, and Georgia were all certified as malaria-free, joining a growing cohort of now 47 countries and one territory. Meanwhile, new HIV-prevention drugs are emerging: the drug known as Lenacapavir was approved in the U.S. after clinical trials showed it to be nearly 100% effective in HIV prevention in women and 96% effective in men. In November, the U.S. Department of State and the Global Fund delivered the first of 4 million doses to low- and middle-income countries, with Eswatini and Zambia receiving initial allocations.  

At the same time, the U.S. global health engagements continue to shift. Under its new, “America First” strategy, the Trump administration has signed bilateral health agreements with at least nine African nations – including Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda – emphasizing “mutual benefit,” conditionality, and reduced financial assistance. The approach has raised concerns, as some of those that have signed deals either have been affected by U.S. aid cuts or have agreements to accept and host third-country deportees.  

These policy changes abroad come as scientific and public health sectors experience added pressures at home. A new report from Yale’s Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis (CIDMA) warns that cancelling federal funding for mRNA vaccine research could carry devastating consequences, estimating more than $75 billion in annual economic losses and over 49,000 preventable deaths each year. “mRNA vaccine platforms represent an extraordinary convergence of clinical promise and societal value,” said Alison Galvani, director of CIDMA.  

Food safety experts are also sounding the alarm: recent federal cuts could degrade U.S. food safety leaving more people vulnerable to foodborne illness. These changes include a reduced number of pathogens now monitored by surveillance programs, brain drain of CDC and FDA staff, and cuts to administrative and inspection capacity. This has led to a historic low in inspections of foreign food facilities and U.S. imports, raising the likelihood of the occurrence of preventable outbreaks.   

As infectious-disease experts look toward 2026, many are watching the potential threats posed by avian influenza (H5N1), mpox, HIV, and measles as viruses that could affect human lives in new ways. While the public health landscape continues to evolve, it remains essential that we work together coherently toward a well-functioning system and society that protects everyone – advancing scientific breakthroughs as we navigate unprecedented political headwinds.  

Further Reading: 

Avian Influenza Updates: Catching Up After the Holiday Break 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) showed no signs of slowing during the holiday season. In late December, confirmed outbreaks of bird flu struck five additional US states, affecting more than 128,000 birds. The largest single loss occurred at a broiler farm in Maryland, where over 96,000 birds were affected. Additional outbreaks hit Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, and New York. In December 2025, 80 U.S. flocks confirmed detections of bird flu, with more than one million birds affected across 26 commercial and 54 backyard flocks. 

New Spillover Event in Wisconsin Dairy Cattle 

On December 14, USDA confirmed detection of HPAI in a Wisconsin dairy herd, representing a new spillover event from wildlife into cattle. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the virus is H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype D1.1, a strain implicated in spillover events in two dairy herds in Nevada and Arizona in early 2025. The recently detected Wisconsin case is considered separate from those previous spillovers and, thus far, no additional infected herds have been identified in connection with this event. Of note, the D1.1 genotype is distinct from the B3.13 genotype that has affected most US dairy herds since bird flu infection in cattle was first detected in the Texas Panhandle in late 2023. 

Global Wildlife Crisis 

Unfortunately, the avian influenza outbreak extends far beyond farms and commercial animals. The European Food Safety Authority reported exceptionally high HPAI activity in wild birds during Europe’s 2025 autumn migration. Detections quadrupled from 2024, reaching the highest levels since 2016. The resulting wildlife mortality in many bird species and as a result of spillover events in mammals have caused unprecedented biodiversity loss globally. For instance, in the subantarctic islands of South Georgia, southern elephant seals have lost nearly 50% of breeding females since 2023, and albatross colonies in the Falkland Islands experienced recurrent outbreaks and marked declines in breeding birds. The World Organization for Animal Health has stressed that continued spillover of bird flu into mammals also raises One Health concerns with potential consequences for companion animals, agricultural species, and human health as the outbreaks continue.  

Growing Concerns for Human Health in 2026 

Virologists have expressed heightened concerns about avian influenza’s trajectory in the coming year. While human cases remain rare in the United States, with only 71 confirmed human cases resulting in two deaths, experts warn that the virus’s widespread circulation in migratory birds, farm animals, and many mammalian species increases the risk of dangerous mutations from genome reassortment. Every new infected host represents another opportunity for the virus to evolve as their segmented genome allows different strains to mix and produce new hybrid viruses when they infect the same cell. The central fear continues to be the risk of sustained human-to-human transmission, which fortunately hasn’t yet occurred; however, experts are concerned about surveillance gaps in the US. Monitoring varies dramatically between states and data sharing has become inconsistent and harder to interpret, raising the risk that early warning signs could be missed.  

Meanwhile, seasonal human influenza cases have skyrocketed, with more than 25% of tests positive for influenza as of late December, almost double last year’s rate at this time. Hospitalization rates are three times higher than the 2023-2024 season and have already surpassed last season’s peak, which wasn’t reached until February. The surge is driven by subclade K, a variant that emerged after this year’s flu vaccine was designed, making the shot less effective than usual and providing only 30-40% protection against hospitalization in adults. The combination of widespread avian influenza circulation in animals and a severe season of established human flu strains with reduced vaccine effectiveness raises troubling questions: if our healthcare systems are already strained by a poorly matched seasonal flu vaccine, what would happen if H5N1 suddenly gained the ability to spread between humans? 

Fortunately, progress is still being made toward a bird flu vaccine in humans. Moderna announced in mid-December that it received over $54 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a public-private partnership working to develop vaccines for pandemic preparedness, to take its H5 avian influenza mRNA vaccine candidate into Phase 3 clinical trials. The Biden administration had previously awarded the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company over $700 million in government contracts for avian influenza vaccine research; however, these contracts were canceled by the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the new administration who have been critical of mRNA vaccine technology. In exchange for the funding from CEPI, Moderna has agreed to allocate 20% of vaccine production for low- and middle-income countries at affordable prices if the vaccine is approved and an avian influenza pandemic materializes.  

Further Reading: 

In Other News 

Chemical and Biological Weapons History 

AI, Biotechnology & Future Biosecurity Risks  

WMD, Fentanyl, and Public Health Misinformation 

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington, DC on March 10-11, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) 

From AAVN: “The African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) is a collaborative, career-development community for young professionals, students, and researchers from Africa (aged 18–35) who are working in, or passionate about, nuclear issues and related global security challenges such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and chemical & biological security. The Network empowers African young professionals to shape global conversations and ensures that Africa’s voice is amplified in nuclear and broader global security discourse.” 

Learn more and join the network here. 

CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative 

From the initiative: “Established in 2018, the CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative aims to encourage undergraduate women to consider careers in WMD nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. As part of this initiative, we offer a mentorship program that enables undergraduate women to work directly with leading experts in their areas of professional interest.” 

Learn more and join the network here.   

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Pandora Report 12.19.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report provides updates on the BIOSECURE Act, FDA’s recent actions regarding COVID-19 vaccines, and more. The Pandora Report will be going on break and will return on January 9, 2026. Happy holidays!

Congress Passes BIOSECURE Act Embedded in FY 2026 NDAA

The BIOSECURE Act, first introduced during the 188th Congress, has now been passed by Congress after it was included in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on December 18. The act failed to pass during the last Congress, in part because of concerns about a lack of due process for companies targeted by its provisions. While some parts have changed, the core of the legislation remains the same: It prevents US executive agencies from contracting with or funding companies that are considered “biological companies of concern.”

Unlike its predecessor, this reconciled version does not rely on a blacklist of Chinese life sciences firms, but instead delegates this task to the Office of Management and Budget while also referencing the Section 1260H list from the Department of Defense. The ban on cooperation with certain Chinese entities also includes federal contracts with pharmaceutical companies that use services or products from these entities. This is concerning as many pharmaceutical companies conduct early clinical trials in China to save time and money on the clinical trial process. Between approximately 70 and 80% of US pharmaceutical companies directly collaborate with Chinese firms.

Further Reading:

FDA Allegedly Moves to Add Black Box, Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Inquiry

According to CNN, discussions have taken place internally at the FDA about possibly adding a black box warning to COVID-19 vaccines. These warnings (officially called boxed warnings) are the strictest warning FDA can require from a drug manufacturer as they are designed to alert providers and patients to serious, life-threatening, or permanently disabling risks associated with a drug’s use in the case of an adverse reaction. The FDA previously announced in June of this year that it will require updated warnings about myocarditis and pericarditis in labeling of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary denied his agency is considering requiring the boxed warning for COVID-19 vaccines.

This comes on the heels of reports FDA has expanded its investigation of deaths involving COVID-19 vaccines to include adults as well as children. The initial inquiry was announced in September and focused only on children, seemingly spurred by Secretary Kennedy’s claims that these vaccines are deadly and dangerous, contrary to scientific consensus. In November, Vinay Prasad, the agency’s top vaccine regulator, informed staff that the organization had linked 10 children’s deaths to the vaccines, despite offering no evidence in the memo to support his claims. Experts have, in response, highlighted that COVID-19 itself has killed at least 1.2 million people in the US, more than 2,000 of whom where children.

Further Reading:

US Global Aid Changes and Challenges Continue

It was recently announced that Uganda will receive up to $1.7 billion in US funding for its health sector over the next five years, making the country the latest in a group that reached similar deals under the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy.” The funds will primarily support health programs focused on HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio. Uganda’s government will increase its own health expenditure by $500 million to “gradually assume greater financial responsibility over the course of the framework.”

Rwanda and Kenya recently announced similar deals. However, a Kenyan court has suspended implementation of the country’s $2.5 billion deal with the US over data privacy concerns. The interim ruling bars Kenyan authorities from taking steps to enact the deal “insofar as it provides for or facilitates the transfer, sharing or dissemination of medical, epidemiological or sensitive personal health data.” Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale has said that the government will comply with the ruling, but that it will challenge it.

Further Reading:

“Protecting Children from Biological Weapons in Armed Conflict”

From UNICEF: “Biological threats are no longer theoretical. Accelerating advances in synthetic biology, genomics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the landscape of risk, creating new pathways for the development, modification, and use of biological agents in armed conflict. In this emerging security environment, children — already the most vulnerable in any crisis — would pay the highest price.”

“This UNICEF working paper examines how emerging biotechnologies may be weaponized in future conflicts, how these threats intersect with cyber and information operations, and why children may be deliberately targeted for strategic or psychological effect. Drawing on foresight scenarios and legal-policy analysis, it identifies critical gaps in global biosecurity, including attribution challenges, weak verification mechanisms, and insufficient child-centered preparedness frameworks.”

“Children’s physiology, dependency, and limited access to life-saving services place them at disproportionate risk in any biological incident. In conflict-affected settings, where health systems are degraded and humanitarian access is constrained, these dangers are multiplied. A deliberate biological attack would not only devastate young lives — it would undermine community stability, disrupt recovery for generations, and violate the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian and human rights law.”

“This working paper delivers a clear message to the international community: existing biosecurity and disarmament architectures — national, regional, and multilateral — are not yet configured to protect children from the evolving risks of biological weapons.  It calls for immediate action across the multilateral system:

  • Integrate child-specific risks into biosecurity assessments, early-warning systems, and preparedness frameworks.
  • Strengthen global governance under the Biological Weapons Convention and related UN mandates.
  • Build rapid-response capacities that prioritize children’s health, protection, and continuity of care.”

Protecting children from biological weapons is not a technical aspiration:  it is a moral and legal imperative. The international community must act now to ensure that no child becomes a casualty of tomorrow’s biological conflicts.”

Read here.

“Monitoring Approaches to Support BWC Compliance”

This report from VERTIC and KCL discusses three possible approaches to monitoring compliance with the BWC (the BWC Confidence-Building Measures, the Verification Experts Group, and emerging technologies), and “…identifies a number of recommendations for BWC States Parties: supporting the CBM process; practicing and normalizing consultation and clarification; seeking greater understanding of confidence and uncertainties in verification; and discussing practical aspects of different verification measures; practicing verification in the field via exercises.”

“AIxBio = Big Promise + New Risks”

Kaitlyn Gibbons for NTI: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the life sciences and public health: accelerating drug discovery, vaccine development, and outbreak detection. But with rapidly advancing capabilities comes unprecedented risks — these same tools could be misused to design dangerous pathogens.”

“NTI’s tabletop exercise at the Munich Security Conference this past February explored risks and opportunities at the convergence of AI and the life sciences. The scenario: a fictional extremist group uses AI-enabled tools to engineer a novel virus that triggers a global pandemic, resulting in more than 850 million cases and 60 million deaths.”

“The takeaway: the scenario represents a plausible near-term risk that technical experts and counterterrorism professionals find deeply concerning. It’s a risk that the world isn’t ready for.”

Read more here.

“Where Lab-Made DNA is Created — and Barely Policed”

Shayna Korol recaps the launch of the Global DNA Synthesis Map by the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science in this article for Vox: “The map reveals that only 10 percent of synthetic DNA providers currently screen for DNA sequences of concern, meaning that companies could be sending out the makings of a dangerous pathogen. That’s a tremendous biosecurity gap. More than 700 companies provide synthetic nucleic acids, the building blocks of genetic material, and benchtop DNA synthesis devices, which allow scientists to synthesize custom DNA sequences in their own labs rather than ordering it from a commercial provider. More than 500 of those companies need to screen orders to guarantee compliance with local regulations.”

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington DC on March 10-11, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) 

From AAVN: “The African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) is a collaborative, career-development community for young professionals, students, and researchers from Africa (aged 18–35) who are working in, or passionate about, nuclear issues and related global security challenges such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and chemical & biological security. The Network empowers African young professionals to shape global conversations and ensures that Africa’s voice is amplified in nuclear and broader global security discourse.” 

Learn more and join the network here. 

CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative 

From the initiative: “Established in 2018, the CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative aims to encourage undergraduate women to consider careers in WMD nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. As part of this initiative, we offer a mentorship program that enables undergraduate women to work directly with leading experts in their areas of professional interest.” 

Learn more and join the network here.   

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Pandora Report 12.12.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! ❄️  This issue highlights emerging global biosecurity and public health risks, including the latest developments in synthetic biology with the launch of IBBIS’ Global DNA Synthesis Map, the spread of avian influenza from vampire bats in Peru, and ongoing chemical weapons accountability in Syria and the U.K.  

From DNA Synthesis to Vaccines: Tracking Biosecurity and Public Health Risk Worldwide 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Figure 1. IBBIS launched the Global DNA Synthesis Map at the BWC Working Group event at the UN in Geneva on Tuesdaay, December 9, 2025 (Credit: Pixabay) 

The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) launched the Global DNA Synthesis Map on Tuesday, December 9 at the BWC Working Group event at the United Nations Office in Geneva. The map provides the first publicly available global overview of DNA synthesis providers, screening practices, regulatory frameworks and distribution channels, including third-party vendor networks. Data from over 1,000 companies across 81 countries reveal the world’s approaches to DNA synthesis, offering a critical evidence base for diplomats, policymakers, biosecurity professionals, and industry to inform decision-making, strengthen risk-mitigation strategies, and advance responsible innovation. 

Explore the map here.

Further Reading: 

Chemical & Biological Weapons Governance  

GMU’s Biodefense Director on Syria’s Unresolved Chemical Weapons Legacy  

In a December 9 article for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Gregory Koblentz – Associate Professor and Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason University warns that significant elements of Syria’s former chemical weapons (CWs) program remain unaccounted for more than a year after the fall of the Assad regime. Drawing on findings from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Koblentz documents evidence of undeclared stockpiles, missing munitions, and unresolved discrepancies in Syria’s CW declarations. He highlights the persistent risk that residual chemical agents could fall into the hands of insurgent groups or be rediscovered amid ongoing instability. Koblentz argues that the United States and its allies must act urgently to accelerate inspections and complete destruction efforts in coordination with the OPCW, emphasizing that fully dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons is essential for regional stability and global chemical nonproliferation. Read more of the article here.  

International Law & Accountability 

A new working paper by Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan examines the role of national and international courts in enforcing prohibitions under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). While both treaties provide formal mechanisms for accountability, these processes are often limited by political considerations, especially in times of geopolitical instability. Hoffberger-Pippan notes that the number of court cases addressing chemical and biological weapons (CBWs) has increased, but procedural restrictions in both national and international jurisdictions continue to impede effective enforcement of these prohibitions. The working paper is available for download here.  

Building on these legal frameworks, international efforts to strengthen the BWC are ongoing this week in Geneva, as state parties review the final report of the BWC Working Group. Daily updates from the meetings are being provided by the website, CBW Events, offering timely insights into negotiations, areas of agreement, and remaining points of contention among state parties. A consolidated collection of Richard Guthrie’s reporting on the BWC meetings is available online:  https://www.cbw-events.org.uk/bwc-rep.html 

Further Reading: 

The U.K.: The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry and Chemical Weapons Accountability  

In the United Kingdom, the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, launched in 2021 by the Home Secretary, continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the poisoning of Sturgess by a Russian nerve agent, Novichok, exposure near Salisbury in 2018. The death has been linked to the attempted assassination of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. In a recent BBC News report, some are concluding that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “morally responsible” for Sturgess’s death, who was unknowingly exposed after handling a discarded perfume bottle containing the toxic nerve agent. While Moscow continues to deny involvement, the case has become a focal point in discussions over state responsibility and response, attribution, and the enforcement of prohibitions on chemical weapons.  

The U.S.: Intelligence Transparency on the Origins of COVID-19  

Parallel debates over transparency and attribution are unfolding in the U.S. as well. For years, many were interested to see what U.S. spy agencies really know about COVID-19’s origins, whether it was a natural spillover event or a so-called “lab leak.”  According to U.S. Right to Know, a provision included in the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2026 would require the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with federal intelligence agencies, to review and work to declassify information related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill – which is set for votes in the House and Senate this week – mandates greater intelligence about coronavirus research in Chinese labs, including what is known about risky “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), and Chinese government control over early pandemic information.  

Further Reading: 

From Birds to Bats: Avian Flu Spreads Its Wings 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

The bird flu outbreak has expanded to include a new mammalian host. Vampire bats along Peru’s coast have tested positive for H5N1 antibodies, marking the first time these blood-feeding mammals have been confirmed as susceptible to the virus. 

In a new preprint study published on bioRxiv in nearly November, researchers revealed that over a dozen common vampire bats living along Peru’s Pacific coast carried antibodies against H5N1, indicating previous exposure to the avian influenza strain battering birds, livestock, and a variety of mammalian species around the globe. The bats likely contracted the virus while feeding on infected marine animals during a massive 2022-2023 outbreak that killed more than 560,000 seabirds and 10,000 sea lions in Peru alone. 

Wildlife veterinarian I-Ting Tu from the University of Glasgow led the research effort, collecting samples from hundreds of vampire bats across coastal and inland regions. The team discovered that coastal bats fed on a surprisingly diverse array of marine wildlife, including sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, and penguins, all potential sources of H5N1 exposure. These findings raise concerns that bats may serve as a bridge between marine and terrestrial mammals. Bats live in dense colonies where viruses can easily spread, thus they could potentially become a permanent reservoir for H5N1 more readily than other mammals. Bats are already notorious for harboring a plethora of zoonotic viruses including rabies virus and many coronaviruses. Some Peruvian vampire bats feed on both marine animals and livestock, creating potential pathways for the virus to spread into agricultural settings, evolve further, and potentially adapt to mammals including humans. 

Fortunately, researchers say it’s not yet time to panic. Only about 8% of individuals in any colony showed antibodies, suggesting H5N1 hasn’t established efficient bat-to-bat transmission. It is unclear why the infection has spread poorly among bats, as they appear to have the necessary receptors in their lungs for H5N1 to cling to. There doesn’t seem to be a real physiological barrier, and it may be that the virus is simply not yet optimized to sustain a chain of infection in bats. This means bats are unlikely to become a permanent viral reservoir, at least for now; however, repeated spillover between marine mammals, livestock, and bats could create a pathway for the virus to acquire new traits, establish itself in new hosts, and potentially become more deadly or contagious. Researchers stress the need for continued surveillance, particularly at sites where bats interact with both marine wildlife and domestic animals. 

Further Reading: 

Vaccines Under Scrutiny: Domestic Policy Changes and Global Gaps  

ACIP Vaccine Rollback Sparks Safety Concern in the U.S. 

From Health Policy Watch: “A U.S. vaccine advisory panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has voted to eliminate a 30-year recommendation that all newborns in the U.S. receive the hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccine at birth, stating the shot is no longer necessary for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus. Instead, ACIP recommends delaying the first dose to no earlier than two months and consulting with a doctor.”  

Medical experts have raised concerns about the decision. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics argue that the decision lacks sufficient implementation research to ensure safety. Without further research, there is a risk that Hep B could still be transmitted from asymptomatic mothers to newborns at birth. “We should do the studies first to determine if fewer doses are actually effective,” said Dr Judith Shlay, a family medicine specialist. The recommendation must now be approved by Jim O’Neil, the acting director of the CDC.  

Further Reading:

Global Polio Eradication Faces Funding Shortfalls  

Meanwhile, on the global stage, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has received $1.9 billion in pledges from international donors to advance polio eradication. Contributions came from a diverse group of donors and countries, including $1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation, $140 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, and $450 million from Rotary International. Despite these commitments, a significant funding gap of approximately $440 million remains for GPEI’s 2022-2029 Strategy, following reductions in foreign aid from high-income countries.  

This private-public partnership (PPP) aims to eradicate polio worldwide by 2029, using the funds to vaccinate 370 million children against polio each year while strengthening regional health systems. However, the outlook is uncertain: the U.K., Germany, and other countries have scaled back plans for development assistance and health funding for 2026, and U.S. support for polio efforts remains unclear. As a result, GPEI anticipates cutting its budget by 30% next year due to the global retreat in foreign aid.  

Further Reading:

In Other News  

US Science Governance 

NEW: International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation  

From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.  

This event will take place in Arcachon, France from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here. 

NIH and its Partners to Co-Host a Second Regional Listening Session on Efforts to Modernize and Strengthen Biosafety Oversight 

From ABSA International: “The NIH, the Carolinas Biosafety Safety Association, and the Southeastern Biological Safety Association will be co-hosting a virtual listening session to obtain input from stakeholders on NIH’s recently announced initiative to modernize and strengthen biosafety oversight.” 

This event will take place virtually on December 17 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET. Learn more and register here. 

Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington DC on March 10-11, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) 

From AAVN: “The African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) is a collaborative, career-development community for young professionals, students, and researchers from Africa (aged 18–35) who are working in, or passionate about, nuclear issues and related global security challenges such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and chemical & biological security. The Network empowers African young professionals to shape global conversations and ensures that Africa’s voice is amplified in nuclear and broader global security discourse.” 

Learn more and join the network here. 

CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative 

From the initiative: “Established in 2018, the CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative aims to encourage undergraduate women to consider careers in WMD nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. As part of this initiative, we offer a mentorship program that enables undergraduate women to work directly with leading experts in their areas of professional interest.” 

Learn more and join the network here.   

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Pandora Report 12.6.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! ❄️ This issue features a deep dive into U.S. biodefense vulnerabilities, the latest developments in Avian Influenza, emerging biosecurity risks from synthetic biology, and global public health and chemical weapons updates.  

U.S. Biodefense on the Brink: Political Interference and Budget Cuts Put Americans at Risk 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

A series of alarming developments across the U.S. biodefense complex show that political interference and institutional downsizing are creating vulnerable gaps in emergency response and readiness that could imperil Americans during the next major biological emergency. On November 23, Dr. Ralph Abraham, Louisiana’s Surgeon General, who’s also a vocal supporter of HHS Secretary RFK Jr., and a known vaccine skeptic, was appointed Principal Deputy Director at the CDC. Abraham has publicly questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, opposed routine immunization for hepatitis B at birth, and supported discredited theories linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism.  

This trend of politicization is compounded by troubling shifts in agency guidance. Under Secretary RFK Jr.’s leadership, the CDC revised its longstanding position that vaccines do not cause autism, adding an asterisk to its guidance suggesting that evidence debunking the vaccine-autism link is “not evidence-based.” This shift contradicts decades of rigorous research demonstrating no causal link between vaccines and autism and was pushed through despite numerous objections from scientific organizations. The Autism Science Foundation and the American Medical Association condemned the change, calling it appalling and warning of its dangerous consequences.  

The FDA is also experiencing internal turmoil. A 3,000-word memo circulated by vaccine division director, Dr. Vinay Prasad, claimed that COVID-19 vaccines had killed at least 10 children. The findings have not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, and experts reviewing the memo note that it misuses information from VAERS, an unverified reporting system in which anyone – including patients, caregivers, and clinicians – can submit reports of adverse events related to vaccines. VAERS itself warns that its reports may contain inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information.  Experts contend that the memo misrepresents the data and reflects an ideologically driven approach that undermines both public confidence and the FDA’s regulatory authority.  

“This memo conveys a very troubling mixture of misrepresentation and lies,” said Dr. Peter Marks, former FDA vaccine chief who was ousted by HHS Secretary RFK Jr. earlier this year. “The climate within the agency is incredibly toxic right now.” 

Structural cuts to U.S. science and public health agencies further threaten national preparedness for biological events. The second Trump administration’s budget reductions have began to eliminate essential biodefense programs, resulting in billions of dollars in lost funding, the elimination of tens of thousands of positions, and the dismantling of surveillance and R&D programs across key agencies such as the NIH, CDC, USAID, FDA, ASPR, NSF, and FEMA. Some of these agencies operate within HHS: the CDC leads domestic and global disease surveillance and emergency response, the NIH supports basic and applied biomedical research, the FDA regulates vaccines and medicines, the ASPR coordinates public health emergency responses, and separately, the NSF funds foundational biology research essential for understanding biological threats.  

The HHS reorganization has resulted in staffing that is slated to decline from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees, with significant cuts at the CDC, NIH, and the FDA, alongside a 35% reduction in contracts. BARDA, a key agency for developing medical countermeasures for emerging infectious diseases, was merged with ARPA-H, and hundreds of leases for research and operational facilities were terminated. By May of this year, NSF cancelled over 1,500 active research grants and laid off 25-50% of its workforce. In response, sixteen states, led by New York, sued the Trump administration to block NSF funding cuts. 

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched by Elon Musk, reported that the administration terminated 563 leases worth $262 million for facilities used by federal agencies, including NIH and CDC. Experts warn that these cuts not only limit immediate operational capacity but could also create long-term gaps in institutional knowledge and disrupt the talent pipeline, hindering the overall effectiveness and efficiency of these agencies.  

Federal funding cuts are also destabilizing state and local health efforts. Many rely on federal pass-through funding, and without these, face staff layoffs, clinic closures, and halted preparedness programs. In March, HHS announced plans to reclaim $11.4 billion in COVID-19 response funding, raising alarms among public health officials. Although states like California are attempting their own countermeasures via a currently debated $23 billion bond initiative to restore R&D cuts, the ability of state and local governments to fully offset these federal gaps is limited, undermining U.S. biological readiness writ large.   

“Let’s be clear—when the next pandemic from an infectious agent breaks, if this budget passes, we will be largely unprepared, and needless deaths will happen,” Dr. Mary Pittman, former president and CEO of the Public Health Institute, said in a release from the American Public Health Association. “The CDC will be late detecting, tracking, and responding to it, and the states will not have the resources to do it at the state level. Time to action is everything in an outbreak of disease.” 

Further Reading:  

Washington State Reports First H5N5 Human Death 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

Washington State health officials confirmed the first U.S. human death from H5N5 bird flu in late November, marking a significant development in the ongoing international avian influenza outbreak. However, unlike the H5N1 virus that has caused 70 human infections and one death in the United States since 2024, this fatality was caused by H5N5, a different strain of avian influenza that had previously never been known to infect humans. There is limited information about the patient in Washington at this time. They were identified as an older adult with underlying health conditions who kept backyard poultry with exposure to wild birds. 

Health experts stress this isn’t cause for panic. There is as of yet no evidence that H5N5 poses greater pandemic risk than H5N1 or causes more severe disease. Monitoring of close contacts revealed no additional infections and no signs of person-to-person transmission. Although this was the first case of H5N5 infection in a human, experts state that exposure to H5 viruses and subsequent infections are still likely to be H5N1 as this strain is circulating much more prevalently in bird populations.   

For people with backyard chickens, experts recommend keeping domestic birds separated from wild birds, wearing dedicated outdoor clothing and protective gear when cleaning coops, and thoroughly washing hands after handling poultry or eggs to minimize risk of exposure.  

Too Hot to Handle: Research Identifies Temperature Resistance in Bird Flu Viruses 

Recent research published in Science indicates that avian influenza may pose a unique danger compared to human flu viruses: bird flu viruses can replicate at temperatures higher than typical human fevers, potentially overcoming one of our key defense mechanisms. 

Researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Glasgow showed that a gene called PB1 plays a key role in viral temperature sensitivity. Human flu viruses typically thrive in the upper respiratory tract where temperatures are around 33C rather than in the lungs and lower airways where the temperature is closer to 37C. Fevers, one of the human body’s self-defense mechanisms, raise our body temperature to 38-41C, and even just a 2C increase can turn lethal human flu infections into mild disease. However, avian influenza viruses thrive in hotter environments as they often infect the gut in natural bird hosts where temperatures can reach as high as 40-42C. The research showed that virus strains containing avian-like PB1 genes can withstand high temperatures and cause severe disease in mice with simulated fevers that would ordinarily be sufficient to curb replication of temperature-sensitive flu viruses. This suggests that human infection with temperature-resistant flu viruses will cause more severe disease despite our defense mechanisms. Even more worryingly, human and bird flu viruses can swap genes when co-infecting the same host, as happened during the deadly 1957 and 1968 pandemics. These findings could have significant implications for clinical decision-making on when and how to use medications to control fever in suspected avian influenza cases and could also help explain why some influenza outbreaks cause more severe disease.  

Although the public health risk from avian influenza remains low, with no sustained human-to-human transmission observed, public health experts stress that getting a seasonal flu shot is more important than ever. While the vaccine may not protect against bird flu infection directly, it reduces the chance of simultaneous infections that could enable dangerous viral mixing and swapping of temperature-resistance genes between human and avian influenza viruses.  

Further Reading:

“Regulatory Gaps in Benchtop Nucleic Acid Synthesis Create Biosecurity Vulnerabilities” 

Lena Kroepke, a current Biodefense Master’s student at George Mason University, warns that rapid advances in benchtop nucleic acid synthesis and AI-enabled biological design are outpacing existing oversight, leaving the U.S. with widening biosecurity vulnerabilities. Her new article outlines how decentralized benchtop printers, increasingly capable of producing longer DNA sequences, combined with AI tools that can engineer novel or de novo pathogens, bypass traditional sequence-based screening systems and undermine voluntary industry standards. Despite this rising risk, federal regulation remains fragmented: the Biden administration’s 2024 Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening was left in limbo after being placed under review by President Donald Trump’s May 2025 “Improving Safety and Security of Biological Research” Executive Order, and Congress has failed to advance legislation mandating universal screening or device security. As a result, most safeguards are still voluntary, export controls are inconsistently enforced, and no binding national or international standards exist for device certification, customer screening, or tracking printed sequences. Kroepke argues that without urgent, mandatory, and transparent regulatory updates—paired with stronger BWC-level engagement—the proliferation of benchtop synthesis technology could significantly elevate global biosecurity threats. Read more here. 

“Strategies to Improve Detection of Novel Pandemic Pathogens” 

From RAND Corporation: “This research report provides insight into the tradeoffs inherent to the cost, design, and detection performance of three promising pathogen-agnostic biosurveillance strategies, referred to as Syndromic, Wearable, and Environmental. The Syndromic and Wearable strategies are initiated by a signal from symptomatic or physiological sensors, while the Environmental strategy runs continuously and is intensified responsively based on external intelligence from event-based surveillance. First, we parameterize this model to emulate the detection of wildtype SARS-CoV-2. Then, we explore how changes in pathogen characteristics and technology performance change key detection and cost measures.  Heir modeling indicates that environmental sampling (e.g., wastewater, air, surfaces) detects outbreaks fastest, followed by wearable strategy. Syndromic surveillance underperforms in detection relative to the two other strategies, especially when outbreaks stem from new or unusual pathogens.” Read more here. 

China Releases White Paper on Arms Control in New Era

In November 2025, China released a new white paper on arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation, as well as its position on security governance in fields such as outer space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence (AI). In the document, Beijing reaffirms that it remains committed to international frameworks banning weapons of mass destruction, explicitly including biological – and not only nuclear or conventional – threats. According to the white paper, China “resolutely opposes the proliferation of bioweapons, their means of delivery, and all related technologies,” and reaffirms it adherence to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). The government states it continues to strengthen domestic biosecurity institutions and export-control regimes over dual-use biological items, and advocates for a negotiated protocol to enhance the BWC’s verification mechanisms – recognizing the existing non-proliferation frameworks must evolve alongside developments in biotechnology. Read more here.  

Further Reading: 

In Other News  

Changing HIV/AIDS Landscape  

On December 1, we want to commemorate World AIDS Day 2025! #WorldAIDSDay  

Global Infectious Disease  

Chemical Weapons: Global Developments and Investigations 

NEW: Integrating Biosafety & Biosecurity into Funding Decisions 

Form NTI: Funders play a key role in shaping how life science research is conducted. This webinar will introduce a new framework—developed collaboratively by a diverse group of internationally recognized experts—to help funders identify proposals that may require additional biosafety or biosecurity review and to support appropriate risk-mitigation efforts.” 

This event will take place virtually on December 11 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET. Learn more and RSVP here.  

NEW: Africa’s Children’s Hospitals at a Breaking Point – Virtual Event 

From Brown University: A landmark, first-of-its-kind study published last month in PLOS Global Public Health delivers a stark reality check: children’s hospitals in Africa are stretched, strained, and often cannot meet patients’ needs. The Children’s Hospitals in Africa Mapping Project (CHAMP) study aimed to evaluate hospital facilities, infrastructure, equipment, supplies, services, staffing, and readiness to care for children amid public health emergencies through surveys, which 20 hospitals from 15 countries completed from 2018 to 2019. The study found that “most hospitals were ill-prepared to manage a major disaster or infectious disease outbreak.” The CHAMP study is a wake up call to health leaders and decision makers. Among the CHAMP study’s takeaways: 

This event will take place virtually on December 12 at 12:00 PM ET. Learn more and RSVP here. 

NEW: NIH and its Partners to Co-Host a Second Regional Listening Session on Efforts to Modernize and Strengthen Biosafety Oversight 

From ABSA International: “The NIH, the Carolinas Biosafety Safety Association, and the Southeastern Biological Safety Association will be co-hosting a virtual listening session to obtain input from stakeholders on NIH’s recently announced initiative to modernize and strengthen biosafety oversight.” 

This event will take place virtually on December 17 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET. Learn more and register here. 

NEW: Nexus Series: AIxBio: Workshop 2 – Strategies for Responding to Exponential AI and Biotechnology Growth  

From AI for SynBio: “Background: The ever-increasing acceleration of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and biological design tools has transformed the technological landscape, enabling tremendous benefits and potential misuse that could massively impact national security and public health. Mitigating this risk will require collaboration across Government, Industry, and Academia with both technical and policy focus. Significant effort has already been made to raise awareness of this challenge, but additional discussion is necessary to maintain pace with the speed of evolving technology. The second workshop in this series will build upon insights from our first workshop and take place over two days.” 

This event will take place in Washington DC on March 10-11, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.  

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) 

From AAVN: “The African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) is a collaborative, career-development community for young professionals, students, and researchers from Africa (aged 18–35) who are working in, or passionate about, nuclear issues and related global security challenges such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and chemical & biological security. The Network empowers African young professionals to shape global conversations and ensures that Africa’s voice is amplified in nuclear and broader global security discourse.” 

Learn more and join the network here. 

CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative 

From the initiative: “Established in 2018, the CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative aims to encourage undergraduate women to consider careers in WMD nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. As part of this initiative, we offer a mentorship program that enables undergraduate women to work directly with leading experts in their areas of professional interest.” 

Learn more and join the network here.   

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Pandora Report 11.21.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue features declining U.S. vaccination rates and early signs of a challenging flu season to the first human case of H5N5 avian influenza in Washington. We also cover international efforts to strengthen nucleic acid synthesis screening, debates over U.S. pandemic preparedness strategies, and insights from a new review of a state-level bioweapons programs in Russia and Iraq. 

Important Note: The Pandora Report will be on break next week for Thanksgiving – wishing all our readers a happy and safe holiday ahead! 🍁🦃  

Trust in U.S. Vaccines Falters as Measles and Flu Threaten a Harsh Winter Ahead 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Figure 1. Public health at risk: Declining vaccine confidence and rising measles and flu cases leave communities vulnerable. (Credit: Pexels) 

A series of developments this week suggests that the U.S. immunization landscape may be rapidly destabilizing. The CDC quietly revised its Autism and Vaccines webpage, softening language that previously stated that there is no link between vaccines and autism – despite decades of high-quality research debunking such claims. The shift has alarmed experts, who say it reflects what happens when politics hijack public health, further undermining trust in the agency. Others warn that any ambiguity on settled science risks renewed outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in society. For many, the concern is not merely the change in wording but the broader signal it sends: federal health guidance is becoming less reliable and consistent at a moment when clarity is desperately needed.  

 
This confusion is reflected in divergent vaccination behavior across the nation. Only 23% of U.S. adults have received this season’s COVID-19 vaccine, a dramatic drop from early pandemic levels (in early 2022, 75% of Americans had received at least one dose of the initial vaccine). The vaccination rates for flu, measles, and tetanus are also declining. Uptake varies sharply by region: the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates are found in the Northeast, including D.C., Vermont, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, while the lowest rates are observed in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Public health researchers worry that vaccination rates may decline further, particularly among younger adults and Hispanic and Black Americans, who have lower vaccination rates, further exposing them to serious complications such as long COVID. These ongoing mixed messages from federal leadership and new access barriers in some Republican-led states are creating a fragmented and unpredictable vaccination environment. Although COVID may no longer dominate headlines as it once did, it still claimed more than 31,000 U.S. lives last year.  

The consequences of declining trust in vaccines are already visible. A measles strain that ignited a major outbreak in the Southwest has now spread across the country, leading to 1,753 confirmed cases as of November 18 – more than six times the total reported in 2024, according to the CDC. Nearly all infections (92%) occur among people who are either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. If transmission isn’t controlled soon, the United States is on track to lose its measles elimination status, mirror Canada’s recent loss of the designation just some days ago. Health officials frame the current moment bluntly: pockets of low vaccination are creating openings for opportunistic diseases Americans once assumed were gone.  

These vulnerabilities are emerging just as the U.S. faces the prospect of a challenging flu season ahead. A mutated influenza strain, subclade K, is already driving early surges in the UK and Canada. U.S. scientists warn that this winter could bring a second consecutive severe flu season – last winter saw the highest rates of flu hospitalization in nearly 15 years, with at least 280 children dying from influenza, the highest pediatric death toll recorded since 2004. Now, with the new variant circulating, vaccination rates down, and holiday travel approaching, experts warn that a grim repeat is likely.  

“The signs are, it could be a big season,” says Richard Webby, who studies the flu at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. “The flu season might have a little bit of a punch to it this year.” 

A new Pew Research Center poll adds another layer: while most Americans still believe childhood vaccines work in preventing serious illnesses, confidence among Republican voters continues to erode. As trust fractures along political lines, the nation’s ability to maintain stable immunization coverage becomes increasingly fragile.  

Further Reading:  

Spotlight: Improving Pandemic Readiness with Michael Osterholm and GMU’s Gregory Koblentz – A Podcast 

re we ready for the next pandemic? In Improving Pandemic Readiness, David Ramadan and guest co-host Gregory Koblentz, Director of GMU’s Biodefense Graduate Program, sit down alongside renowned epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, Director of CIDRAP and author of The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics. They discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, including challenges with vaccine distribution and lockdown measures, and explore how young people can combat the pervasive spread of misinformation and disinformation. 

Listen to the podcast here. 

First Human Case of H5N5 Confirmed in Washington 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

On November 14, Washington state health officials confirmed the first human case of H5N5 avian influenza in the United States, also marking the country’s first human bird flu case since February. The patient, reportedly an older adult with underlying health conditions, remains hospitalized after developing severe symptoms including high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress in early November. This represents the first known human infection with the H5N5 strain, distinct from the H5N1 strain that has affected thousands of cattle and poultry operations in recent months.  

Investigators believe the patient was exposed through a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry that had contact with wild birds. Health officials are monitoring close contacts but have identified no additional cases and do not believe there is yet increased risk to the public. Human-to-human transmission of avian flu has never been documented in the United States; however, the CDC continues to urge anyone who works with or may come into contact with potentially infected domestic or wild animals to take precautions including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and reporting sick or dead birds to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. Although the majority of the confirmed U.S. human H5N1 cases have been mild, one Louisiana man died in January following infection with bird flu. 

ProPublica Investigation Questions USDA’s Approach to Farm Outbreaks 

A recently published ProPublica investigation has raised questions about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) response strategy to bird flu, including the agency’s decision not to investigate potential airborne spread and its reluctance to authorize poultry vaccines despite calls from public health experts and the egg industry. The investigation examined a devastating bird flu outbreak last winter that began at a single Ohio facility and then spread to nearby farms, ultimately affecting over 20 million hens across 83 farms. Using genetic analysis, weather data, and wind simulations, ProPublica found that wind may be a plausible explanation for how the bird flu virus spreads between farms, as those downwind from the initial outbreak site were approximately 20 times more likely to develop infections.  

The USDA has not investigated airborne transmission in this outbreak, garnering criticism from public health experts and industry leaders who argue that the current focus on wild birds and biosecurity alone has been insufficient to control the disease in light of the continuing bird flu outbreaks across the country. The investigation highlights that other countries have taken different approaches after documenting airborne spread through contaminated dust and feathers. For instance, France implemented poultry vaccination programs in 2023 following research showing the virus could travel on aerosols, leading to a near-total reduction in duck farm cases. 

As the outbreak surges on into the fall migration season, public health experts and egg industry representatives urge the USDA to authorize poultry vaccines against avian influenza in the United States as well. Following a study showing the efficacy of poultry vaccines published in 2023, the USDA licensed a chicken vaccine against avian influenza developed by Zoetis in early 2025, raising hopes that nationwide vaccination programs may soon follow. However, U.S. vaccination efforts in poultry continue to face significant opposition from the chicken meat industry, which has been far less affected by bird flu but holds greater sway over the industry as a whole. These producers warn that vaccinating even egg-laying hens could trigger import bans from international trading partners. After France began its vaccination program, the United States paused all poultry imports from the European Union, citing worries that vaccines could mask infections by preventing symptomatic illness in birds. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated that vaccine deployment is “at least a year or more away,” given concerns about “repercussions that we don’t fully understand.”  

While the USDA appears to be committed to improving poultry farm biosecurity, pledging up to $500 million for farm audits and inspections, some experts told ProPublica they believe government leaders are stalling, hoping the virus will fizzle out on its own, just as it did a decade ago during the 2014-2015 H5N2 outbreak. Unfortunately, with 83 confirmed infected flocks in the last 30 days, more than double the number this time last year, the outbreak does not look like it will be slowing down any time soon.  

Further Reading: 

Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening in Singapore 

The Biodefense Graduate Program was out in force at a workshop held by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) in Singapore on November 4-5, 2025 to develop international best practices for screening sequences and customers to strengthen biosecurity. The goal of the workshop, one in a series being held by EBRC, is to build international consensus on best practices for the nucleic acid synthesis industry, focusing particularly on customer and sequence screening methods, and establish an informal global consortium of stakeholders representing industry, government, academia, and non-profit sector to advance the adoption and implementation of robust screening methods. Biodefense Program Director Dr. Gregory D. Koblentz, who is a member of EBRC’s Security Working Group, served as the discussant on a panel regarding the challenges and opportunities for achieving universal, aligned nucleic acid screening policy and practices. Dr. Koblentz highlighted weaknesses in both multilateral and national approaches to nucleic acid synthesis screening and advocated for a minilateral approach that would start with a small group of countries, companies, and other stakeholders who would establish rigorous screening standards and then work with other countries and companies to incentivize wider adoption of the standard. Two alumni from the Biodefense program also participated in the workshop. Henry Kim, Biodefense PhD ’20, who is currently a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, discussed South Korea’s interest in nucleic acid screening as a biosecurity tool.  Andy Morgan, Biodefense Certificate ‘24, who is the Senior Policy Advisor for Biotechnology Policy & Regulation at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in New Zealand, discussed draft legislation on biotechnology innovation and regulation that would include nucleic acid synthesis screening. 

Debating the U.S. Pandemic Preparedness Playbook: Risks, Reality, and Rebuttals 

Two sharply contrasting perspectives on pandemic preparedness dominated discourse last week. In City Journal, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and his Principal Deputy Director Matthew J. Memoli published an essay, arguing that the U.S. should create a dramatically revised “pandemic preparedness playbook.” They described it as a three-step agenda:  

  1. Catalog every existing pathogen by sending scientists to remote areas around the world. 
  1. Evaluate the risk of each pathogen infecting humans by testing its ability to penetrate human cells – a step they characterize as potentially involving genetic modification in a practice now called dangerous gain-of-function research (dGOF).  
  1. Develop and stockpile countermeasures such as vaccines and therapeutics in advance of future spillover events.  

Bhattacharya and Memoli portray this approach as inherently risky and suggest that past U.S. preparedness investments failed or even contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In response, Jeremy Faust, writing for Inside Medicine, published a rebuttal, criticizing the essay for misrepresenting both the scientific record and the purpose of U.S. preparedness programs. Faust – citing virologist Angela Rasmussen and others – counters that decades of NIH-funded coronavirus and mRNA research made the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines possible and saved millions of lives. He notes that wildlife surveillance and lab characterization are standard, tightly overseen scientific practices, not reckless attempts to “create” threats. They also emphasize that the weight of peer-reviewed evidence supports a zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 linked to wildlife trade at the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market in Wuhan – not laboratory work – and warns that abandoning scientific consensus for ideological narratives would leave the U.S. less, not more, prepared for the next pandemic.   

Further Reading: 

New Review Article: How States Build Bioweapons: Lessons from Russia and Iraq 

In a new review, Amy E. Smithson examines how political leadership, institutional culture, and strategic doctrine shaped the Soviet/Russian and Iraqi illicit bioweapons programs. It analyzes each program’s motivations, organizational structure, scientific capacity, biosafety practices, and operational visibility – highlighting how these sociopolitical factors influenced agent selection, R&D, and military planning. By contrasting the two cases, the study draws lessons on how such contextual signals can help analysts better detect clandestine bioweapons efforts and anticipate proliferation risks.  

In Other News  

US and Global Health Policy, Funding Cuts and Governance  

Global Infectious Disease Outbreaks  

Biosecurity, Biothreats, Militarization, and Biological Risks  

How Can the Biological Weapons Convention Address the Dual-Use Challenges of AI-Driven Biodesign Tools?  

From UNIDIR: “In collaboration with the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UNIDIR is organizing a series of online technical briefs on emerging technologies and the BWC. The upcoming session will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools for molecular design and biological engineering – areas advancing at a rapid pace. It will examine their current capabilities, potential dual-use risks, evolving international policy responses, and implications for strengthening the BWC. The session will include a conversation-style expert panel, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment with the audience.” 

This event will take place online on November 26, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here. 

Cyberbiosecurity: Emerging Risks and Opportunities for the Biological Weapons Convention 

From UNIDIR: This session is organized as part of UNIDIR’s “Science and Technology Watchtower” project, aimed at identifying science and technology (S&T) developments and analysing their risks and opportunities for disarmament and international security. It will feature a short presentation of the main findings of UNIDIR’s new paper Cyberbiosecurity: A Matter of International Peace and Security?. The session will then feature a conversation-style panel with experts to explore the implications of cyberbiosecurity for bioscience governance, verification, and national implementation of the BWC, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.” 

This event will take place online on December 4, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

NEW: Call for Experts: Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies 

From NASEM: “The National Academies is seeking suggestions for experts to be considered to fill 5 to 7 open seats on the Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies. The forum fosters in-depth discussion and collaboration to examine barriers, identify research, explore innovative operational and policy solutions, and inspire action among diverse stakeholders in support of sustaining and advancing national health readiness and security. Additionally, staff are identifying potential speakers, participants, and other contributors for upcoming forum activities.” 

Submit your nominations by December 8 here. 

NEW: African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) 

From AAVN: “The African Atomic Voices Network (AAVN) is a collaborative, career-development community for young professionals, students, and researchers from Africa (aged 18–35) who are working in, or passionate about, nuclear issues and related global security challenges such as artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and chemical & biological security. The Network empowers African young professionals to shape global conversations and ensures that Africa’s voice is amplified in nuclear and broader global security discourse.” 

Learn more and join the network here. 

NEW: CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative 

From the initiative: “Established in 2018, the CNS Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative aims to encourage undergraduate women to consider careers in WMD nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. As part of this initiative, we offer a mentorship program that enables undergraduate women to work directly with leading experts in their areas of professional interest.” 

Learn more and join the network here.   

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health

From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.

The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”

Learn more and submit your application by November 30 here.

Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Pandora Report 11.14.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue features developments in vaccine safety and regulatory instability in the U.S., including continued leadership upheavals at the FDA and NIH and the potential public health consequences of weakening vaccination mandates. It also covers global health topics, from avian influenza outbreaks to emerging biosecurity and biosafety initiatives. 

The Vaccine Safety Net is Fraying – and Communities Will Pay the Price 

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report 

Figure 1. Preparing a vaccine dose – an essential tool in protecting communities as health agencies confront rising mis- and disinformation and shifting immunization policies. (Credit: Pexels)

Regulatory stability in the U.S. faces major shocks this week. StatNews reported that two senior FDA officials – Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg – are quietly reshaping vaccine regulation by introducing new policies. These changes include stricter approval requirements and a narrower focus on high-risk populations for COVID-19 vaccines, raising alarms about transparency, the erosion of established norms, and potential negative impacts on public health. The turbulence continues with the abrupt replacement of the director of the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Kyle Walsh, PhD, a neuroepidemiologist and close ally of Vice President JD Vance, was appointed as the new director. NIH employees noted that Walsh was not selected through the standard selection process for filling a vacant position.  

At the FDA, deeper turmoil unfolded as Dr. George Tidmarsh, head of the agency’s drug center, resigned last Sunday following the launch of an HHS investigation into “serious concerns” about his personal conduct. His departure came as a drugmaker connected to Tidmarsh filed a lawsuit alleging that he made “false and defamatory statements” during his tenure at the FDA. Tidmarsh’s ousting marks the latest in a string of chaotic leadership changes at the FDA, which have been impaired for months by firings, departures, and controversial decisions on vaccines, fluoride and other issues.  

Against this backdrop, experts are working to preserve public trust in vaccines amid mounting disinformation. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, and his team at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) launched the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) in April – an initiative designed to provide clear, science-based information on vaccine safety and efficacy in order to fill gaps left by weakened advisory bodies such as ACIP.  

Meanwhile, in Florida, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has announced plans to end nearly half a century of childhood vaccination mandates. Physicians warn that removing these requirements could trigger a resurgence of diseases like measles, hepatitis, meningitis, and pneumonia – disease historically kept at bay because mandates reliably boost vaccination rates. Yet many critics, including doctors, say they are afraid to publicly oppose the policy despite the well-documented evidence that mandates protect communities by increasing vaccine uptake – and in turn, strengthening the overall health and resilience of communities.  

The consequences of retreating from immunization are already visible at the regional level. Canada officially lost its measles elimination status, meaning the entire Americas region has now lost the designation due to sustained transmission. The cause is clear: “We’re seeing transmission of the measles virus in communities, essentially, that are under-vaccinated. So measles is a very contagious virus, and when it gets into a community where there’s a low vaccine rate, then we see really quick spread of that virus,” says Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.  

Further Reading:  

Bird Flu Outbreak Intensifies Across Two Continents  

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

Outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 continue to emerge across the United States as migratory birds carry the bird flu virus south for winter. In the past 30 days alone, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported bird flu cases in over 60 commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Indiana has become a hotspot, with Lagrange County recording six major detections since late October. Most recently, three commercial farms were affected, including facilities housing 8,400 ducks, 8,300 ducks, and 18,300 egg-laying chickens. Michigan and Minnesota have also experienced increases activity, with additional cases reported on both coasts in California, Oregon, and Virginia.   

Compounding the crisis is a scaled-back federal response. Wendy Puryear, a virologist at Tufts University acknowledged that the U.S. is not in a great position to monitor the ongoing outbreaks as much of the infrastructure to do so has been shut down or hampered by the current administration. Collaboration between researchers and federal health agencies has diminished significantly due to restrictions on communication and staffing cuts within the government. Funding cuts have also forced many to halt H5N1 studies. Even prior to the government shutdown, which further exacerbated the situation, data from federally-run labs processing genetic sequencing data from infected animals was already notably slow. Experts warn this reduced surveillance leaves the country vulnerable, particularly as farm worker testing remains inadequate despite their high-risk exposure.  

Europe is experiencing an equally severe surge, with 688 wild bird outbreaks documented this season compared to just 189 last year. Currently, 15 of 27 EU countries have recorded farm outbreaks so far this season. Germany has been hit hardest, recording 66 outbreaks between October 1 and November 5, with over 400 cases in wild birds, particularly cranes. The outbreak has prompted sweeping protective measures across the continent including confinement of poultry indoors to protect them from wild birds. Ireland implemented a nationwide housing order on November 5 after its first outbreak in three years, joining France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all of which imposed similar lockdown measures over the past month.  

Further Reading: 

Special Collection: How Scandals Shape Responsible Research and Innovation 

Figure 2. The Journal of Responsible Innovation has launched a series of articles focused on how scandals shape Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). Learn more here. 

The Journal of Responsible Innovation is releasing a new series of articles examining how scientific scandals reshape norms, governance, and public expectations of research. Drawing on historical and contemporary cases from both the Global North and South, the collection explores the relationship between scandals and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through three interlinked perspectives: systemically (how scandals expose the gaps between legal frameworks and knowledge production), culturally (how scandals challenge perceptions of legitimacy and ethics), and epistemically (how scandals reveal hidden power structures and vested interests). Together, these pieces argue that scandals are not only moments of wrongdoing, but also opportunities for learning, reform, and strengthening RRI.  

Guest Editors: Joy Y. Zhang, Kathleen Yogel, and Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley.  

MIHCLE: A New Standard for High-Containment Lab Safety and Transparency 

Researchers have proposed a new reporting standard called MIHCLE (Minimum Information about a High Containment Laboratory Experiment) to improve transparency and safety in work with high-risk pathogens. While it’s especially designed for BSL‑4 labs, MIHCLE could also apply to BSL‑3 research, helping standardize how experiments are documented under maximum containment conditions. This framework aims to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity by making high-risk experiments more traceable and accountable. 

Biosecurity Knowledge Day 2025: Anticipating Biorisks and Building Preparedness  

Figure 3. Introducing a new Dual-Use Infographic launched by the Biosecurity Office at the International Biosecurity Symposium 2025. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to the phases of dual-use risk assessment cycle. 

On last Thursday, November 6, the International Biosecurity Symposium 2025 brought together an inspiring community of biosafety and biosecurity professionals to discuss emerging biorisk topics in the life sciences. Highlights included Johanna Sweere’s presentation on #mirrorlife, exploring how we can anticipate and govern risks from novel biotechnologies before they emerge. 

Participants also engaged with the new dual-use infographic developed by the Biosecurity Office, a practical tool for assessing and mitigating dual-use risks (see here: link). Afternoon workshops offered hands-on experiences, from tabletop exercises testing organizational preparedness, to sessions on knowledge security dilemmas led by experts from TUDelft and the National Contact Point for Knowledge Security. Attendees also explored integrating security into Safe & Sustainable-by-Design (or #SSbD) and tackled biosecurity challenges in an interactive escape room. Learn more here. 

NEW: How Can the Biological Weapons Convention Address the Dual-Use Challenges of AI-Driven Biodesign Tools?  

From UNIDIR: “In collaboration with the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UNIDIR is organizing a series of online technical briefs on emerging technologies and the BWC. The upcoming session will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools for molecular design and biological engineering – areas advancing at a rapid pace. It will examine their current capabilities, potential dual-use risks, evolving international policy responses, and implications for strengthening the BWC. The session will include a conversation-style expert panel, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment with the audience.” 

This event will take place online on November 26, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here. 

 NEW: Cyberbiosecurity: Emerging Risks and Opportunities for the Biological Weapons Convention 

From UNIDIR: This session is organized as part of UNIDIR’s “Science and Technology Watchtower” project, aimed at identifying science and technology (S&T) developments and analysing their risks and opportunities for disarmament and international security. It will feature a short presentation of the main findings of UNIDIR’s new paper Cyberbiosecurity: A Matter of International Peace and Security?. The session will then feature a conversation-style panel with experts to explore the implications of cyberbiosecurity for bioscience governance, verification, and national implementation of the BWC, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.” 

This event will take place online on December 4, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here. 

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean

From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”

Learn more and get involved here.

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health

From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.

The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”

Learn more and submit your application by November 30 here.

Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Pandora Report 11.7.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue features new emerging pathogens and persistent vulnerabilities in the nation’s health system as scientists identify a new bat coronavirus in Brazil, CEPI scales up global partnerships to create the world’s largest Nipah vaccine reserve, and the U.S. biotech sector faces post-pandemic stagnation. We also cover new findings on silent avian influenza infections, and a global initiative redefining DNA screening standards for biosecurity.

Progress and Peril: New Viruses and Old Weaknesses in Global Health Preparedness

By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report

Figure 1. Bats in Latin America, such as Pteronotus parnellii, are key reservoirs for a new coronavirus, underscoring the importance of continued wildlife surveillance in pandemic prevention (Credit: Pexels)

Even as the world moves further away from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global health landscape continues to reveal both progress and peril in the fight against emerging pathogens.

This week, scientists identified a new coronavirus in wild Brazilian bats carrying a key genetic feature also found in SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19 and MERS. The virus, named BRZ batCoV, was detected in Pteronotus parnellii – a small insect-eating bat common across Latin America. Researchers collected samples from the states of Maranhão and São Paulo, and while there’s no evidence that BRZ batCoV can infect humans, its discovery underscores the importance of sustained wildlife surveillance to track and mitigate spillover risks.

At the same time, global health organizations are racing to strengthen defenses against another deadly zoonotic threat: Nipah virus. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) has partnered with the Serum Institute of India and the University of Oxford to manufacture ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccines for Phase II trials to create the world’s largest Nipah vaccine reserve – up to 100,000 investigational doses ready for emergency deployment. The collaboration aims to ensure rapid response capacity during future outbreaks, a model that could reshape how the world preemptively prepares for viral threats.

Yet while scientists work to prevent the next pandemic, the private biotech sector is grappling with waning momentum of interest. Moderna – once a pandemic-era powerhouse – has seen its market value plummet by more than 90% since 2021. Following declining COVID-19 vaccine sales and falsehoods touted by anti-vaxxers, the company faces deep layoffs and federal contract cancellations. In May, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. terminated $766 million in contracts intended for bird flu preparedness, amplifying concerns about political interference and declining investment in public health countermeasures.

Meanwhile, a new survey by Emergent BioSolutions revealed sobering perceptions among U.S. policy leaders: 65% believe a biological attack on U.S. soil is becoming more likely – and easier to execute – than a nuclear strike, while 45% say the country remains unprepared to respond. Experts like Khahlil A. Louisy highlight that the pandemic exposed major weaknesses in the nation’s health system, warning that decades of underfunding, disinformation, and gaps in local- and state-level infrastructure have left the U.S. “still unprepared for the next pandemic.” As climate change reshapes disease ecology and mis- and disinformation undermines science-based policymaking, the cracks in the U.S. biodefense system continue to widen.

Taken together, these developments highlight a troubling paradox: the world continues to make scientific strides against emerging pathogens, yet political instability, funding shortfalls, and public mistrust threaten to erode the very systems meant to protect us.

Further Reading:

Flying Under the Radar: New Research Challenges Assumptions about Bird Flu

By: Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor

A scoping review by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers published in JAMA Network Open last week has shown that asymptomatic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus have occurred. Additionally, the research indicates person-to-person transmission may be possible in certain environments, challenging previous assumptions about the clinical presentation and transmission patterns of this pathogen.

CDC researchers identified 18 cases of asymptomatic H5N1 infection from reports published through August 25, 2025. These cases include two with both molecular and serologic confirmation and 16 with molecular confirmation alone. While asymptomatic infections represent a small fraction of the more than 1,000 human H5N1 infections reported globally since 1997, their documentation has significant implications for public health surveillance and risk assessment.

The two fully confirmed asymptomatic cases occurred in adults in Pakistan (2007) and Vietnam (2011), both identified through household contact investigations of H5N1 patients. The Pakistani case patient had no documented exposure to infected poultry and is believed to have acquired infection through human-to-human transmission from symptomatic household members. The patient in Vietnam lived in the same household as a symptomatic confirmed H5N1 patient, but both handled and slaughtered virus-infected chickens before their infections were confirmed. Neither patient reported using personal protective equipment during exposure to symptomatic, confirmed cases within their household or, in the case of the patient in Vietnam, infected poultry.

Among the 16 molecularly confirmed cases, 11 were identified through enhanced surveillance programs targeting individuals with occupational exposure to infected poultry in Bangladesh, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The remaining five cases, including the only two cases in children, were detected through household contact investigations in Vietnam and Cambodia.

In an accompanying commentary, Rick Bright, PhD, of Bright Global Health, and Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Harvard Medical School, emphasized the substantial implications of this review and highlighted critical deficiencies in current surveillance systems. Since March 2024, the ongoing H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle has affected over 800 herds across at least 16 states, with 70 confirmed human cases and one death reported as of mid-2025. The findings of this review directly challenge the notion that there has been no human-to-human transmission related to these events.

Bright and Lurie stressed the need to strengthen, not curb, H5N1 surveillance reporting, noting, “the persistence of influenza A(H5N1) in wild birds, its ongoing adaptation in mammals, and its repeated incursions into human populations make it clear that the threat does not subside when immediate headlines fade.” Surveillance systems designed primarily for symptomatic case detection are insufficient for pathogens with pandemic potential. They argued that if asymptomatic infections occur undetected, transmission chains can progress unrecognized, providing opportunities for viral adaptation before an emerging pandemic is identified.

This research underscores the need for prospective surveillance studies incorporating serial molecular and serologic testing of high-risk populations, including farm workers, veterinarians, and household contacts of confirmed cases, regardless of symptom status. Furthermore, enhanced surveillance systems using a One Health approach integrating animal, human, and environmental data are essential for early detection and containment of a potential avian influenza pandemic threat.

Further Reading:

New Initiative: The Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC)

Figure 2. Homepage of the Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC), a new initiative to define and manage biological “sequences of concern.”

A new international partnership is advancing the frontiers of sequence-level biosecurity. The Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC), founded in 2024, brings together DNA synthesis providers, screening tool developers, policymakers, and scientific experts to establish clear, science-based standards for identifying and managing biological “sequences of concern.”

By maintaining a standardized Biosecurity Flag Rubric and a large Test Sets Collection of labeled genetic sequences, the SBRC aims to harmonize risk assessments and strengthen oversight across the biotech ecosystem. Through a community-driven consensus process, the consortium defines which genetic sequences pose clear risks, which are low-risk, and where uncertainties remain – reducing confusion and regulatory risk for responsible providers. The SBRC’s work addresses a long-standing challenge: while some sequences, such as toxin genes, clearly warrant scrutiny, many others occupy a gray area where risk assessment is subjective. The consortium’s standards and test materials help align screening practices across the bioeconomy, bridging gaps between science, policy, and industry.

Learn more, access resources, or get involved at sbrc.bio or by contacting moderators@sbrc.bio.

Nexus Series: AI x Bio: Workshop 1

From AI for SynBio: “Agentic AI and Biological Design Tools reduce the required expertise for new biotech developments enabling new benefits and novel harms. To guard against these harms, technical and policy solutions leveraging these AI and biotech advances should be deployed proactively to help red-team and safeguard against misuse in an exponentially changing landscape. This workshop series will shape the safeguards necessary to prevent harm and empower the community with technical and policy resources for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks participation from academia, non-profits, industry, and government.”

This event will take place on November 13. Register here.

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

NEW: Global South Fellowship Programme: Biosecurity

From CEPI: The Global South Fellowship Programme (GSFP) at CEPI, in its second round, is offering a fifth fellowship to actively participate in Global Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR) forums while locally/nationally/regionally championing the vision for the development of vaccines in 100 days and preparation for a world free from pandemics.

The fellowship duration will be up to maximum 1 year (fixed term) and will commence most likely in January 2026. Throughout this duration, the selected fellow will remain in their country of residence/employment. The Fellow shall conduct all of their work for CEPI remotely from their normal working location. The fellow will be subject to a successful contractual agreement between CEPI and their current employer (the Host Institution), and the Host Institution agreeing to second the Fellow to CEPI for the period of the Fellowship. Please refer to the following sections on more detailed information on scope and ways of working. The fellowship is a full-time position. However, if a full-time commitment is not possible for you, please flag this in your application and we would be happy to discuss.” Learn more and submit your application by November 16 here.

NEW: Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.

Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31 here.

The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean

From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”

Learn more and get involved here.

Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:

  • Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
  • Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
  • Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
  • The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
  • Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
  • Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
  • Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
  • AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”

Learn more and submit your papers here.

Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health

From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.

The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”

Learn more and submit your application by November 30 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.