This week’s Pandora Reports includes news from the Biodefense Graduate Program in addition to discussion of China’s newly-implemented export control regulations, recently-announced US export controls on biotechnology, and the United States’ new National One Health Framework.
Two Biodefense Students Earn Distinguished Fellowship
This portion was written by Meredith Fletcher, a first-year student in the Biodefense MS program with a special interest in terrorism and the use of pathogens as weapons.
The Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) fellowship, offered by the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the most distinguished and prestigious fellowship available to those in the biosecurity profession. Two students in the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Biodefense PhD program, Janet Marroquin and Katie Dammer, were chosen for this honor and will be joining 29 other young professionals in the fellowship’s 2025 cohort. During their fellowship, participants will participate in biosecurity workshops, networking events, and research symposiums, both in Washington DC and abroad. Dr. Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, congratulated both students on this impressive accomplishment, “Janet and Katie are rising stars in biosecurity so it’s very gratifying to see their potential recognized by the leading think tank in the field.”
Janet graduated in 2019 with her M.S. in Biodefense and is currently pursuing a PhD in Biodefense. Her dissertation examines Russia’s motivation and strategy for using vaccine-related narratives in its disinformation operations. She currently works as a full-time research analyst for a federally funded research and development center. Her work focuses on analyzing national security challenges related to emerging biotechnologies and CBRNE weapons. Janet says, “I’m most excited to engage with international perspectives on common problems, especially science communication and public trust in state institutions.” Her time at George Mason helped prepare her for both her career and the fellowship because of the nature of the program, the diverse student backgrounds and its comprehensive approach to biosecurity. According to Janet, “The biodefense courses exposed me to the vulnerabilities that we as a global society have to the spread of disease due, in no small part, to inadequate preparedness.” Her favorite classes were Dr. Koblentz’s course on biodefense strategy and Dr. Estela Blaisten’s challenging, but rewarding, course on numerical methods.
Katie is a first-year student in the Biodefense PhD program. The ELBI program and those who speak highly of it have surrounded her since her undergraduate studies, so she jumped at the chance to learn more about this ever-changing field. She says, “I am so grateful to the Center for Health Security for the acceptance and to colleagues and ELBI alumni for all of the kind words I have received since this year’s cohort was announced. Every year brings changes, but it is exciting to know that this will be a key piece of my professional development throughout 2025.” Her focus is on the intersection of national security and science policy, and her current role covers a variety of natural, accidental, and deliberate threats. Katie is most excited to build a biosecurity community and take time away from her career to “nerd out” over the many topics presented during the fellowship. Katie hopes that her time as a fellow will both complement and enhance her research and discussion skills, and she looks forward to engaging with pioneers across the public health and policy fields. Katie feels she owes a special thanks to her dad, who as a career academic has been an inspiration as she started her PhD journey and the fellowship ahead of her.
Janet and Katie join a number of other Biodefense students and alum who have served as ELBI fellows including Siddha Hover MS ’14 (ELBI Class of 2016), Francisco Cruz MS ’15 (ELBI Class of 2016), Saskia Popescu PhD ’19 (ELBI Class of 2017), Yong-Bee Lim MS ‘13 PhD ’21 (ELBI Class of 2018), Justin Hurt PhD ’23 (ELBI Class of 2019), and Matthew Ferreira MS ’22 (ELBI Class of 2023).
Janet Marroquin:
Katie Dammer:
China Implements New Export Control Regulations
The Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, which were adopted in September of last year, went into effect on December 1, 2024. These regulations are designed to support the existing Export Control Law, which went into effect in late 2020 and was the country’s first comprehensive framework aimed at controlling exports of military and dual-use items as well as technology for national security purposes. The new regulations provide more specific guidance on jurisdiction, restricted party lists, export licensing systems, and end-user/user-end requirements. Furthermore, they require third parties to report suspected violations of the regulations. They also offer a framework for extraterritorial regulation.
These regulations will repeal and replace existing rules on dual-use exports from the PRC. These previous rules include Regulation on Export Control of Nuclear Dual-Use Items and Related Technologies (2007), Regulations on Export Control of Missiles and Related Items and Technologies (2002), Regulation on Export Control of Biological Dual-Use Items and Related Equipment and Technologies (2002), and Measures for Export Control of Relevant Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies (2002). However, the 2011 Controlled Chemicals Regulations and 2002 Military Products Regulation will still apply in two cases: “For the export control of dual-use controlled chemicals, the Controlled Chemicals Regulation shall apply; matters not provided for in the Controlled Chemicals Regulation shall be analogically governed by the Export Control Law and the Regulation.” AND “For the export control of certain missiles and related items and technologies listed on the first part of the “Export Control List of Missiles and Related Items and Technologies”, the Military Products Regulation shall apply.”
These regulations also established a Watch List, similar to the United State’s Unverified List. Using this new system, Chinese authorities will be able to designate parties who are not cooperative with end-user/user-end verification requirements. Exporters who are working with entities on the Watch List are barred from applying for general licenses and obtaining export certificates. Rather, they must submit risk assessment reports and compliance commitments before applying for licenses.
Importantly, these regulations allow China’s Ministry of Commerce to extend its reach extraterritorially. They allow authorities to regulate and investigate the exportation of Chinese dual-use items, including those that originate from, contain, or are manufactured using Chinese dual-use items. This is true even if they are produced or traded outside of China, potentially leaving foreign entities and individuals subject to these regulations.
Shi Xiaoli of China University of Political Science and Law wrote of the new regulations, “Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear weapons, biological weapons, chemical weapons) and their delivery vehicles is important to international peace, security and stability. In order to encourage the international community to strengthen non-proliferation efforts to meet global challenges, the United Nations has adopted a series of resolutions and treaties. China has actively participated in and conscientiously fulfilled its obligations, transformed important international obligations into domestic laws, and established and improved an effective export control legal system to prevent related items from being used for purposes related to weapons of mass destruction after export.”
A machine translation of China’s new regulations is available here.
US Announces New Export Controls on Biotechnology, Citing China Concerns
Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on the Biden administration to consider restricting the export of US biotechnology to China’s military. In a letter sent last Thursday to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, lawmakers asked her “to study imposing a licensing restriction on U.S. pharmaceutical companies working with Chinese medical entities under military ownership.”
While it is too late for Raimondo to make much progress on this request, the Department of Commerce did announce this week it is imposing new export controls on biotechnology equipment and related technology due to national security concerns related to AI and data science. These new export controls restrict shipments to China and other countries without a US license. They are for high-parameter flow cytometers and certain mass spectrometry equipment, which the Department says can “generate high-quality, high-content biological data, including that which is suitable for use to facilitate the development of AI and biological design tools.”
This is the latest effort on the part of the Biden administration to restrict China’s access to US technology and part of a broader environment of concern and distrust surrounding US dealings with the PRC. Just this Monday, the Department of Commerce announced new regulations that will cap the number of AI chips that can be exported to most countries and allow unlimited access to US AI technology for the United States’ closest allies. The aim of this is to maintain a firm block on exports to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This also all coincides with steady concerns about China’s access to Americans’ personal health and genetic information. Furthermore, lawmakers renewed calls in August for the FDA to increase scrutiny of US clinical trials conducted in China, citing concerns about intellectual property theft and the possibility of forced Uyghur participation in such trials.
Further Reading:
- “The US Government Takes Actions to Protect Vital Biological Datasets,” Kyle Wilgus, Council on Strategic Risks
- “Biotech Battlefield: Weaponizing Innovation in the Age of Genomics,” Craig Singleton, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
USG Releases First National One Health Plan
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and US Department of the Interior (DOI) released the first ever National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States. The CDC’s press release explains that, “At the direction of Congress in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, CDC, USDA, and DOI developed this framework to address zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness in the United States. CDC, USDA, and DOI are responsible for protecting public health, domestic animal health, and wildlife and environmental health, respectively, and as such are representatives of key One Health sectors for the US government. All three agencies historically address One Health issues and work to help control zoonotic diseases that affect both people and animals. The framework seeks to inform One Health collaboration across the U.S. government for the next five years, describing a common vision, mission, and goals for key federal partners involved in implementing the One Health approach to address zoonotic diseases within the United States.”
Biopower: Securing American Leadership in Biotechnology
Vivek Chilukuri and Hannah Kelley recently authored this report from the Center for New American Security. “The report identifies key strengths and challenges for U.S. biotechnology leadership, surveys biotechnology-leading nations abroad—with a particular focus on China—and outlines an ambitious strategy to help secure U.S. biotechnology leadership for a generation. For the first time, the report introduces the concept of “biopower”—a nation’s capacity to harness emerging biotechnologies to enhance national and economic security—and describes its vast potential applications for defense, health, energy, and food security.”
“Joint External Evaluation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Core Capacities of the United States of America: Mission Report”
The WHO recently released the United States’ most recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE). The report explains in its executive summary that, “During the JEE mission, which took place in Washington, DC and Atlanta, Georgia from 18 to 25 September 2024, the United States’ capacities in 19 technical areas were evaluated through a peer-topeer, consultative process. This process brought together a multisectoral group of national subject matter experts and the multinational, multidisciplinary expert JEE team for a week of discussion, interaction and selected site visits…After a week of collaborative talks this process led to consensus on scores, as well as JEE recommendations for priority actions across the 19 technical areas.”
“The evaluation also generated eight wider, overarching recommendations that, if implemented, will consolidate the United States’ progress and remove bottlenecks that might impede implementation of the agreed priority actions. These recommendations, outlined below, address cross-cutting challenges affecting the capacities of the United States across many of the different technical areas that were explored in greater depth in the JEE process.”
Read the JEE here.
“The Second Trump White House Could Drastically Reshape Infectious Disease Research. Here’s What’s at Stake.”
ProPublica’s Anna Maria Barry-Jester parses out what may lie ahead for infectious disease research under the incoming Trump administration in this article, explaining in part, “Donald Trump’s pick to lead the federal health agency has vowed to replace hundreds of staffers and shift research away from infectious diseases and vaccines. Such an overhaul could imperil the development of life-saving treatments, experts warn.”
“REPORT: The Biden-Harris Administration Roadmap for Pandemic Preparedness and Response”
The White House released this report this week that, “outlines the numerous actions the Biden-Harris Administration took to combat COVID-19 both nationally and globally, and it serves as a roadmap for how the U.S. can effectively respond to pandemics and public health threats in the future. In addition to this public-facing report, this Administration is leaving behind a three-step playbook that future Administrations can use to continue to protect the nation and effectively respond to any future biological threat.”
“Bird Flu Is a National Embarrassment”
Jatherine J. Wu makes the argument that the US should have been taking steps to respond to avian influenza more than a year ago in this piece from The Atlantic.
“The Teeth and Bones That Hold the Key to This Century’s Worst Chemical Weapons Attack”
Henry Bodkin and Heathcliff O’Malley report on how the families of 1,500 victims of a 2013 sarin gas attack in Eastern Ghouta are hunting for justice. Read this article from The Telegraph here.
“Victims of Chemical Weapons Attacks Gather in Damascus to Demand Accountability”
This post from the Middle East Monitor describes a gathering in Damascus on Tuesday during which victims of the Assad regime’s use of CW demanded that those responsible for those “chemical massacres” be held accountable. Read here.
“Sudan’s Military Has Used Chemical Weapons Twice, U.S. Official Say”
Declan Walsh and Julian E. Barnes discuss on recent revelations about CW use in Sudan in this article from The New York Times. They explain that, “Sudan’s military has used chemical weapons on at least two occasions against the paramilitary group it is battling for control of the country, four senior United States officials said on Thursday…The weapons were deployed recently in remote areas of Sudan, and targeted members of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries that the army has been fighting since April 2023. But U.S. officials worry the weapons could soon be used in densely populated parts of the capital, Khartoum.”
“The revelations about chemical weapons came as the United States announced sanctions on Thursday against the Sudanese military chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, for documented atrocities by his troops, including indiscriminate bombing of civilians and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.”
NEW: Upcoming PACCARB Public Meeting
“The Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) provides advice, information, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary). The council supports and evaluates U.S. government activities focused on fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human health, animal health, and environmental health. Using this One Health approach, members of the PACCARB have a wide range of backgrounds, including academia, industry, public health, advocacy, veterinary, and agricultural production.”
“The PACCARB was established under Executive Order 13676 and is included in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 (PAHPAIA). Since 2019, the President of the United States has given authority to the HHS Secretary as the primary recipient of PACCARB recommendations. Additional information on the authority and activities of the PACCARB can be found on the About Us page in the charter.”
“As a federal advisory committee, the PACCARB looks to engage with the public and all AMR stakeholders. The council holds several public meetings every year both in person and live streamed on the HHS.gov website. These meetings are open to anyone with an interest in combating AMR.”
The next PACCARB Public Meeting will take place January 28-29 at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Learn more and register to attend here.
How to Avoid Human-Made Pandemics
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “Studying viruses that could potentially cause outbreaks is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of pandemics. However, this type of research—especially when it involves collecting samples from the field and manipulating pathogens—can unintentionally lead to a pandemic if not managed carefully. Dr Lentzos will discuss her findings from the Pathogen Project, which brought together an international taskforce of scientists, biosecurity and public health experts, ethicists, and civil society leaders to seek consensus on this question: Can we agree on ways to manage research that carries pandemic risk as safely, securely and responsibly as possible?”
This event will take place on January 23 at 8 pm (GMT +8:00) via Zoom. RSVP here.
Preparedness in Rural Communities: National and State/Local Perspectives and Plans
From Penn State: “The COVID-19 pandemic and recent hurricanes have thrust the preparedness of rural communities into the national spotlight. At the federal level, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently released national goals and plans for preparedness of rural communities. The overall objective of this virtual, 2-day mini-symposium is to identify opportunities in public health and agricultural preparedness and response in rural communities. The mini-symposium will focus upon national perspectives on Thursday, January 30 and the state/local perspectives on Friday, January 31. Speakers include representatives of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Agriculture, the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness, and state/local leaders.”
This event will take place on January 30 and 31, from 11 am to 2 pm ET each day. Learn more and register here.
Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control
Johns Hopkins APL’s colloquium will feature Mindy Weisberger, author of the upcoming book Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control: “Zombies are all around us—insect zombies, that is. In Rise of the Zombie Bugs, Mindy Weisberger explores the eerie yet fascinating phenomenon of real-life zombification in the insect class and among other invertebrates. Zombifying parasites reproduce by rewriting their victims’ neurochemistry, transforming them into the “walking dead”: armies of cicadas, spiders, and other hosts that helplessly follow a zombifier’s commands, living only to serve the parasite’s needs until death’s sweet release (and often beyond).”
Learn more about this January 31 event here.
Cyberbiosecurity Summit
From Johns Hopkins APL and Bio-ISAC: “Advancements in biomanufacturing and biotechnology drive the science we need to thrive, everything from apples to vaccines. The Cyberbiosecurity Summit 2025 convenes leading experts in biotechnology, biosecurity, and cybersecurity to explore the intersection of these fields and discuss the strategies to create a safe, secure future for us all.”
This event will take place February 25-26 in Laurel, MD. Register here and review the call for sessions here (closes 12/12).
Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base
“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base. This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”
This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
Exciting Update: The BWC NIM Database Is Complete!
UNIDIR is glad to announce that the BWC National Implementation Measures Database, developed in partnership with VERTIC, has reached a significant milestone: profiles for all 187 States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention are now live! This comprehensive online tool provides detailed insights into each country’s national implementation measures under the BWC, supporting transparency, trust, and international cooperation.
All profiles are available in English, and the team is committed to translating them into all official UN languages throughout 2025. Updates to the profiles will also be made regularly to ensure they remain accurate and relevant.
Explore the database at bwcimplementation.org.
Enhancing UK Biosecurity: DASA Launches Microbial Forensics Competition
“On behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory(Dstl), the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Themed Competition called Future-proofing Biosecurity by Strengthening the UK’s Microbial Forensic Capability. The competition is being run in response to the 2023 UK Biological Security Strategy which aims to implement a UK-wide approach to biosecurity that will strengthen deterrence and resilience to a spectrum of biological threats.”
“Dstl is leading the creation of the United Kingdom Microbial Forensics Consortium (UKMFC) which is being developed in support of the Detect Pillar of the Biological Security Strategy. It will comprise a network of biosurveillance laboratories from all four nations of the UK, operating under a One Health doctrine. This competition seeks novel technology options or technical approaches that can directly support the UKMFC initiative.”
Learn more and submit proposals here.
Connecting and Building Collaborations between AI and Synthetic Biology Communities
From AI for SynBio: “Our primary goal for this symposia is to begin to connect and build mutually beneficial collaborations between the AI and the synthetic biology communities.”
“Synthetic biology is the systematic design and engineering of biological systems. Synthetic biology holds the potential for revolutionary advances in medicine, environmental remediation, and many more. For example, some synthetic biologists are trying to develop cellular programs that will identify and kill cancer cells, while others are trying to design plants that will extract harmful pollutants like arsenic from the ground.”
Read more and submit abstracts here.
Biosecurity Game Changers Fellowship
“A new fellowship at the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health launches with the announcement of the inaugural class of Biosecurity Game Changers, eight individuals who represent the next generation of leaders responsible for preventing and preparing for the worst case health security challenges.”
“The Brown Pandemic Center is partnering with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), Pandemic Action Network (PAN), and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC ISU) to provide an operational base for the fellows, selected for their potential to impact and lead in biosecurity and pandemic preparedness and response. The program is informed by consultation with international and normative entities, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization Global Health Emergency Corps.”
“The year-long fellowship kicks off in September with an in-person meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and a policymaking workshop for early-to-mid-career public health champions, including the fellows. During the year, fellows will collaborate on an operational project with either the Pandemic Center or one of the partner organizations focused on a specific aspect of improving biosecurity, biosafety and/or pandemic preparedness and response. Each fellow will also receive a Brown faculty appointment for the duration of their fellowship.”
Learn more here.
The Pandora Report 