This week’s Pandora Report discuses the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention, as well as updates on the Trump administration, H5N1, measles, and more.
Biodefense Professor Discusses Biological Weapons Convention at 50th Anniversary Event
Professor Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, deputy director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at the Schar School, spoke at a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine meeting celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) on March 26, 2025. The panel, composed of U.S. Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins (former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security), Professor Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, and Richard Stone (Science), covered a broad range of issues relating to the achievements of the BWC, its main challenges, existing state and terrorist threats, and ways to improve implementation of the treaty. During her introductory remarks, Professor Ben Ouagrham-Gormley noted that the BWC is strong and worth celebrating in spite of its weaknesses. She went on to highlight that due to the lack of specific biological weapon activity signatures, the main objective of future verification measures for the BWC should focus on preventing and disrupting suspected BW programs rather than preventing and detecting illicit programs. She also noted the importance of improving assessments of the threat posed by emerging technologies to more clearly evaluate their potential role in a bioweapon’s life cycle. The panel concluded with a dynamic discussion with participants, during which Professor Ben Ouagrham-Gormley’s suggestion to focus on disruption rather than detection gained a lot of interest.
Further Reading:
- “Biological Weapons ‘Must Not Only be Unthinkable, but Also Impossible,'” United Nations
- “Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio
NGO Formerly Led by RFK Jr. Hosting CDC Clone Website
A clone of the CDC’s website that is full of false and misleading claims about vaccines and other health topics is being hosted by the Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an anti-vaccine non-profit organization formerly led by now Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. While the site (realcdc.org) is now unavailable, it reportedly uses the CDC’s logo, its real social media links, and authoritative language in its claims. The New York Times reported on Saturday that the site was taken down at the direction of Secretary Kennedy, raising concerns about the legality of this site and the secretary’s connection to it.
Further Reading:
- “IPs, Epidemiologists, and ID Physicians Ask HHS to Support HICPAC,” Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Bhattacharya Confirmed as NIH Director
The Senate confirmed Jay Bhattacharya as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday. The votes were split along party lines, 53 to 47. Bhattacharya is a controversial figure, most notably for his criticism of the government’s COVID-19 response and of the very agency he will now lead. He has also indicated he will follow along with Secretary Kennedy’s goals of scaling back research on infectious diseases in order to focus more on chronic conditions. The NIH is also currently reeling from actions of the administration, including massive budget cuts and mass firings, meaning Bhattacharya will have quite the mess to manage.
Further Reading:
- “The Chaos of NIH Cuts Has Left Early-Career Scientists Scrambling,” Maggie Chen, Wired
- “H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics,” Carl Zimmer and Apoorva Mandavilli, The New York Times
- “NIH Ends Future Funding to Study the Health Effects of Climate Change,” Annie Waldman and Sharon Lerner, ProPublica
Trump Nominates Monarez for CDC Director
President Trump has selected Susan Monarez as his nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aiming to make permanent the acting role she has held at the agency since January. Monarez’s nomination replaces that of David Weldon, a Florida physician and former congressman whom the White House feared could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed. Monarez holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology, and she previously led the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. If confirmed, she would be the first CDC director confirmed by the Senate under a change that was passed by Congress in 2022 requiring confirmation.
Further Reading:
- “Why I Left My Job Leading Public Health Messaging for the CDC,” Kevin Griffis, The Washington Post
- “CDC is Pulling Back $11B in Covid Funding Sent to Health Departments Across the U.S.,” Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News
Trump Administration Set to End Support for Gavi
The United States’ financial support for Gavi, a public–private global health partnership that aims to increase access to immunization in poor countries, is set to be terminated by the Trump administration. Gavi is estimated to have saved 19 million children since its establishment 25 years ago with the US contributing 13% of its budget.
This decision was included in a 281-page document that USAID sent to Congress on Monday, listing all of the foreign aid projects it plans to continue and terminate. The document indicates that the administration has chosen to continue just 898 USAID awards, while ending 5,341 others. These kinds of changes are already having substantial impacts for efforts to combat diseases like HIV/AIDS and TB. Experts have also warned the sudden withdrawal of US global health funding is not something that can be filled in by philanthropic and charitable organizations. Ultimately, these decisions mean lives are being lost and both the US and world are less safe.
ODNI 2025 Annual Threat Assessment Fails to Mention Climate Change
This week, the two Congressional select committees on intelligence hosted the heads of ODNI, CIA, NSA, DIA, and FBI to hear their testimony about current global threats. The testimony stems from the Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community. The assessment for 2025 is unusual, however, in the fact that it is the first such assessment in a decade to not mention climate change at all.
As analysis from CSR highlighted, even a textbox discussing challenges in Russia and the Arctic is devoid of the term, let alone any mention of the climate, environment, or melting ice. This is strange given how consistently the IC has warned about this problem in the last decade, making these assessments under both Democratic and Republican administrations. As that same analysis points out, this means the US is operating with a massive blind spot.
Last year’s assessment mentions the topic several times, rightly explaining that climate change can serve as an accelerant to conflict while also placing more of the global population at greater risk “…from extreme weather, food and water insecurity, and humanitarian disasters, fueling migration flows and increasing the risks of future pandemics as pathogens exploit the changing environment.” That all certainly did not absolve itself in the last year, so this sudden omission is very concerning.
Bird Flu Pandemic?
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
H5N1 continues to be an American problem, and global leaders are pointing to the possibility of a global pandemic. Despite Bird Flu not yet having human to human transmission, the UK has added it to its list of emerging infections. While the disease is not new, it has mutated over the years from birds to cows and now domestic animals such as cats. On Tuesday March 24, the UK reported its first case in sheep on a Yorkshire farm where H5N1 had been detected, pointing to its continued adaptability. There have been cases detected in12,702 wild birds, 168,266,734 cases in poultry across 51 jurisdictions and 993 dairy hears in 17 states. American politicians, such as RFK Jr., continue to support a “no intervention” plan — suggesting to let it spread through farms and breed the chickens that survive the disease. While he has no background in agriculture, his idea is backed by the Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Many scientists agree that this is a bad idea and could lead to the pandemic potential, human to human transmission, but with bird flu spreading and egg prices rising, Americans are calling for a solution.
Texas Parents of Dead Child Stand by Their Choice Not to Have Their Children Vaccinated
With the US having now recorded more than 500 cases of measles, the parents of the six-year-old child who was killed by the disease in Texas are standing by their decision not to vaccinate. According to the Texas Tribune, the parents told Children’s Health Defense (the organization that was led by RFK Jr.) that the experience did not convince them that vaccination is necessary and that “…they would still say ‘Don’t do the shots.'” Of her surviving children, the mother said “The measles wasn’t that bad. They got over it pretty quickly.”
The article explains further that the couple’s daughter was sick with the measles for several days before her labored breathing prompted them to take her to Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock. While in the hospital, the girl was intubated, and she died just a few days later. The father of the dead child said later in the video that, “Also the measles are good for the body for the people…You get an infection out.”
Meanwhile, children in West Texas are being treated for vitamin A toxicity after RFK Jr. directed the CDC to update its guidance on measles to promote the use of vitamin A. Cases in Texas and New Mexico also rose 20% in just three days this week. Texas now has more than 400 cases, which surpasses the number reported in the state for the entirety of 2024, demonstrating that this is anything but a good thing.
Keep the Dream Alive: Schar School Rallies Support on Mason Vision Day—and How You Can Help
When the federal government slims down, the ripple effects reach farther than the halls of Congress. They hit homes, families, and, in some cases, the students working toward careers in policy and governance.
That’s why this year, Mason Vision Day—George Mason University’s annual 24-hour period of giving—the Schar School of Policy and Government is turning its focus to a lifeline for those hit hardest: the Schar School Student Emergency Assistance Fund. (See the Mason Vision Day Schar School web page for information on how to participate.)
Mason Vision Day is April 3.
“Selecting the Schar School Student Emergency Assistance Fund for Mason Vision Day was an obvious choice,” said Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell. “This fund was originally established at the start of the pandemic in 2020. With $60,000 raised, more than 50 Schar School students were able to pursue their degrees because of our community’s generosity.”
Read more about Mason Vision Day and the affects the current administration is having on Schar School students here.
“Bird Flu Spillover Increases the Risk of Dangerous Human Variants”
Michaela Simoneau, Maclane Speer, and Sophie Hirshfield (a Biodefense MS Program alumna) recently published this CSIS article: “Bird flu, or H5N1, now infects over 40 different mammalian species, a dramatic rise from just a few years ago, increasing opportunities for the virus to mutate and become more transmissible or lethal to humans…As the virus becomes endemic in wild animal populations and continues to spread among poultry and dairy cattle, disrupting the agricultural industry and threatening human health, the United States needs a broader, long-term, multidimensional strategy for viral control.”
“2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit: A Year of H5N1 and How to Move Forward”
Biodefense MS student Emily McHarg recently wrote this event summary about the Scowcroft Institute’s Pandemic Policy Summit for the Pandora Report. Read about Emily’s experience and knowledge gained from the Summit here.
“Forging the Biological Weapon Convention: A Brief History of the Creation of the BWC”
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention, Neha Suresh, a biosecurity researcher and science communicator with a background in molecular biology, has written an article that examines the BWC’s history, the forces that shaped it, and the persistent challenges that undermine its effectiveness. The BWC stands at a critical juncture. Born from a moment of moral clarity and scientific foresight, it represents an attempt to build a shield against one of humanity’s darkest impulses. But its inherent flaws – the lack of verification and the reliance on trust – have left it vulnerable. You can read the article here.
“The Next 50 Years: Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention – Explained”
NTI’s Gabrielle Essix, David Stiefel, and Jaime M. Yassif recently authored this explainer on the BWC in its future, writing in their intro “Biological weapons pose a significant threat to international security, health, and the global economy. To address this, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) entered into force 50 years ago today, becoming the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban the production of an entire category of weapons. As the world marks this anniversary, we reflect on the BWC’s importance and outline a path forward to strengthen its effectiveness.”
“Motivating Policymakers to Safeguard Modern Biology”
NTI’s Hayler Severance recently authored this piece discussing policymaking challenges in regards to modern biology, writing in part “Threats posed by the misuse of modern biology are growing. Emerging technologies are reducing the barriers for bad actors to cause catastrophic harm. But policymakers can step in to reduce these risks. To do so they not only need proposed solutions, but they must understand the challenges and be motivated to act…NTI focuses on developing solutions and delivering action. Doing so requires that we clearly communicate and connect with decision makers who are not necessarily experts in the field. This is how we do that.”
“The Coming Global Health Crisis: America is Retreating, and China Won’t Fill the Void”
Thomas J. Bollyky and Yanzhong Huang recently published this article in Foreign Affairs: “Critics of the Trump administration’s early actions on global health—withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and paralyzing U.S.-funded international health programs—fear that those moves will cede Washington’s long-standing leadership role to Beijing. American power and prestige, they charge, will wane, and China’s will grow…The reality is worse. A U.S. retreat on global health, if sustained, will indeed open the door for China to exploit the abrupt, chaotic withdrawal of U.S. programs in some strategic regions.”
“From AIDS to Swine Flu: Global Cooperation on Emerging Diseases”
Josh Michaud recently published this article in World Politics Review, writing in part “This year, every country in the world has had to confront H1N1 influenza, also known as “swine flu.” The newly identified influenza virus caused great concern when it appeared unexpectedly in Mexico and the United States, before spreading quickly to all continents around the globe. But we are now breathing a collective sigh of relief after discovering that — so far, at least — the health impact of this virus has not been much greater than that of the “seasonal” influenza viruses we face every year.”
“The Silent Epidemic: Mpox’s Resurgence in Africa Calls for Urgent Global Health Action”
Wilmot James, Richard Migisha and Nikki Romanik authored this article for Daily Maverick: “Without US funding, there has been immediate disruption to controlling the mpox outbreak. Now is the time for global health leaders, philanthropic organisations and other high-income nations to step up and fill the void left by the funding withdrawal.”
“Priority Pathogens: The Disease Families Which Require Urgent Scientific Research”
From UK HSA: “…UKHSA has now published its own perspectives. Through its Priority Pathogen Families reference tool, the agency is highlighting 24 pathogen families where it believes further research is most needed in the interests of biosecurity – uniquely, this tool includes pathogen families of a global concern, as well as those already impacting on the nation’s public health (endemic disease)…In this blog post we take a look at the new Priority Pathogen Families reference tool and how it will help focus and guide preparedness efforts against some of the top threats to public health.”
“How to Delete Your 23andMe Data After the Company Filed for Bankruptcy”
NPR’s Manuela López Restrepo discusses data concerns in the wake of 23andMe’s bankruptcy declaration, along with providing instructions for removing personal data from the company’s system and revoking permission for genetic data to be used in research.
NEW: The Biological Weapons Convention at 50: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
From UNIDIR: “This UNIDIR-United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) event will assess progress within the Working Group on the Strengthening of the BWC, established at the 9th BWC Review Conference, and outline the next steps for reinforcing this critical treaty. The event will feature opening remarks from the Chair of the BWC, brief updates from the Friends of the Chair on the agenda items of the Working Group, and a questions and answer session with the participants.”
This event will take place online on April 2, 13:15-14:45 CET. RSVP and learn more here.
NEW: 2025 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Informational Webinar
From NTI: “The ninth annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition is now open for applications. NTI | bio hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to develop original concepts and share them with the wider biosecurity community. This year’s co-sponsors include 80,000 Hours, CBWNet, the iGEM Foundation, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.”
“This webinar is open to anyone interested in applying to the 2025 competition. It will feature a summary of competition requirements, a moderated panel discussion with experts in the biosecurity community, and an opportunity for Q&A.”
Learn more about this webinar taking place on April 3 at 9 am EDT here.
NEW: Digital Technologies for Epidemic Intelligence
From ACHS: “How do risks change during an emerging infectious disease threat? Traditional surveillance methods demonstrate specific limitations when applied to complex or rapidly evolving outbreak situations. Newer digital technologies and event-based surveillance can provide early alerts, data from blind spots or novel ways to integrate data…Dr. Oliver Morgan, Director of the WHO Hub in Berlin, will discuss the potential applications and limitations of emerging digital technologies in strengthening multidisciplinary strategies for epidemic prevention, prediction, and preparedness.”
This webinar will take place on April 22 from 7-8 pm (GMT+8:00). Learn more and register here.
NACCHO Preparedness Summit-Pathway to Recovery in the Aftermath of Disasters
From NACCHO: “The Preparedness Summit is the place for you to reenergize while gaining the knowledge, resources, and relationships necessary to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Join more than 2,500 attendees—who work in all levels of the government (federal, state, and local), emergency management, volunteer organizations, healthcare coalitions, and academia—to share best practices, build partnerships, advance your skillset, and take away innovative solutions and practical strategies to address the vulnerabilities in our country’s health security system.”
This year’s summit will take place April 29-May 2 in San Antonio. Learn more and register here.
Astrobiodefense: Biological Threats and the Next Frontier
From the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense: “This Commission meeting, Astrobiodefense: Biological Threats and the Next Frontier, will be held on May 8, 2025. The focus of this meeting will be to provide the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense with a better understanding of how to strengthen international astrobiodefense and planetary protection efforts through: (1) current government astrobiodefense efforts; (2) new scientific and technological advances for astrobiodefense; and (3) collaborative efforts and public-private partnerships to improve astrobiodefense. More information will be provided as the event date approaches.”
This event will take place on May 8 from 10 am-3:40 pm ET in Washington, DC. Register here.
Five Years After COVID-19: Is Texas Better Prepared for the Next Public Health Crisis?
From the Texas Tribune: “Texas entered the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago already at a disadvantage, with an unhealthy and uninsured population, an underfunded public health system and workforce shortages spread across the health care system. While some hoped the pandemic might force improvements, all of these long-standing issues remain, or are worse, than before.”
“Today, Texas’ spending on public health funding is worse than before the pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy is surging. Local health authorities have fewer tools to protect their constituencies. Growing distrust of science, expertise and authority have unraveled the hard-earned lessons from COVID.”
“Faced with the newest bird flu strain and the resurrection of the once-eradicated measles disease, can the state and local leaders change the enduring legacy of COVID-19 before the next pandemic ravages the state?”
This event will take place on April 2 at 11:30 am CDT. Register here.
Advancing Biotechnology for a Secure Tomorrow
On April 24, MITRE and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) will host a conference that will explore the economic and national security implications of emerging biotechnologies. Join us to discuss the NSCEB’s final report and recommendations followed by a series of in-depth discussions on the promotion and protection of the US bioeconomy. Register now!
International Symposium on Transboundary and Emerging Zoonotic Diseases
“The International Symposium on Transboundary and Emerging Zoonotic Diseases is designed to showcase many aspects of the partner institutions’ findings, to serve as a forum for scientists far and wide to present their own findings, and to interact and network extensively with partners. In addition, keynote speakers, each a well-recognized leader in a specific aspect of transboundary or emerging diseases, will present on topics to help guide the overall discussions. Abstracts are welcome for both oral and poster presentations.”
This symposium will take place April 28-30 in Manhattan, Kansas. Learn more and register here by April 4.
International Pandemic Sciences Conference
“Representatives from academia, industry, civil society and policy are invited to gather in Oxford, UK, and online from 30 June – 1 July 2025 for the International Pandemic Sciences Conference 2025.”
“This year’s conference theme, Getting Ahead of the Curve, will explore how we can work together to predict, identify and control epidemic and pandemic threats globally. ”
“Over two days of plenary, parallel and networking sessions, stakeholders from different sectors and communities will have the opportunity to share ideas, experiences and strategies on prediction, early detection and control of pandemic threats. ”
“The International Pandemic Sciences Conference 2025 is hosted by the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford.”
Learn more, register, and submit abstracts here.
SBA.4 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa
From SynBio Africa: “The SBA 4.0 conference will serve as a platform for fostering connections among industry, academia, community groups, and policymakers. It will showcase innovative applications of synthetic biology and AI, and highlight ongoing efforts in biomathematics, biomanufacturing, one-health, biosafety and biosecurity. It will also facilitate networking and information exchange. Key focus areas include tackling agriculture, health, environmental management, and industry challenges. In Africa, synthetic biology is poised to drive the national development agenda by promoting a sustainable bioeconomy, supporting health and agricultural systems, and aiding environmental conservation and restoration. This event will provide a vital opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and strategize the integration of synthetic biology innovations, address policy, legal frameworks, and communicate the benefits of the technology.”
This conference will take place July 23-25 in Kigali. Learn more and register here.
Ninth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Open for Applications
From NTI|bio: “The Ninth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition is now open. NTI | bio hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to develop original concepts and share them with the wider biosecurity community. This year’s co-sponsors include 80,000 Hours, CBWNet, the iGEM Foundation, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.”
“This year, the competition invites innovative and creative papers focused on how to define “biological weapons,” given the ever-evolving biothreat landscape. The full prompt is provided below.”
Learn more here.
Blueprint Biosecurity Hiring
Blueprint Biosecurity, a non-profit, is hiring a Government Affairs Director and Project AIR Program Director. Both positions are based in Washington, DC. Read more about Blueprint Biosecurity’s work and the challenges this organization is tackling here. Apply by April 6.
Call for Experts-Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop
From NASEM: “Most biological molecules are chiral entities where their mirror images have different structures and functional characteristics. Scientists have begun synthesizing left-handed DNA and RNA and creating proteins that can write left-handed nucleic acids. This, and other related research, is described as “mirror biology” and includes research toward creating mirror-image self-replicating living systems. The National Academies will host a foundational workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trends in research and development, risks and benefits of this research, and considerations relating for future governance of relevant enabling technologies.”
“We invite you to submit suggestions for experts to participate in this activity. The call for experts closes on March 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM EDT.“
Submit recommendations here.
Apply for the 2025 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship
“The global norm against biological weapons cannot be maintained without the inclusion of youth voices in the multilateral discussions taking place in the framework of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Youth perspectives are key to create innovative solutions and generate long-term engagement. There are benefits to including the perspectives of young people from developing countries, where over 90% of the world’s youth reside.”
“Organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva, in partnership with key international actors that empower youth in science diplomacy and global biosecurity, the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship provides a unique learning and networking experience in the framework of the Biological Weapons Convention.”
“Launched in 2019 as a Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop, the Youth for Biosecurity Initiative organized its first fellowship in 2023. For the third edition, the fellowship will provide the opportunity for 20 competitively selected young scientists from the Global South to join an online interactive training programme prior to a field visit during the meeting of the BWC Working Group on the Strengthening of the Convention in Geneva.”
Learn more and apply by April 7 here.
NOFO, Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
“There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory biological risk management has gaps, and that biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence.1 This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop2 or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis.1 ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the three key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
“This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.”
“This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety and agricultural biosecurity, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.”
Learn more and submit application by April 14 here.
The Pandora Report 