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:
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:
- “Study suggests pre-existing immunity to H5N1 avian flu varies by age, prior exposure,” Laine Bergeson, CIDRAP
- “Genomic features associated with sustained mammalian transmission of avian influenza A viruses,” Ye, et al., Nature Microbiology
- “Some vaccines are making progress in protecting vulnerable species,” Erin Garcia de Jesús, ScienceNews
- “Are swans more likely to die from bird flu?” Galya Dimitrova, BBC
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:
- “Living Framework and Guidelines for Information Disclosure in Biosecurity,” Jay Atanda, Matthew Nicotra, Benjamin Sperisen, Elika Somani, and Henry H. Willis, RAND
- “Why Biotechnology Is Central to U.S. National Security,” Bens Lens
- “The failing economics of biosecurity,” Dirk Van Der Kley, Bio Brawl
- “AI-powered military neurotech: Mind enhancement or control?” Aliya Sternstein, Military Times
In Other News
Global Health and WHO Developments
- “Joint Statement by Secretary of State Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kennedy on the Termination of U.S. Membership in the World Health Organization (WHO),” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- “US withdraws from the World Health Organization,” Jennifer Rigby and Emma Farge, Reuters
- “WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States,” World Health Organization
- “As U.S. prepares to exit WHO, it is stiffing the agency on a large bill,” Helen Branswell, StatNews
- “California becomes first state to join WHO disease network after US exit,” Joseph Choi, The Hill
Pandemic Preparedness and Bioethics
- “Fifth Implementation Report,” International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat
- “Report of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) on the ethical issues of synthetic biology: research, development and application,” International Bioethics Committee
- “William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89,” Keith Schneider and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, NY Times
- “Boiled pangolin for lunch? The rampant trade that could spark a new pandemic,” Sarah Newey, The Telegraph
Genetics, Ethics and Misuse of Science
- “Genetic Data From Over 20,000 U.S. Children Misused for ‘Race Science’,” Mike McIntire, NY Times
- “Deadly ‘reverse’ cells can destroy us unless scientists stop them,” Vaughn S. Cooper, Scientific American
- “Misinformation Studies Meets the Raw Milk Renaissance,” Renee DiResta, Lawfare
- “Rejecting Decades of Science, Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional,” Apoorva Mandavilli, NY Times
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.
The Pandora Report 