Neha Suresh is a molecular biologist, biosecurity researcher, and science communicator — nsuresh.contently.com.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) stands as a monument to international ambition: the first multilateral treaty to comprehensively ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The treaty’s origins are deeply rooted in the horrors of 20th-century warfare, advancements in biotechnology, and the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War.
March 26, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the convention entering into force. This is the optimum time to re-examine the BWC’s history, the forces that shaped it, and the persistent challenges that undermine its effectiveness. The goal of this article is not to serve just as a historical exercise, but as a vital examination of our present vulnerabilities to biological threats and the future of global biosecurity.
The 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of chemical and biological weapons in war. This prohibition reflected global revulsion at the chemical atrocities of World War I. It also reflected allegations of Germany’s use of anthrax and glanders against Allied livestock during that conflict. However, the Protocol deliberately did not ban the development, production, or stockpiling of BW. This limitation was a significant flaw that allowed nations to continue pursuing biological weapons programs.
By the 1960s, advances in microbiology, such as lyophilization (freeze-drying) of pathogens and aerosolization techniques, led to the development of more stable and deployable BW, raising concerns that existing laws were insufficient. The dual-use nature of these technologies, having both peaceful and military applications, complicated efforts to distinguish legitimate scientific research from weapons development.
A pivotal shift occurred in 1969 when the U.S. unilaterally renounced bioweapons. President Richard Nixon, citing BW’s “massive, unpredictable, and potentially uncontrollable consequences” as incompatible with U.S. interests, ordered the destruction of existing stockpiles. This move, partly influenced by the success of nuclear deterrence and the impracticality of BW for strategic goals, created diplomatic space for multilateral negotiations. Initially hesitant due to suspicions of U.S. biodefense programs, the Soviet Union, as part of its strategy to engage diplomatically, gradually supported a ban, despite not intending to comply with it.
Negotiating the BWC: Drafting a “General Purpose” Treaty
In July 1969, the UK submitted a draft convention to the UN General Assembly, proposing a total ban on BW development and production. This proposal emphasized the existential risk of BW proliferation and the need for a “general purpose” treaty, distinct from the limited scope of the Geneva Protocol. The proposal gained traction through the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament (ENCD), a multilateral forum that included the United States and the Soviet Union, where non-aligned states advocated for stringent verification measures. However, these demands were ultimately deferred due to Cold War tensions.
Article I of the BWC enshrines its core obligation: never under any circumstances to “develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire or retain” microbial or toxin agents for hostile purposes. While this broad language aimed to encompass emerging technologies, the BWC treaty omitted formal verification mechanisms, relying instead on Article V’s formal consultative process and Article VI’s opaque process for lodging complaints via the UN Security Council. The Soviet Union initially opposed separating chemical and biological weapons into distinct treaties and sought a single convention covering both. However, it eventually accepted a standalone Biological Weapons Convention that classified toxins under the broader “biological” umbrella.Meanwhile, the United States resisted constraints that could limit its biodefense activities..
Why did initial calls for BWC verification fail?
The inclusion of verification measures in the BWC was a point of contention from the beginning. Despite calls for verification, the Cold War rivalry prevented the inclusion of any intrusive inspection mechanism. The U.S. and USSR harbored deep suspicions that the other was secretly continuing BW programs under the guise of defensive research. The Soviets feared U.S. intelligence operations disguised as inspections, while the U.S. was concerned that a clandestine Soviet BW program would evade detection.
Entry into Force and Early Challenges
The BWC entered into force on March 26, 1975, following ratification by 22 states, including its three depositary governments (the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States). By 2023, 188 nations had joined the Convention, though key holdouts (such as Egypt, Israel, and Syria) highlight ongoing geopolitical divides. Early adherence was bolstered by the treaty’s perceived symbolic value, but implementation lagged, with few states enacting robust national legislation to criminalize BW activities and the confidence-building measures (CBMs) suffered from inconsistent reporting.
The BWC in the 21st Century: Adapting to New Threats
The BWC faces a complex landscape in the 21st century. Rapid advancements in synthetic biology, CRISPR gene editing, and gain-of-function research have dramatically increased the dual-use risks. The proliferation of high-containment labs ( 51 BSL-4 facilities in operation worldwide) has made comprehensive monitoring more challenging.
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a brutal reminder of the devastating potential of both natural and potentially engineered pathogens. The pandemic has revitalized discussions around the BWC’s Article X, which focuses on peaceful international cooperation. Initiatives like the WHO’s BioHub Facility and the Global Partnership Against WMD’s biosecurity projects aim to better integrate the BWC with the global health framework.
Some old tensions remain. Developed nations, wary of dual-use risks, push for stronger verification and biosafety standards. Developing countries emphasize the need for equitable access to biotechnology for public health and economic development. This divide continues to hinder the BWC’s ability to effectively address both global biosecurity and scientific collaboration.
The old debates about verification have resurfaced, but progress remains elusive. In the 1990s, efforts to introduce more stringent monitoring were blocked, culminating in the U.S. rejection of a 2001 verification protocol. While the Ninth BWC Review Conference in 2022 rekindled discussions through the creation of a new Working Group, a consensus is still out of reach.
Conclusion: The BWC’s Legacy and Unfinished Agenda
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.
As biotechnology empowers more actors and makes the engineering of biological agents easier, the BWC must adapt or risk becoming obsolete. Enhanced transparency, equitable cooperation, and innovative monitoring tools are essential if the Convention is to remain relevant in an age of unprecedented biological risks. The ongoing work of the 2023-2026 Working Group offers a chance to rewrite the narrative, and to ensure that the future is not defined by the weaponization of life itself.
This week’s Pandora Report provides updates on bird flu, measles, the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH and universities’ funding, and more.
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 by the Numbers
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
While California agriculture officials say the bird flu is “slowing down”, cases across the United States continue to rise. According to the latest CDC update, there have been 70 human cases since 2024, 989 infected dairy herds across 17 states and over 90.9 million birds infected, and even more killed to prevent spread. H5N1 has been detected in 336 commercial flocks and 207 backyard flocks in the United States. There have also been dozens of cases reported in cats, and potential contaminations reported across organic cat food companies such as Savage Cat Food. Public Health officials continue to assure Americans that the risk of human to human transmission remains low, and some scientists suggest there may be preexisting immunity, thanks to seasonal flu. Currently, the only continent not to have been affected by the bird flu is Australia. Globally, it has infected more than 528 species of bird. As H5N1 cases continue to rise, the disease has made itself clear that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. However, how bad it will get is still up for debate.
Texas is on track to be the cause of a national epidemic of measles if the state does not start vaccinating more people, say public health experts. The state has reported more than 200 cases in just 50 days, prompting health officials to predict it could take Texas a year or more to contain the spread. Stephen Simpson writes in The Texas Tribune, “With cases continuously rising and the rest of the country’s unvaccinated population at the outbreak’s mercy, Texas must create stricter quarantine requirements, increase the vaccine rate, and improve contact tracing to address this measles epidemic before it becomes a nationwide problem, warn infectious disease experts and officials in other states.”
The two dose series of the MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection. Yet multiple affected counties have seen childhood MMR vaccine rates drop in recent years. This is especially problematic as, once a person is infected, only supportive care is available to help them. There is no antiviral medication for this disease, and it can cause severe disease.
Despite this, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to push vitamins, steroids, and cod liver oil as viable treatments for measles. In a sharp rebuke of the HHS Secretary’s inaction on this matter, former US Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote in an op-ed, “Kennedy’s legacy will be defined not by what he has said in the past but by what he does now. He will be remembered either as the vaccine skeptic who turned vaccine champion or as the man at the helm of HHS when America made measles great again. For the sake of our public health, and our children, we should all hope it’s the former, not the latter.”
Mass Budget Cuts Continue to Cause Immense Damage
Officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have reportedly urged scientists to remove any and all references to mRNA vaccine technology in their grant applications, potentially signaling the agency will abandon this very promising research area. According to KFF Health News, this technology is being studied at NIH for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases like influenza and AIDS, in addition to other diseases like cancer.
The agency is also struggling in many other areas. Issues quickly arose following the firing of probationary employees who worked in the occupational health and safety division. Furthermore, the administration’s cuts have led to the suspension of training programs at NIH, leaving many future and early career scientists left without funding or clear paths forward. The NIH’s funding programs do not just facilitate life-saving research and the building of future generations of scientists. They also, in FY 2024, supported more than 408,000 jobs and generated more than $94.5 billion in new economic activity.
The administration has also targeted individual universities. For example, Columbia University recently had $400 million in federal grants and contracts cancelled by the administration. This is allegedly in response to the university’s “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students” and that more cancellations “are expected to follow.” This has left graduate students, postdocs, and others suddenly without research funding and their source of income.
The effects of this are also being felt globally. The World Health Organization issued its strongest warning yet this week about the consequences of the sudden cessation of US global health funding. WHO Director-General Adhanom Ghebreyesus also called on the Trump administration to reconsider its withdrawal of funding from international aid programs. However, barring that possibility, Tedros said the US has a responsibility to manage its withdrawal in such a way that it does not endanger the lives of those dependent on these programs.
“Rapid National Response to Smallpox Attack in the United States”
Biodefense MS alumnus Zachary Berliner (‘24) recently published the post “Rapid National Response to Smallpox Attack in the United States” on the official blog of the Michigan Journal of Public Affairs. In this analysis, based on a paper he wrote for Dr. Scott Wollek’s “Health Security Preparedness” course, Zachary begins by briefly discussing the history of smallpox eradication and the investigations into the use of the variola virus as a bioweapon. The article then depicts the potential risks of future attacks and outbreaks, outlining the American population’s immunological vulnerability; the dual-use research of concern studies of Jackson et al. (2001), Rosengard et al. (2002), and Noyce et al. (2018); and the American government’s failures to adequately respond to the recent COVID-19 and mpox pandemics. He continues by describing the current structure of the government’s smallpox response and by highlighting its shortcomings.
The post concludes with three major policy reforms. First, “the US government should sign a new, substantial contract with Bavarian Nordic, the [Jynneos] vaccine’s manufacturer” to make Jynneos the primary smallpox vaccine stored in the Strategic National Stockpile. Second, “the CDC should create a Rapid National Reporting Window that local health departments can use to report cases of smallpox and other diseases of bioterrorism risk directly to the CDC.” This Window will reduce bureaucratic gridlock in the pursuit of a federal outbreak response. Finally, Zachary proposes a Rapid National Response that “[resolves] the cooperation and efficiency issues” between SLTT health departments, CDC, ASPR, FEMA, HHS, DHS, and doctors by reducing redundancies. “With the implementation of these proposed policies, the United States government will be better equipped to respond efficiently to a smallpox attack and reduce civilian suffering.”
Along with his Biodefense MS, Zachary also holds an ScM in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is presently looking for policy and analysis opportunities focused on biodefense and health security, and he also has interests in terrorism studies and counterterrorism measures.
The Necessity of Introducing a Korean Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening System
HyunJung “Henry” Kim, Biodefense PhD ’20 and research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy in South Korea, has published a reporton the need for Korea to develop a nucleic acid synthesis screening system. Dr. Kim warns that “South Korea’s lack of oversight of nucleic acid synthesis poses a significant risk, particularly in international regulatory and standardization efforts. Falling behind in these developments could undermine the credibility of domestic companies and researchers in global markets, potentially leading to South Korea’s exclusion from the global bioeconomy and biotechnological supply chains.” Kim recommends that Korea develop “National Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening Guidelines” that align with similar policies already in place in the United States and United Kingdom as well as with screening models proposed by NGOs such as the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS).
“Defending Synthetic DNA Orders Against Splitting-Based Obfuscation”
Tayouri et al. recently uploaded this preprint to bioRxiv: “Biosecurity screening of synthetic DNA orders is a key defense against malicious actors and careless enthusiasts producing dangerous pathogens or toxins. It is important to evaluate biosecurity screening tools for potential vulnerabilities and to work responsibly with providers to ensure that vulnerabilities can be patched before being publicly disclosed. Here, we consider a class of potential vulnerabilities in which a DNA sequence is obfuscated by splitting it into two or more fragments that can be readily joined via routine biological mechanisms such as restriction enzyme digestion or splicing. We evaluated this potential vulnerability by developing a test set of obfuscated sequences based on controlled venoms, sharing these materials with the biosecurity screening community, and collecting test results from open source and commercial biosecurity screening tools, as well as a novel Gene Edit Distance algorithm specifically designed to be robust against splitting-based obfuscations.”
“Biosecurity Community Divided Over Best Ways to Mitigate Risks”
Anemone Franz recently authored this article for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, writing in part, “The field of biosecurity encompasses a wide range of threats that require coordinated efforts across disciplines and geographic borders. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the immense risks posed by biological agents and the urgency of preparing for future biological threats. While there is broad agreement on the need to address these challenges, significant disagreements remain on the best approaches to prevent and mitigate biosecurity risks.”
“To better understand the full spectrum of views within the field, my colleague Tessa Alexanian and I conducted interviews with leading experts in the biosecurity community who were granted anonymity so they could be candid in their remarks. These conversations involved 15 experts, ranging from policymakers to researchers across both public and private sectors. They revealed a common understanding of the necessity for comprehensive, interdisciplinary strategies to tackle biosecurity risks, but they also highlighted key points of contention on critical issues, including the role of artificial intelligence in exacerbating biological threats, the handling of information hazards, and the effectiveness of medical countermeasures in catastrophic scenarios.”
“Improving Biosecurity with A Three-legged Stool Approach”
Lauren Maynor recently authored this post for NTI|bio, writing in part “The use of AI makes it easier to manipulate biology to achieve a desired end-state in a shorter amount of time as compared to the traditional experimental process. For example, AI-enabled capabilities can allow scientists to develop targeted medical countermeasures to more effectively prevent or treat disease. These tools are already being applied in pandemic preparedness to help researchers predict how a virus will evolve to create more protective vaccines. However, a malicious actor could abuse these same capabilities, using them to alter a pathogen to evade available countermeasures, or to make pathogens more virulent or more transmissible among people. Without guardrails, AI-enabled tools could make it easier to deliberately misuse biological knowledge, tools, and techniques, and the consequences could be catastrophic.”
“The Age of AI in the Life Sciences”
From NASEM: “Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the life sciences have the potential to enable advances in biological discovery and design at a faster pace and efficiency than is possible with classical experimental approaches alone. At the same time, AI-enabled biological tools developed for beneficial applications could potentially be misused for harmful purposes. Although the creation of biological weapons is not a new concept or risk, the potential for AI-enabled biological tools to affect this risk has raised concerns during the past decade.”
“This report, as requested by the Department of Defense, assesses how AI-enabled biological tools could uniquely impact biosecurity risk, and how advancements in such tools could also be used to mitigate these risks. The Age of AI in the Life Sciences reviews the capabilities of AI-enabled biological tools and can be used in conjunction with the 2018 National Academies report, Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology, which sets out a framework for identifying the different risk factors associated with synthetic biology capabilities.”
“Commemoration of the 1988 Halabja Chemical Weapons Attack”
This statement was made by OPCW Director-General, Fernando Arias on the anniversary of the 1998 CW attack in Halabja, Iraq. Read the statement here.
ICYMI: How Can Science Fiction Help Design Better Science and Tech Policies?
“Careless algorithms, disaster refugees, computer girlfriends: many predicaments of our time came to life in science fiction long before they became science reality. Fiction can be a tool to explore the consequences of technological change more fully; as Ed Finn writes in Issues, “Good science fiction does not dream up just the automobile, but also the traffic jam.” Putting the future in context—in its own imagined world—forces writers to grapple with questions and consequences that could otherwise easily be glossed over (and often are).”
“How can we use fiction to fix our current “traffic jams”? Issues is partnering with Arizona State University’s Center for Science and the Imagination on Future Tense Fiction, a speculative fiction project that uses imagination to examine how science, technology, policy, and society might shape our futures.”
NEW: Building Trust in the H5N1 Response: Perspectives from the Field
From NASEM: “Avian influenza is a growing threat to both human and animal health. In March 2024, avian influenza (H5N1) was detected for the first time ever in dairy cattle. The ongoing H5N1 outbreak in the United States has impacted livestock, diminished livestock production, decimated wildlife, and resulted in human infections. The potential for viral mutation and transmission poses a continued threat to human health. Despite the urgency of this evolving situation, response has been hindered by a lack of trust among key stakeholders. Varying policies at national, state, and local levels have led to challenges in mitigation efforts. Following a National Academies workshop on potential research priorities to inform the H5N1 response, the National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host a webinar in which agriculture producers and workforce health specialists will discuss their perspectives on steps that would build greater trust between producers and health officials to enable a more coordinated One Health response.”
“The Forum invites individuals who have been involved in response to the ongoing North American H5N1 outbreak to share their experiences and perspectives on building trust between agriculture producers and public health officials. Comments may be used to develop discussion questions and identify key topics of discussion for the webinar.”
This event will be livestreamed on March 27 at 2 pm ET. Access the stream and learn more here, and submit comments by March 27 here.
NEW: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!
NEW: 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.
NEW: 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.”
Building Trust in the H5N1 Response: Perspectives from the Field
From NASEM: “Since avian influenza (H5N1) was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, H5N1 has resulted in human infections, diminished livestock production, and decimated wildlife populations. Uncoordinated policies at the national, state, and local levels have challenged mitigation efforts, and mistrust has hindered the urgent response needed for the rapidly evolving threat. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host a public webinar on March 27 where agricultural producers and workforce health specialists will explore strategies to build greater mutual trust and a coordinated One Health response.”
This webinar will take place on March 27 at 2 pm ET. 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.
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.
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.
NEW: 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.”
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.“
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.”
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.1This 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 14here.
This week’s Pandora Report includes updates from the Biodefense Graduate Program as well as discussion about the Trump administration’s response to measles and H5N1, the state of USAID, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 20. Learn more and register here.
Biodefense Doctoral Students at ELBI Research Symposium
From March 4-5, 2025, GMU Biodefense PhD students Janet Marroquin and Katie Dammer participated in the spring symposium for the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship offered by the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This event was the first of multiple gatherings for this year’s cohort, and events/discussions touched on agricultural biosecurity and health preparedness in the context of the H5N1 epidemic, the convergence of risks and benefits from AI and synthetic biology, and more. The 2025 cohort includes 29 other young professionals in biodefense, public health, and other adjacent fields from across the world.
COVID-19 Pandemic Declaration Five Year Anniversary
More than five years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, prompting the organization and national governments around the world to grow or begin their pandemic responses. While the US was successful in some aspects of its response, such as Operation Warp Speed (the public-private partnership that accelerated the development and roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines), the country was also left with many tough lessons learned. Unfortunately, rather than growing and strengthening public health in the US in response to these lessons, the nation is left less prepared today than it was in 2020.
Hundreds of new laws have been created in at least 24 states that restrict public health orders or otherwise undercut emergency responses. Under the second Trump administration, we have seen major staff cuts to agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while the majority in Congress aims to slash funding for federal health agencies. Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ meeting was postponed, the FDA advisory meeting that selects strains for the next flu vaccines was cancelled without explanation, and NIH is set to terminate or limit grants relate to vaccine hesitancy and uptake.
Thus, while much has been learned about SARS-CoV-2 itself and the disastrous long-term impacts it has had, the administration and its allies are working to dismantle the ability to not just respond effectively to future pandemic threats, but to provide services for addressing infectious and communicable diseases and challenges in air and water quality at all levels of the system. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, said of this approach in an interview with Axios, “Imagine if we just had a major fire ripping through our city, and our first instinct once we finally put the flames out is to basically get rid of all of our fire departments.”
Amid Growing Numbers of Measles Cases, Chaos Continues at HHS
The disbandment of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, massive NIH grant terminations, a $25,000 buyout offer made to HHS employees, and a still-growing measles outbreak are all in a week’s work for the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. While continuing to peddle alternative remedies to those suffering from measles, Secretary Kennedy also did an interview in which he implied that contracting measles is better than being vaccinated for it.
Unfortunately for Secretary Kennedy and everyone else, vitamin A and cod liver oil are not going to cut it in responding to this expanding outbreak. Rural Texas and other areas like it do not have the infrastructure in place needed to effectively respond to measles on their own. In fact, 64 counties in Texas do not have a hospital, and 25 counties lack primary care physicians. Places like these counties often have sparse resources for public health awareness campaigns, and they certainly do not have the necessary number of medical professionals available to provide one-on-one education. In places like Seminole, Texas, the kindergarten vaccination rate for MMR is at 82%, while the CDC says that outbreaks tend to occur when a community’s vaccination rate drops below 95%.
In the absence of sustained federal funding and strong leadership from offices like that of the Secretary of HHS, places like rural Texas will not be able to effectively respond to outbreaks like the one that is happening right now. The reality is that continuing to promote unproven remedies and sharing incorrect information about vaccines and natural immunity will only harm these communities. People have already died because of this outbreak, including a child who could not choose whether or not to get vaccinated, and Secretary Kennedy still has not made the necessary efforts to address this situation.
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
It comes to no surprise that RFK Jr., the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, feels there is the possibility of backfire for vaccinating poultry against H5N1. Kennedy noted that there is no indication that “those vaccines” provide sterilizing immunity and voiced his concerns that vaccinating poultry without such immunity would result in the birds becoming “mutant factories”. Creators of the vaccine and other scientists tried to lessen these concerns by stressing the use of extra biosecurity measures to ensure the virus doesn’t mutate faster. The other suggestion of Kennedy and the Trump administration for the USDA is to, “let it run through the flock so that we can identify the birds and preserve the birds that are immune to it.” H5N1 continues to mutate, and scientists are concerned that the continued inaction could give the influenza A virus time to mutate and increase pandemic potential. Vaccinating birds in the millions also gives farmers practicality concerns and many of them would prefer to give the vaccine via their feed or water. With the average price of eggs being $5.90 across the US, many Americans are struggling to keep up with the devastation of the virus and calling for action from US politicians.
Rubio Says Purge of USAID Programs is Complete
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the administration has finished its purge of programs at the US Agency for International Development, having cut 83% of its programs. Rubio said that he will move the remaining programs under the State Department. He said in a statement that the 5,200 of USAID’s 6,200 programs that were eliminated “spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.”
Just hours later, a federal judge ruled that President Trump has overstepped his Constitutional authority in shutting down most of the country’s foreign assistance. The judge, Judge Amir H. Ali, did say that the administration cannot simply keep the billions of Congressionally-approved dollars for foreign aid, but did not order officials to use the money to revive terminated program contracts.
Resources for Researchers and Scholars Under Threat in the United States
The National Academies’ Committee on Human Rights maintains a page dedicated to resources for researchers and scholars who are under threat in the United States. This includes links to the websites of groups dedicated to addressing this problem, events, and publications. Checks this page out here.
“Applying Counterfactual Analysis to the Study of Terrorism”
Biodefense PhD candidate Chris Quillen recently published a new article titled “Applying Counterfactual Analysis to the Study of Terrorism” in the March 2025 issue of the Georgetown Security Studies Review. Counterfactual analysis explores “what might have been” by imagining a different historical path. Political scientists and historians regularly use this social science technique to reveal the impact of important events and the methods in which events could have turned out differently if not for the actions of individuals. Most often applied to the study of military conflicts, counterfactual analysis has not yet been applied to the study of terrorism in any significant way despite the field being particularly well-suited to the question of “what if?”. By applying this technique to both successful and thwarted terrorist plots, analysts can better understand the intentions of terrorists in conducting their attacks and the impact that terrorism has had upon history.
To demonstrate the utility of this approach, this article first outlines the process of conducting counterfactual analysis and then applies this technique to several terrorist attacks conducted or attempted by Sunni Islamic extremists affiliated with the al-Qa’ida terrorist organization: What if the attacks on September 11th had been disrupted? What if the Bojinka plot had succeeded in attacking Pope John Paul II and bringing down multiple airliners? What if the bombing of the USS Cole had sunk the ship? Once completed, this counterfactual analysis demonstrates the significant impact al-Qa’ida’s successful attacks have had on recent history and better reveals what al-Qa’ida and affiliated extremists intended to achieve with the attacks that failed.
Exploring counterfactuals of terrorist attacks offers two primary benefits. First, such analysis demonstrates the significant impact terrorism has had on world history and reveals in fuller detail the impacts that terrorists have had—intentionally or not. Second, counterfactual analysis better reveals terrorist intentions and expands our analysis beyond their demonstrated capabilities to reveal what terrorists sought to achieve. Broader application of counterfactual analysis to terrorism studies will improve understanding of the influence of terrorist attacks on world events and the intentions of terrorist groups in the future.
“The Far-Reaching Impacts of Agricultural Biorisk Research: A Summary of the USDA ARS 8th International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium”
Biodefense MS Student Jay Bickell recently summarized her trip to the 8th International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium. She writes in part, “There is a deep interconnection between agricultural biorisks and human health. It is critical that this perspective is brought to the forefront of policy and research discussions so that agricultural biorisks are prioritized as a threat to national security and receive the necessary research funding. My attendance at the USDA Agriculture Research Services (ARS) 8th International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland on February 11-13, 2025 couldn’t have illustrated this more clearly.”
“Policy Options to Prevent the Creation of Mirror Organisms”
Gerald L. Epstein, Forrest W. Crawford, and Sella Nevo recently published this RAND Corporation commentary: “In this paper, the authors describe U.S. and international policy mechanisms that could contribute to halting research and development programs to create mirror organisms. Domestic policy options could include executive branch statements and norm-building actions, a ban on federal funding of research toward the creation of mirror organisms, regulatory changes under the existing statutory authority in the federal select agent program and export controls, and legislation tailored to prohibiting and preventing the construction of mirror organisms. Policy options in the international arena include bilateral and multilateral engagement; invoking and using the authorities of the Biological Weapons Convention, the Environmental Modification Convention, and the United Nations Security Council; and the development of a new treaty banning research into mirror organisms.”
“Fifty Years After ‘Asilomar,’ Scientists Meet Again to Debate Biotech’s Modern-Day Threats”
Jon Cohen discusses February’s meeting, the Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology, in this piece for Science: “Some 300 participants from around the world—including a few who had attended the 1975 meeting—came together on 23–26 February for the follow-up, the Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology. Whereas the original meeting had a tight focus on genetic engineering and was dominated by biologists from one small field, this one had a sprawling agenda and a crowd that included scientists from many disciplines as well as conservationists, bioethicists, lawyers, former government officials, national security experts, journalists, and a dance troupe from New York City. Attendees received notebooks made from apple skins and badges with names engraved in wood.”
“Biosecurity and the Republic of Georgia: Maintaining Progress in an Uncertain Future”
Jackson du Pont and Christine Parthemore authored this Council on Strategic Risks briefer: “The Republic of Georgia has long served as a crucial biosecurity leader—an essential actor in this field and a trailblazer in Central Asia. Over three decades since independence, Georgia built its domestic public health system, working bilaterally with nations such as Germany and Canada, and through long-term engagement with the US Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program to embed safety and security into its operations, reduce biological risks, and enhance biosecurity cooperatively.1 As a consistent player in multilateral and international cooperation to address the full range of biological risks, Georgia continues to serve as a strong example of how to enhance domestic and regional security through innovation, transparency, and cooperation. Nevertheless, political dynamics in both Georgia and the region threaten to undermine this important progress.”
“As of this writing, as protesters continue to fill the streets of Tbilisi to fight for Georgia’s democratic future, policymakers and biosecurity experts in the United States grow increasingly concerned about the durability of Georgia’s longstanding biosecurity efforts.2 On October 26, 2024, Georgians voted in a highly anticipated Parliamentary election that the current President, Salome Zourabichvili, then refused to recognize as legitimate given concerns and accusations that the ruling, yet unpopular, Georgian Dream party received support from Russia.3 Following the election and an EU Parliament vote questioning its legitimacy, Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suspended Georgia’s EU accession process for four years—triggering the protests which have now raged for the last three months.4 These worrying events come after the Georgian Dream-led parliament passed a “foreign agents” bill last summer which opposition parties in Georgia have likened to a Russian law used to quash political and popular dissent.5“
“Developments in Tbilisi arrive at a moment of uncertainty as Eastern Europe and former Soviet states face increased pressure and coercion from Russia. This situation is now complicated by signs of major shifts in longstanding US foreign policy. Worryingly, political turmoil may jeopardize decades of investments in Georgian and regional biosecurity capacities while global biological threats from all sources are increasing.”
“This briefer outlines the historically important and ongoing Georgian efforts to strengthen global nonproliferation and biosecurity capacity. While Georgia’s future as a democracy will surely be tested in the near term, its critical contributions to regional biosecurity should not be forgotten or allowed to grow weak.”
“Environmental DNA”
From the Royal Society: “Rapid progress in eDNA research over the past decade has led to developments in biodiversity monitoring, disease detection, and forensic science. Indeed, eDNA now offers a wide range of applications, many of which will have interest and relevance to policymakers. Now is an important moment to consider how these recent advances in eDNA technologies can most effectively benefit society, and also to consider the limitations of the technologies and how to avoid harm.”
“This Royal Society programme of work aims to raise awareness of the breadth of current and emerging applications within this fast-moving area of science, as well as promote collaboration and a joined-up approach between the range disciplines that utilise these techniques.”
We have published both an explainer document and an ‘at a glance’ summary, as well as a set of illustrative case study examples. Alongside these, the Royal Society will also be hosting the next UK DNA Working Group conference on 13-14 May 2025. For more information see the conference page on the UKEOF website.”
“French Researcher Uncovers France’s Chemical Warfare Crimes in Algeria”
Latifa Ferial Naili recently published this reporting for Al 24: “French historian Christophe Lafaye has denounced the use of chemical weapons during the National Liberation War, saying that he has identified “450 military operations” using such weapons over the period of 1957-1959…“Christophe Lafaye has managed to identify 450 military operations using chemical weapons in Algeria, mainly in mountain areas in High Kabylia and in the Aures region,” said actu.fr, the news website that interviewed him…However, “the picture needs to be completed by opening archives that are still currently classified.”’
“The Scene of the Crime”
Mark MacKinnon recently published this piece for The Globe and Mail: “Syrians who suffered and lost loved ones under Bashar al-Assad want justice from the government that overthrew him. But where to begin? And what takes precedence, rebuilding cities or righting wrongs?”
“Chemical Disarmament in Syria – A Door Opening?”
Una Jakob recently authored this blog post for PRIF: “On March 5, 2025, the caretaker foreign minister of Syria, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, delivered a speech at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in which he promised that his government would eliminate the Syrian chemical weapons programme and bring the country back into compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). If implemented, this would end over a decade of Syrian violations of the CWC, offer the opportunity to hold those responsible to account, and reaffirm the global norm against chemical weapons. Deeds will have to follow these words, but this announcement at least allows for some cautious optimism in an otherwise gloomy international disarmament climate.”
“Identifying Chemical Warfare Agents Through Analytical Chemistry”
From CNTR: “The CNTR Fact Sheet by Carmen García López (CNTR/PRIF) provides an overview of the main analytical techniques used by the OPCW designated laboratories to analyze environmental and biological samples that could point to the presence of chemical warfare agents. In addition, the example of the sarin poisoning in Syria is used to show how chemical warfare agents can be detected in a real forensic case.”
“Facts and Myths About Nuclear Materials Trafficking: A Q&A with Robert Kelley”
From SIPRI: “In January this year, a nuclear trafficking case made the international news headlines. The United States Department of Justice announced that Takeshi Ebisawa, an alleged Japanese gangster, had pleaded guilty to charges of major narcotics trafficking as well as conspiring to traffic nuclear materials. The indictment states that Ebisawa believed he was offering the materials—including uranium and plutonium—to representatives of the Iranian government, but they were in fact US agents. He claimed to be selling the nuclear material on behalf of a Myanmar rebel group in return for guns.”
“The Ebisawa case and how it has been covered highlight important questions about how the issue of nuclear materials trafficking is reported in the media, and how serious a security threat it really poses today. To separate the facts from the myths, SIPRI talked to nuclear expert Robert E. Kelley, a veteran of the US nuclear weapons complex, nuclear analyst and SIPRI Distinguished Associate Fellow.”
“Interview by Caspar Trimmer, Senior Communications Officer, with additional input from Vitaly Fedchenko, Senior Researcher in the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme.”
“Seeking Gender Equality in the Global Health Workforce”
Analyne Rapa Ignacio, Kim Sales, and Reiner Lorenzo Tamayo recently published this article in Think Global Health: “Community health workers (CHWs), the majority of whom are women, deliver essential health care to more than 1 billion people in low-income countries. According to researchers, women health workers are better able to retain female patients in family planning programs and ensure uptake of maternal, newborn, and child health services. The impact of women in public health extends beyond providing effective care: countries that performed significantly better against COVID-19 were led by women and reported almost 40% fewer deaths.”
“Because women health workers’ dedication and expertise are vital to public health, what can governments and organizations do to make the health workforce more inclusive?”
“Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the Spotlight: Understanding Risks After Betsy Arakawa’s Tragic Death”
From NETEC: “The recent passing of Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has brought renewed attention to this rare but serious disease. HPS is a severe respiratory illness caused by hantaviruses, which are transmitted primarily by rodents. Given the challenges in diagnosing and treating HPS, it is important for clinicians to stay informed about its risks, symptoms, and management.”
Tech, Policy, and Our Lives, Ep 27 – The Mirror Life Problem: When Every Threat Looks Like the Next Existential Crisis Listen here.
NEW: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Livestock Research Update
From RAV3N: “📢 Please join us for the RAV3N Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Livestock Research Update Webinar on Monday, March 17, 2025 from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm CST. This 2.5-hour webinar seeks to inform animal health stakeholders about current research results and findings related to the outbreak of HPAI in dairy cattle.”
NEW: Foreign Aid Fallout: The Future of US Global Leadership
From the Chicago Council on Global Affairs: “The dismantling of USAID marks the end of a six-decade era in American foreign assistance and humanitarian response. This shift will not only reshape international development and disaster relief, but also how the United States conducts diplomacy and projects soft power worldwide. How will the absence of USAID impact global stability, security, and America’s standing in the world? How will this affect the numerous communities that USAID has worked with around the globe? Join the Council for a discussion on what USAID’s closure means for the future of American soft power and international development.”
This hybrid event will take place on March 18 at 5:30 pm CDT. Learn more and register here.
NEW: How Lab Automation is Advancing Biotech
From GEN: “Lab workflows are constantly evolving to handle higher throughput demands, increased efficiency, and more complex tasks. For some, that means allowing automation to play a bigger role in the lab. Whether talking about one liquid handler, or a modular system of multiple instruments, the role of automation in streamlining workflows is increasing. Many agree that automation affords scalability and offers more accuracy in lab work. However, there are challenges in the automation field as well.”
“On this episode of GEN Live, we will discuss the role of automation now and what the future looks like. Among the topics we will discuss: What is the role of AI in automating complex biological systems? What are the ethical concerns in the field? Can automation be scaled without compromising quality?”
This event will take place on March 19 at 12 pm ET. Learn more and register here.
NEW: 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.
NEW: 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.
NEW: 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.
NEW: 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.
ICYMI: How to Avoid Human-Made Pandemics
The Asia Center for Health Security hosted this webinar in January. “Studying viruses with outbreak potential is one productive approach to combat the risk of pandemics. Yet, such research – when it involves field collection and experimental manipulation of pathogens – carries the hazard of accidentally or even intentionally seeding a pandemic. Dr Filippa Lentzos from King’s College London, will discussed 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?”
Download the slides here and watch the recording of the webinar here.
2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit
From the Scowcroft Institute: “The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University invites you to attend the 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit examining the ongoing H5N1 outbreak across the U.S. Dairy industry. This summit will bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to review the response efforts, discuss current challenges and opportunities, and identify options for moving forward. Listen to panels of subject matter experts, explore case studies from the field, and participate in networking opportunities.”
This event will take place on March 18 in Washington, DC. Learn more and RSVP here.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
Building Trust in the H5N1 Response: Perspectives from the Field
From NASEM: “Since avian influenza (H5N1) was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, H5N1 has resulted in human infections, diminished livestock production, and decimated wildlife populations. Uncoordinated policies at the national, state, and local levels have challenged mitigation efforts, and mistrust has hindered the urgent response needed for the rapidly evolving threat. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host a public webinar on March 27 where agricultural producers and workforce health specialists will explore strategies to build greater mutual trust and a coordinated One Health response.”
This webinar will take place on March 27 at 2 pm ET. Register here.
NEW: Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War Applications
From UNODA: “Under Resolution A/RES/79/238 (‘Nuclear war effects and scientific research’), adopted on 24 December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly decided to establish an Independent Scientific Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War (“the Panel”). The Panel has been tasked with examining ‘the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale, inter alia, the climatic, environmental and radiological effects, and their impacts on public health, global socioeconomic systems, agriculture and ecosystems, in the days, weeks and decades following a nuclear war.’”
“It will produce a comprehensive report, make key conclusions, and identify areas requiring future research.”
“The Panel will conduct research in the following seven areas relevant to the topic of the report:
1) Nuclear and Radiation Studies;
2) Atmospheric Sciences and Climate;
3) Earth and Life Sciences;
4) Environment and Environmental Studies;
5) Agriculture, Biology and Life Sciences;
6) Public Health and Medicine;
7) Behavioural and Social Sciences and Applied Economics.”
“The Panel will consist of 21 scientific experts, participating in their personal capacity, in the abovementioned fields, who will be selected on the basis of a public call and through nominations from Member States. Panel members will be appointed by the Secretary-General.”
“The Panel will also engage and receive inputs from the widest possible range of stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, civil society, and affected communities, in order to understand local, regional and global perspectives on the effects of a nuclear war.”
Learn more and submit nominations here by March 17.
NEW: 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.“
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.”
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.1This 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 14here.
Jay Bickellis a student in the MS Biodefense program at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. In her current position as a Staff Scientist at MRIGlobal, Jay supports biorisk management programs for various commercial, academic, and government clients.
There is a deep interconnection between agricultural biorisks and human health. It is critical that this perspective is brought to the forefront of policy and research discussions so that agricultural biorisks are prioritized as a threat to national security and receive the necessary research funding. My attendance at the USDA Agriculture Research Services (ARS) 8th International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland on February 11-13, 2025 couldn’t have illustrated this more clearly.
The International Biosafety & Biocontainment Symposium, offered in cooperation with the American Biosafety Association International (ABSA), brings together approximately 200 biosafety and biosecurity, pharmaceutical, biotechnology research, development, and clinical organizations every two years to address agricultural biorisks. While perhaps this event could be considered a small gathering, the breadth of topics and issues discussed were anything but.
Briefly, agricultural biorisks refer to the potential threats posed by biological agents (such as pathogens, pests, and toxins) to agricultural systems including crops, livestock, and food production. These risks can arise naturally, accidentally, or intentionally and have significant implications for food security, public health, and economic stability.
Given the broader climate of uncertainty surrounding emerging biological threats, this symposium provided a crucial platform for dialogue and collaboration. While the themes of applied biosafety, biosecurity, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) clearly stood out in the agenda, it was the interconnectedness of agricultural biorisk and human health that served as the underlying theme.
Applied Biosafety and Biosecurity
There is global recognition that current laboratory biological risk management and biosafety policies are not always rooted in evidence-based practices. Applied biosafety is a term used to describe the research being done to address these gaps and better inform both institutional and government-level policies. While most of the 14 sessions at the symposium included some form of call to action or contribution to this topic, I was particularly appreciative of the two sessions specifically focused on applied biosafety because of their meaningful impact on safety culture.
While at the symposium, I had the opportunity to present some of the work that my colleagues and I at MRIGlobal are doing in this space. One gap we have identified in laboratory biorisk management is the lack of guidance regarding wearing jewelry associated with body piercings in laboratories. We presented a poster of our research, “A Piercing Issue: Assessing the Ability to Decontaminate Body Piercings,” which demonstrates that this gap can be addressed through the generation of qualitative data. Our research also explored the implications of our findings for safety culture and its relationship to other gaps in understanding about fomite transmission in a laboratory setting.
One of the biggest hurdles to generating evidence-based practices is funding. In a special session of the symposium, an exciting funding opportunity for Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research through the Elizabeth R. Griffin Program was announced. This came on the heels of the announcement that the Elizabeth R. Griffin Program has moved to a new home at the John Hopkins Center for Health Security.
If there is one project at the symposium that bridged the two themes of applied biosafety and HPAI, it was the work presented by Dr. John Luchansky with the U.S. Department of Agriculture looking at “If Avian Influenza Virus Were Found in Raw (Ground) Beef – Would Cooking Kill it?” This preliminary work indicated that when cooked to recommended temperatures, the virus responsible for HPAI was killed. This was just a small (but very cool!) piece of the puzzle presented throughout the week, looking at how the United States is responding to HPAI and preparing for its increasing presence.
Naturally, conversations then shifted to African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) and the work being done to prepare if a case of this disease is identified in the United States. One of the most interesting bits of information I learned during the symposium was that more than one million swine are transported in the United States every day, and that a two-year outbreak of ASFV could cost more than $15 billion.
Final Thoughts
During this symposium, biosafety and biosecurity were described as one of the invisible waters of national security. It was highlighted throughout the event that the impacts of a biological disaster, whether in the form of a human, animal, or plant outbreak, could be far-reaching. As a result, it is crucial that biosafety and biosecurity do not remain invisible. As we face increasingly frequent, evolving, and complex biological threats, our preparedness, vigilance, and investment in these research areas is more important than ever. For this reason, agriculture biorisk mitigation must be further integrated into policy and research discussions, including national security strategies. Only by making biosafety and biosecurity visible, prioritized, and fully understood will we build the resilience needed to address the growing challenges agriculture biorisks present.
This week’s Pandora Report covers updates on the Trump administration’s response to the West Texas measles outbreak, challenges at NIH, possible budget cuts to DOD programs focused on WMDs and pandemic preparedness, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 20. Learn more and register here.
Updates on the Trump Administration
Top HHS Officials Retire and Resign
Francis S. Collins, the well-known geneticist who ran the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, announced on Saturday that he has retired from the NIH and the federal government. Collins did not provide a reason for his departure, and he has refused to do any interviews. His parting statement offered a subtle yet pointed message to the Trump administration, with Collins writing in part “As I depart N.I.H., I want to express my gratitude and love for the men and women with whom I have worked side by side for so many years. They are individuals of extraordinary intellect and integrity, selfless and hard-working, generous and compassionate. They personify excellence in every way, and they deserve the utmost respect and support of all Americans.”
Tom Corry, Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at HHS, also abruptly resigned from the department last Friday, just two weeks after starting his new role. Corry did not provide a reason for his departure either. He previously served as a senior advisor and Director of Communications at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the first Trump administration.
Kennedy Embraces Unconventional Remedies as Measles Outbreak Grows
As the West Texas measles outbreak grows, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has touted several unconventional remedies while continuing to not urge all Americans to get vaccinated against the disease. In an interview, Kennedy said the federal government is shipping doses of vitamin A to Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the outbreak, and helping to arrange ambulance rides. He also claimed that physicians in Texas have seen “very, very good results” treating measles with budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil. This has prompted strong backlash from many in the medical community.
As of March 6, 222 cases have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. The US eliminated measles in 2000. Today, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico has been reported dead, a little over a week after the death of an unvaccinated child in Lubbock, Texas. The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert in response to the outbreak earlier this week.
Bhattacharya Promises “Scientific Dissent” at NIH
Jay Bhattacharya, Donald Trump’s nominee for NIH director, said on Wednesday that NIH officials “oversaw a culture of coverup, obfuscation, and a lack of tolerance for ideas that differed from theirs” in recent years. He promised to, in response to this, “establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and and scientific dissent at the agency.”
Bhattacharya infamously co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020, which argued for allowing people at lower risk of COVID-19 complications to go about life as normal, assuming that, if infected, they would experience mild disease and contribute to herd immunity. NPR explains that, “During the COVID pandemic, Bhattacharya clashed with the mainstream medical establishment, including the NIH, over lockdowns and other measures designed to control the spread of the virus. He says he was shunned and penalized for his views and he didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate.”
NIH Set to Terminate Active Research Grants
The NIH has begun mass terminations of research grants funding active scientific projects that no longer meet “agency priorities”. According to Nature News, “NIH staff members have been instructed to identify and potentially cancel grants for projects studying transgender populations, gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the scientific workforce, environmental justice and any other research that might be perceived to discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, according to documents and an audio recording that Nature has obtained. Grants that allot funding to universities in China and those related to climate change are also under scrutiny.”
This comes after a federal court temporarily blocked the administration’s proposed cut to NIH funding for universities’ indirect costs like facilities and administration. However, as Politico points out, the administration may pivot to renegotiating the payments with individual universities.
DOD Cuts Threaten Pandemic Preparedness, WMD Proliferation Prevention, and More
DOD agencies responsible for preventing WMD proliferation and building security capacity globally are at risk of intense budget cuts or outright abolition. According to a recent draft working paper, DOD is asking all agencies and services that oversee security cooperation programs to assess potential impacts of funding realignment. The paper was prepared in response to an RFI from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that asked agencies to assess consequences of four levels of staff reduction, including 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The authors of the working paper, according to WIRED, “…warn that the cuts could hobble the fight against organized crime in South America, impair the battle against the Islamic State, increase the likelihood of a rogue state producing and using chemical weapons, and defund pandemic surveillance measures.”
CDC Staff Now Prohibited from Co-Authoring Papers with WHO Personnel
Scientists at the CDC are now prohibited from co-authoring publications with WHO staff, according to reporting from HuffPost. An interim guidance document obtained by the news agency explained that “CDC staff should not be co-authors on manuscripts/abstracts with WHO staff,” while also adding that CDC staff should not author publications related to work that is “funded by WHO.” The guidance further instructs CDC staff who are lead authors on such publications to either pause all action on those publications, or to recuse themselves as authors if the publication process cannot be paused. It also says that manuscripts not in compliance with Trump’s executive orders that were submitted prior to January 20 should be withdrawn, or CDC staff should recuse themselves as authors.
US Funding Cuts Threaten Global Fight Against TB
The WHO issued a warning on Wednesday explaining that severe funding cuts (namely, those in the United States) threaten decades of progress in the global fight against tuberculosis. The agency explained that essential prevention, testing, and treatment services are collapsing, leaving millions at risk. The regions most affected include Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where national TB programs depend on international support.
The TB Community Coordination Hub said in a statement about the funding cuts, “[We] strongly condemn this callous, abrupt and totally one-sided act that is unprecedented, and calls upon the US Administration to take immediate measures to restore funding and support projects globally that are crucial to contain and prevent a resurgence of this deadly disease.”
In a statement on Tuesday, the CDC said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of an unknown disease that has already killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to WHO, at least 1,318 people have exhibited symptoms of the disease, and 60 had died from it by February 27. A new mpox variant was also recently discovered in the country. The new variant has a mutation known as APOBEC3, which indicates it may be more easily transmissible than previously identified strains.
“WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research: Report of the Meeting, 30 October 2024”
From WHO: “The World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research (TAG-RULS DUR) was established to provide independent advice to WHO on the monitoring and mitigation of biorisks, the advances in the life sciences and related technologies, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences. This report summarizes the meeting that was virtually held on 30 October 2024. Over the course of the meeting, participants discussed and provided feedback on activities to operationalize the framework and delivered updates on activities of the TAG-RULS DUR’s four working groups.”
“A WHO Global Framework to Guide Investigations Into Origins of Potentially Epidemic and Pandemic Pathogens”
The Scientific Advisory Committee for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) and WHO SAGO Secretariat recently published this comment in Nature, writing in its introduction “In outbreak situations involving a novel pathogen timely and coordinated response is crucial. The WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens recently released a global framework to guide future scientific investigations into the origin of emerging pathogens.”
“Recent Virus Research Should Raise the Alarm”
W. Ian Lipkin and Ralph Baric recently published this opinion piece in The New York Times: “There’s a central question that many scientists face: How can scientific discoveries drive humanity’s progress without posing a dire risk to it? As virus experts, we’re committed to research that uncovers pandemic threats and helps protect people from them. But we are concerned about how some scientists are experimenting with viruses in ways that could put all of us in harm’s way.”
“From Inception to Fielding: Meeting the Challenges of Medical Countermeasure Development”
Sarah M. Wiles recently published this article in CBNW: “The U.S. Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense has a robust development process for new CBRN medical countermeasures. Sarah M. Wiles explains the process and its rationale.”
“Automated Grading for Efficiently Evaluating the Dual-Use Biological Capabilities of Large Language Models”
Bria Persaud, Ying-Chiang Jeffrey Lee, Jordan Despanie, Helin Hernandez, Henry Alexander Bradley, Sarah L. Gebauer, Greg McKelvey, Jr. recently published this RAND Corporation working paper: “The authors of this working paper developed a proof-of-concept automated grader and used it to assess large language models’ abilities to answer knowledge-based questions and generate protocols that explain how to perform common laboratory techniques that could be used in the creation of proxies for biological threats.”
“UNIDIR Empowers Emerging Leaders in Biological Disarmament and Biosecurity”
From UNIDIR: “As the world marks the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), UNIDIR alongside the DiploFoundation and the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique celebrates the successful completion of the inaugural BWC Advanced Education Course (BWCedu). This five-month advanced training programme – funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – brought together 25 emerging leaders from a diverse range of States, with a focus on participants from the Global South.”
“Seven Years Since Salisbury Was Centre of Novichok Attack”
Isabella Holliday recently authored this news article about the anniversary of the Novichok attack targeting the Skripals in Salisbury, UK. Read it in the Salisbury Journal here.
“Syria’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Addresses OPCW’s Executive Council”
From OPCW: “In a landmark visit to OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague, caretaker Foreign Minister al-Shaibani reaffirmed the commitment of the new Syrian authorities to cooperate with the OPCW to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the former Syrian regime”.
ICYMI: The Cost of Defunding PEPFAR and the Impact on the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Brown’s Pandemic Center hosted this webinar in late February. Watch the recording here. Key topics included:
“Call for Action – How policymakers, philanthropists, and institutions can mobilize to address these urgent gaps.”
“PEPFAR Changes & Uncertainty – Concerns about funding gaps, particularly affecting pediatric HIV treatment, maternal health, and job losses in healthcare.”
“Impact on South Africa & Beyond – The success of PEPFAR in South Africa and the potential consequences of its reduction, including rising HIV cases and strain on health systems.”
“Future of Global Health Funding – Exploring alternative funding sources, the role of UNICEF, private sector involvement, and the need for governments to step up.”
NEW: Building Trust in the H5N1 Response: Perspectives from the Field
From NASEM: “Since avian influenza (H5N1) was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, H5N1 has resulted in human infections, diminished livestock production, and decimated wildlife populations. Uncoordinated policies at the national, state, and local levels have challenged mitigation efforts, and mistrust has hindered the urgent response needed for the rapidly evolving threat. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host a public webinar on March 27 where agricultural producers and workforce health specialists will explore strategies to build greater mutual trust and a coordinated One Health response.”
This webinar will take place on March 27 at 2 pm ET. Register here.
2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit
From the Scowcroft Institute: “The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University invites you to attend the 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit examining the ongoing H5N1 outbreak across the U.S. Dairy industry. This summit will bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to review the response efforts, discuss current challenges and opportunities, and identify options for moving forward. Listen to panels of subject matter experts, explore case studies from the field, and participate in networking opportunities.”
This event will take place on March 18 in Washington, DC. Learn more and RSVP here.
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.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NEW: 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.”
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.1This 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 14here.
This week’s Pandora Report covers the West Texas measles outbreak, cancellation of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee’s annual flu vaccine meeting, H5N1 updates, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 27. Learn more and register here.
Texas Child Killed in Growing Measles Outbreak
An unvaccinated, school-age child has died from measles in Lubbock, Texas, amid the state’s worst outbreak of the disease in three decades. The child was hospitalized last week according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This is the first known US measles fatality since 2015. At least 124 cases have been reported, though thousands have potentially been exposed. Measles was considered eliminated in the US by 2000, following the introduction of a vaccine for it in 1963.
FDA Abruptly Cancels Meeting to Select Strains for Next Season’s Flu Shots
A meeting of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee that was scheduled to meet in March to select which strains will be included in next season’s flu shot was abruptly cancelled this week. Members of the committee were notified of the cancellation via email, which did not offer any explanation for the cancellation, on Wednesday afternoon. This comes during a particularly challenging flu season for the US, with 86 kids and 19,000 adults having died from flu this season so far.
RFK Jr. Says Panel Will Examine Childhood Vaccine Schedule
Just weeks after promising Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana he would not change the nation’s current vaccine schedule, RFK Jr. vowed in his first speech to HHS employees that the department he now leads will be “investigating” the childhood vaccine schedule. He delivered these remarks during a welcome ceremony at the HHS headquarters in Washington, DC, held just after thousands of employees were fired over the weekend.
Firings, Disorder Across Federal Health AgenciesContinues
Mass firings have continued on across federal health agencies in recent weeks, with several thousand probationary employees at HHS fired in the so-called “Valentine’s Day massacre.” Massive cuts were made at the NIH, including dismantling programs focused on climate change. The impact on NIH so far has been so devastating that research funding for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is lagging by around $1 billion compared to recent years. Furthermore, HHS officials have reportedly pressured NIH staff to ignore court orders to resume funding. Legislation has also been proposed that would break the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases into three separate research institutes led by directors appointed directly by the president.
Meanwhile, the CDC laid off large numbers of probationary employees. This was set to include all 50 first-years officers in the famous Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), in addition to some second-years, as bird flu fears continue to grow and a CDC flu vaccine campaign was pulled. Apparently the EIS was, for now, spared after all. CDC training programs like the Public Health Associate Program and the Laboratory Leadership Program are also at risk.
This has continued outside of HHS as well. For example, the National Science Foundation fired at least 10% of its workforce, and the dismantling of USAID has crippled the Demographic and Health Surveys. The National Nuclear Security Administration also reportedly scrambled to try and reverse firings of probationary employees last week, but struggled to do so as they did not have their new contact information.
Meanwhile, an attempt to purge anything containing language related to, or that could be interpreted as, containing “DEIA or gender ideology” led to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration trashing documents like “OSHA Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Release.” DEI is not discussed in the document. Rather, the term “diversity” is used in it in reference to varying kinds of state-specific certifications, regulations, and training, in addition to the diversity of roles within EMS.
US DOGE Service “Accidentally Canceled” USAID Ebola Program
On Wednesday, Elon Musk claimed that the US DOGE Service “accidentally cancelled” efforts by USAID to prevent the spread of Ebola, claiming that the initiative was quickly restored. Musk said in a cabinet meeting, “We will make mistakes. We won’t be perfect. But when we make a mistake, we’ll fix it very quickly…So we restored the Ebola prevention immediately. And there was no interruption.”
However, according to The Washington Post, “…current and former USAID officials said that Musk was wrong: USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts have been largely halted since Musk and his DOGE allies moved last month to gut the global-assistance agency and freeze its outgoing payments, they said. The teams and contractors that would be deployed to fight an Ebola outbreak have been dismantled, they added. While the Trump administration issued a waiver to allow USAID to respond to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda last month, partner organizations were not promptly paid for their work, and USAID’s own efforts were sharply curtailed compared to past efforts to fight Ebola outbreaks.”
On February 15, 2025 at the 61st Munich Security Conference, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), in partnership with Foreign Policy, convened emerging biosecurity leaders from the Global South. Together with top-level decision-makers, they discussed concrete next steps to accelerate the 100 Days Mission to reduce threats posed by deliberate, accidental, and naturally occurring biological threats. Strengthening biosecurity and biosafety will unleash the benefits of new technologies by minimizing risks, which will enable progress towards achieving the 100 Days Mission safely, securely and equitably. The groups issued a Biosecurity Emerging Leaders Declaration embodying these commitments and objectives.
H5N1 Updates
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
Egg Prices Plan 02.27
According to the USDA, egg prices are expected to continue rising, possibly by as much as 41%. With the possibility of a poultry vaccine created by Zoetis, hope is on the horizon. The company was given the go-ahead for a conditional license on February 18 and has plans to continue working on a similar vaccine that was started in 2022. President Trump and his team have announced their plan for the cost of eggs and response to combat the bird fu, which involves outsourcing the country’s egg needs to other countries by purchasing millions of eggs, increasing biosurveillance capabilities, and removing “unnecessary regulatory burdens on the chicken and egg industry.” Brooke Rollins, the US Secretary of Agriculture, says the administration expects egg prices to return to normal by the summer.
02.20
As the bird flu continues to devastate the American poultry market, causing millions of chicken deaths across the country, hope for a vaccine arrives. On February 17, a company announced its “conditional license” approval from the USDA. This vaccine is meant to protect chicken from the H5N2 subtype of the avian flu. Zoetis, the company responsible for this vaccine, has been working on developing a bird flu vaccine since 2022. Canada announced February 19 its human vaccine against H5N1 to give to those most at risk. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) stated it has secured 500,000 doses and will be used as part of Canada’s contingency plan. Canada joins the US and European Union who have stockpiled the avian flu vaccine in humans and plans to follow Finland, who has already begun vaccinating high risk individuals.
“WHO Global Framework to Define and Guide Studies Into the Origins of Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential”
From WHO: “The WHO global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, developed by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) has been designed as a resource for Member States. It provides, for the first time, comprehensive guidance on the studies that are needed to investigate the origins of emerging and reemerging pathogens.”
“Timely investigations into pathogens’ origins are critical for preventing and containing global health crises. Their findings provide the basis for stopping outbreaks before they begin, halting transmission chains and reducing the risk of pathogen spillover from animals to humans. They can also confirm or exclude the possibility of an unintentional breach in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.”
“The framework also offers recommendations on the capacities needed to conduct these studies and the critical importance of sharing all findings as soon as possible to guide next steps.”
“Giant-Killers: 7 Historic Deaths and the Diseases That Did It”
Maya Prabhu for Gavi: “From Alexander the Great to Mozart, some of our mightiest historical figures were felled by the tiniest of microbes. But which diseases killed them and – more importantly – how can you avoid their fate?”
“Piloting of the Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences”
From WHO: “The convergence of life sciences, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence presents a unique and powerful opportunity to address many of the world’s pressing health challenges. With rapid advancements in these fields, new possibilities emerge for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment—offering immense potential to improve global health outcomes.”
“However, alongside these benefits comes a growing recognition of the inherent risks associated with dual-use research, where scientific innovations designed for good can also be misused for malicious purposes or inadvertently result in harmful biological events.”
International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) 3rd Quarterly Newsletter
“This 3rd Quarterly Newsletter will address the achievements of the International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) during its first year and LMU BSRC’s current activities on strengthening global biosecurity education. The feature column within this Newsletter analyses the aim and structure of the Global guidance framework for the responsible use of the life sciences: Mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This review will focus on the biosecurity education elements of the report.”
“The Quarterly Newsletter also aims to share the recent activities of the International Biological Security Education Network and Biological Security Research Centre.”
“The Security Implications of Developments in Biotechnology”
From IISS: “This report analyses the security implications of the developments that have taken place in recent decades in the fields of genomics, genetic engineering and synthetic biology. The relevant international regulatory frameworks need to be enhanced to keep pace with biotechnological advances, while a whole-of-society approach appears to be the best way to deal with the pressing ethical issues that biotechnology raises.”
“WMD Nonproliferation Regimes: An Overlooked Casualty of Russia’s War on Ukraine”
Christina McAllister discusses how Russia’s war on Ukraine has been accompanied by an “assault on WMD nonproliferation regimes and nuclear security norms” in this commentary piece from the Stimson Center.
“The Biological Weapons Convention at Fifty: Codifying 100 Years of Efforts to Combat Biological Warfare”
“This publication has been developed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), with the support of the European Union, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention.”
“By bringing together different stakeholders, including, among others, experts and practitioners from the diplomatic field, academia and civil society, the publication highlights the achievements and obstacles encountered over the past fifty years, current discussions related to the strengthening of the Convention as well as future opportunities and challenges.”
“522. Drones and Biotechnological Weaponry: Emerging Risks, Strategic Threats, and Viable Readiness”
From TRADOC’s Mad Scientist Laboratory blog: “Today’s submission — co-authored by frequent contributor and proclaimed Mad Scientist Dr. James Giordano and returning contributor Dr. Diane DiEuliis — addresses the “nexus of drones and bioweapons” in Twenty-first century conflict, exploring how “drone technology, synthetic biology, and gene-editing pose a formidable challenge to global security.” This convergent challenge demands we “invest in fostering interagency and international collaboration, advanced surveillance systems, and develop robust countermeasures to mitigate the risks associated with these technologies” — Read on!]”
Eryney Marrogi and Niko McCarty for Asimov Press: “A new AI model for biology, released today by Arc Institute and NVIDIA, can predict which mutations within a gene are likely to be harmful and even design small, eukaryotic genomes.”
“‘Turn it Off’: Grok Under Fire After Providing Assassination Advice, Chemical Weapons Recipes”
Katherine Huggins for Daily Dot: “Some tech influencers are sounding the alarm over Grok—the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI—after social media users were easily able to gain potentially dangerous information about chemical weapons and more from the new edition of the AI model.”
“More than 160 Gazan Medics Held in Israeli Prisons Amid Reports of Torture”
Annie Kelly for The Guardian: “At least 160 healthcare workers from Gaza, including more than 20 doctors, are believed to still be inside Israeli detention facilities as the World Health Organisation expressed deep concern about their wellbeing and safety…Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical NGO, said it had confirmed that 162 medical staff remained in Israeli detention, including some of Gaza’s most senior physicians, and a further 24 were missing after being taken from hospitals during the conflict.”
What We’re Listening To 🎧
Osterholm Update Episode 177: We Cannot Give Up or Give In
“In “We Cannot Give Up or Give In” Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the confirmation of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary, recent layoffs at the CDC and NIH, and a new vaccine policy being adopted in Louisiana. They also discuss seasonal and H5N1 influenza activity and a measles outbreak in Texas.”
Unconfined Episode 16: Is Animal Agriculture Contributing to Bird Flu Spread?
From the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future: “In episode 16 of Unconfined, two leading experts, Meghan Davis and Erin Sorrell, discuss the current bird flu outbreak affecting poultry, dairy cattle, and farm workers—and unpack risks to food supply and public health.”
NEW: Blockchain for Monitoring and Tracking Chemicals (MATCH)
From the Stimson Center: “The future of chemical security may rely on blockchain technologies. Join the MATCH team and industry leaders to discuss how innovative Distributed Ledger Technology is revolutionizing the monitoring and reporting of dual-use chemicals.”
“Since its first kick-off meeting in September 2021, the Monitoring and Tracking Chemicals (MATCH) project has gone through several phases of research, scenario building and testing to understand the feasibility of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) as an innovation for streamlining and improving the accuracy of declarations on international transfers of dual-use chemicals. These “Scheduled Chemicals” covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) have many legitimate medical, commercial and industrial uses but also represent the small subset of the global chemical trade that also pose the highest risk of misuse for chemical weapons.”
“Join us for a discussion with the MATCH team and its stakeholders, including MATCH developers True North and DataTrails, along with Global Affairs Canada, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for insights on the successes achieved and lessons learned along the way.”
This event will take place on March 3 at 12:30 pm ET. Learn more and RSVP here.
NEW: Synthesis Screening Workshop 3, Securing Bioproduction Against an Evolving Threat Landscape
From AI for SynBio: “Advances in AI are changing the threat landscape in many fields, including in the field of biology. With AI assisted design tools, the complexity and obfuscation potential of the synthetic biological materials is expected to increase. Conversely, the same AI advances can be deployed to help screen DNA/RNA synthesis requests before they can be used for malicious purposes. This workshop seeks insight on current and future advances that will shape both the threat and countermeasure landscapes and prepare the community for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks perspectives from academia, industry, and government.”
This workshop will take place March 5-6 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
NEW: 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit
From the Scowcroft Institute: “The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University invites you to attend the 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit examining the ongoing H5N1 outbreak across the U.S. Dairy industry. This summit will bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to review the response efforts, discuss current challenges and opportunities, and identify options for moving forward. Listen to panels of subject matter experts, explore case studies from the field, and participate in networking opportunities.”
This event will take place on March 18 in Washington, DC. Learn more and RSVP here.
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.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register 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.1This 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 14here.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Pandora Report! This week’s edition covers a recent OPCW delegation visit to Syria, a Russian drone attack that damaged the sarcophagus over Chornobyl’s damaged reactor, RFK Jr.’s confirmation as HHS Secretary, and much more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 27. Learn more and register here.
OPCW Director-General Visits Syria
Last week, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Amb. Fernando Arias, traveled to Damascus with a high-level delegation from the OPCW to meet with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and caretaker Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani. According to a statement from OPCW, “The meetings were long, productive and very open, with an in-depth exchange of information, which will serve as a basis to reach tangible results and break the stalemate that has lasted for over eleven years.”
“The visit marked a first step towards re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria, following eleven years of stagnation and lack of progress with the former authorities. In their meeting, both sides discussed Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the role and mandate of the OPCW, and the type of support the Technical Secretariat can provide to the Syrian caretaker authorities in eliminating the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this morning that a Russian drone attack hit the radiation shield that protects Chornobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor. Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have both said that radiation levels remain normal in the area. Russia has denied its role in this attack, with a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation accusing Zelensky of orchestrating the attack to coincide with the Munich Security Conference.
In February of 2022, Ukraine alerted the IAEA that Russian forces had taken control of all facilities at the nuclear power plant in Chornobyl, prompting concerns about radiation exposure. Control of the plant was eventually returned to Ukrainian personnel in late March of that year. Since January of 2023, the IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary, White House Establishes MAHA Commission
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, putting an anti-vaccine activist lawyer with no relevant experience in charge of the nation’s federal health agencies and their nearly $2 trillion combined budget. Kennedy was confirmed in a 52-48 vote, with Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate Majority and Minority Leader and childhood polio survivor, being the only Republican to break party lines and vote against his confirmation.
Following his confirmation, Kennedy appeared on Fox News to outline his priorities. While on Laura Ingraham’s show, Kennedy claimed that the US is “the sickest country in the world,” while saying that the US faces not just a health crisis but also a “spiritual crisis.” In response to a clip of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizing Kennedy’s lack of qualifications, he said “The qualifications that Senator Schumer is talking about there, are the very qualifications that got us to where we are today. We do need a break. We need somebody different who can come in and say, ‘I’m going to be a disruptor. I’m not going to let the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry run health policy anymore.’”
Shortly after the confirmation, President Trump issued yet another executive order, this time establishing the “President’s Make American Healthy Again Commission.” This commission will be chaired by the Secretary of HHS, with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy as its executive director. Members of the commission will include the Secretaries of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and Veterans Affairs, the EPA Administrator, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, the Director of the National Economic Council, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Directors of the CDC and NIH, and other members invited by the chair and executive director.
The order says in part, “To fully address the growing health crisis in America, we must re-direct our national focus, in the public and private sectors, toward understanding and drastically lowering chronic disease rates and ending childhood chronic disease. This includes fresh thinking on nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety. We must restore the integrity of the scientific process by protecting expert recommendations from inappropriate influence and increasing transparency regarding existing data. We must ensure our healthcare system promotes health rather than just managing disease.”
White House Fires USAID IG After Warning About Funding Oversight
The White House fired the inspector general for USAID on Tuesday, according to officials, after the IG warned that the administration’s dismantling of the agency made it essentially impossible to monitor $8.2 billion in unspent funds. In an advisory notice released by the IG’s office on Monday, officials wrote, “In this alert, we identify risks and challenges to the safeguarding and distribution of USAID’s $8.2 billion in obligated but undisbursed humanitarian assistance funds following (1) the Department of State’s pause on foreign assistance programs and (2) subsequent personnel actions by USAID that have substantially reduced the operational capacity of its Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).”
Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Federal Health Agencies’ Websites and Datasets
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by Doctors for America against the federal government following the abrupt takedowns of federal health agencies’ websites and data sets late last month. The judge, Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is a George W. Bush appointee who emphasized that the loss of these resources jeopardized the work of clinicians and public health. Bates wrote in his opinion, “It bears emphasizing who ultimately bears the harm of defendants’ actions: everyday Americans, and most acutely, underprivileged Americans, seeking healthcare.”
According to NPR, “The pages that are now set to be revived include information for patients about HIV testing and HIV prevention medication, guidance on contraceptives, datasets that show vulnerability to natural disasters and emergencies, and an action plan for improving enrollment of underrepresented populations in clinical trials.”
Despite this ruling and the subsequent restoration of sites and datasets, it is still unclear how much has been altered on them. However, many pages and datasets have been added to the Internet Archive, including this upload of all CDC datasets uploaded before January 28, 2025.
Federal Judge Halts Trump Cuts to NIH Research Payments in 22 States
District Court Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District of Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH funding after 22 states filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s order. The lawsuit was filed on Monday, seeking to block a change that would cut NIH payments to universities, medical centers, and researchers studying things like cancer, rare diseases, and other health issues. A hearing has been set for February 21.
The Freeze on Foreign Aid Has Officially Killed People
A 71-year-old woman named Pe Kha Lau died after her oxygen supply was cut off by the US freeze on foreign aid. She was a refugee from Myanmar living in a displacement camp in Thailand, and she is thought to be one of the first people to have died as a direct consequence of this funding freeze. She was discharged from a USAID-funded healthcare facility that was operated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) four days before her death following a stop-work order.
The Thai government is trying to make up for the loss of IRC care in its nine refugee camps near the country’s border with Myanmar, with most critical condition patients having been transferred to Thai hospitals. Locals are reported to be “self-mobilizing” to try and offer what they can to these people in the sudden absence of US-funded care.
Furthermore, the stop-work order on all USAID-funded research has left many of people participating in research studies around the world in precarious situations. Thousands have been left with experimental drugs and devices in their bodies with a sudden lack of access to monitoring or care. This includes Asanda Zondi, a woman in South Africa who was a participant in a research study evaluating a new device to prevent pregnancy and HIV infection. As a result of the stop-worker order, Zondi was left with the device inserted into her vagina that needed to be removed immediately, but staff at the clinic were not allowed to help study participants remove the devices. Fortunately, some decided to help anyway.
The stop-work order is damaging not just because of its immediate impacts, but because of the harm it will cause to trust it took many years to build with the people and communities participating in studies. This is especially true in South Africa, where years of white rule under apartheid meant medical experiments were inappropriately conducted on Black South Africans.
Louisiana Department of Health Says It Will Stop Promoting “Mass Vaccination”
An internal memo sent within Louisiana’s Department of Health yesterday explained that the organization will no longer use media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccination against preventable diseases. The memo was authored by Ralph L. Abraham, the Surgeon General of Louisiana and a former Republican member of Congress who holds both a DVM and an MD. Abraham said in the memo that his state would “encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider,” but it will “no longer promote mass vaccination.”
Abraham later wrote, “Vaccines should be treated with nuance, recognizing differences between seasonal vaccines and childhood immunizations, which are an important part of providing immunity to our children.”
New Orleans, the state’s largest city, quickly showed it will not follow the state’s lead. Jennifer Avegno, the Director of the New Orleans Health Department, said in an email “We will continue to strongly promote childhood and seasonal vaccination, and expand our efforts locally to fill any gaps left by the state’s new direction.”
Louisiana is currently experiencing a surge in influenza cases, and it borders Texas, which is currently battling a measles outbreak, and Mississippi, where multiple schools have been forced to close due to the spread of an unspecified illness.
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
The bird flu continues to mutate, as Americans notice the rising cost of eggs. This has led to drastic measures as police are reporting a rise in egg thieves. Last week hundreds of eggs were stolen from a café in Seattle, coming just a few days after 100,000 organic eggs were reported stolen from a Pennsylvania distribution trailer. Ohio has reported its first human case of H5N1 in a Mercer County farmer. Ohio public health officials say the farmer was exposed due to dead poultry and contracted the virus. Ohio is currently the leader in bird flu cases, with 50 flocks impacted over the last 30 days. Human cases have risen as well, now reporting 68 across 11 states. Public Health officials assure the public the human-human risk is low, however experts at Johns Hopkins are saying the bird flu is steps away from mutating to affect humans. The combination of rising egg prices, mutating strains and communication freeze from authorities are causing many Americans to scramble and wonder if this is the next rising pandemic.
“Tulsi Gabbard as US Intelligence Chief Would Undermine Efforts Against the Spread of Chemical and Biological Weapons”
Gregory D. Koblentz, Director of George Mason’s Biodefense Graduate Program, published this article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ahead of Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation to be the Director of National Intelligence. In it, he discusses Gabbard’s longstanding history of parroting Russian propaganda talking points, unfounded claims about Syria’s use of chemical weapons, and conspiracy theories all in efforts to undermine the quality of the community she now leads. He writes at the end of the article, “During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard committed to “checking my own views at the door” and providing intelligence “that is collected, analyzed, and reported without bias, prejudice, or political influence.” Gabbard, however, has demonstrated a clear pattern of denying chemical threats posed by hostile states and inventing biological threats from our allies. Her bias in favor of the regimes of Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as her prejudice against the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the US intelligence community are clear. Her judgment on the risks presented by chemical and biological weapons cannot be trusted. This is particularly concerning since the annual threat assessment released by the current director of national intelligence in February 2024 highlighted the growing threat posed by these weapons.”
“Based on this track record, it is difficult to see how Gabbard can be relied upon to provide the quality of intelligence and national security advice needed by the commander in chief during these perilous times. For the Senate to confirm Gabbard would be national security malpractice.”
“Is There a Biological Weapons Taboo, and Does It Matter?”
Glenn A. Cross, an alumnus of the Biodefense PhD Program, recently published this review of Michelle Bentley’s book, The Biological Weapons Taboo, in The Nonproliferation Review.
“Biosafety Approaches: Applying the LOPA Method to High Containment Facilities”
Andrian Harsono, Ryan Waters, Jason Tearle, and Graeme Harkess recently published this article in Nature: “The Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) method is a semi-quantitative risk assessment tool that is used to determine the ability of safeguards to protect against unplanned hazardous scenarios. One possible outcome of a LOPA is that existing and proposed safeguards are deemed sufficient to reduce the risk associated with the hazardous scenario to a level that can be deemed as acceptable. Alternatively, the LOPA may also show that the safeguards are insufficient and therefore additional Safety Instrumented Function(s) (SIF) would be required to reduce risk to an acceptable level. In the latter case, the LOPA method will inform the end user as to the reliability requirements of the safety function in question. The LOPA method has been used extensively in the process industries (e.g., oil and gas) as a useful tool to manage and understand risk and to demonstrate if the facility is ‘safe’ to operate, but much less so in the biosafety sector. This paper describes the LOPA method and provides some practical examples of how it may be applied in microbiological high Containment Level (CL) facilities.”
“Global Epidemiology of Outbreaks of Unknown Cause Identified by Open-Source Intelligence, 2020–2022”
Honeyman et al. recently published this article in Emerging Infectious Diseases: “Epidemic surveillance using traditional approaches is dependent on case ascertainment and is delayed. Open-source intelligence (OSINT)–based syndromic surveillance can overcome limitations of delayed surveillance and poor case ascertainment, providing early warnings to guide outbreak response. It can identify outbreaks of unknown cause for which no other global surveillance exists. Using the artificial intelligence–based OSINT early warning system EPIWATCH, we describe the global epidemiology of 310 outbreaks of unknown cause that occurred December 31, 2019–January 1, 2023. The outbreaks were associated with 75,968 reported human cases and 4,235 deaths. We identified where OSINT signaled outbreaks earlier than official sources and before diagnoses were made. We identified possible signals of known disease outbreaks with poor case ascertainment. A cause was subsequently reported for only 14% of outbreaks analyzed; the percentage was substantially lower in lower/upper-middle–income economies than high-income economies, highlighting the utility of OSINT-based syndromic surveillance for early warnings, particularly in resource-poor settings.”
“Exploring Blood-Based Biosurveillance, Part 3: The Blood Virome”
Harmon Bhasin, Michael McLaren, and Lennart Justen recently published this post with the Nucleic Acid Observatory: “This is the third post in a series of blogs exploring blood-based biosurveillance for novel pathogen detection as part of the NAO’s effort to evaluate different biosurveillance approaches. We once again thank our colleagues at the NAO, particularly Jeff Kaufman and Will Bradshaw, for their valuable feedback.”
“The Private Sector’s Role in Advancing Global Health Security”
Sara Kaufman recently authored this blog post for NTI’s Risky Business blog, writing in part “Emerging biological risks have the potential to significantly impact business opportunities locally and globally. The private sector can play an important role in strengthening global health security and mitigating biological risks.”
“The continued spread of H5N1 flu virus is raising significant concerns within the public health community. This growing public health threat also poses considerable risks to supply chains, agricultural production, business operations, and food prices. And this is just one example. Biological risks – whether natural, intentional, or accidental in origin – are capable of grinding private enterprise to a halt.”
“In the years ahead, there are key opportunities that the private sector can take to prevent, prepare for, and reduce biological threats.”
Introducing INTERFACE
From the Harvard Sussex Program: “Welcome to the first issue of INTERFACE, a newsletter focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and chemical and biological weapons (CBW). This initiative was inspired by discussions with colleagues and insights gathered at various events, reflecting a shared desire for a clearer perspective on the growing discourse around AI in our field.”
“If you would like to to receive future updates of INTERFACE, you can sign up here.”
This article from The Wall Street Journal discusses the popular Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, and some of the more disturbing answers it shares with users: “Instructions to modify bird flu. A manifesto in defense of Hitler. A social-media campaign to promote cutting and self-harm among teens. ..Those are some of the potentially hazardous things it’s easier to get the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek to talk about compared with its leading American competitors, according to testing by AI safety experts and The Wall Street Journal.”
What We’re Listening To 🎧
With public health agencies and the information they provide now being restricted in the United States, here are some resources that create new content very frequently on relevant topics:
Public Health On Call
“The Public Health On Call podcast makes important public health topics accessible to all through quick, informative conversations. Hosts tackle complex topics through engaging interviews and real-world perspectives.”
“Our ever-growing list of guests have included researchers, public health commissioners, elected leaders, patients, clergy, ethicists, front line clinicians, and even former health officials who were fired for doing their jobs.”
“Since launching in March 2020 with the purpose of sharing credible expertise and debunking misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health On Call has covered a range of topics, including other viral outbreaks, reproductive health, gun violence prevention, international humanitarian crises, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, health equity, racial and environmental justice, the opioid crisis, and so much more. In 2023, the show’s success was chronicled in The Journal of Health Security.“
The American Medical Association YouTube Channel
The American Medical Association also provides frequent updates and presentations on its YouTube channel. Recent videos have focused on IPC in different clinical settings, updates on tuberculosis, Ebola, and H5N9, H5N1, and the role of stigmatizing language in credentialing applications.
NEW: How North Korea Managed the Covid-19 Pandemic
From 38 North: “Join NCNK, the Council of Korean Americans, 38 North, the United States Institute of Peace, the Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, and Children of Korea for the second installment of a four-part webinar series on health in North Korea.”
This event will take place on February 18 at 9 amET. Register here.
NEW: UKHSA Presents: mSCAPE Genomics
From UKHSA: “UKHSA Presents is a webinar series which will give our stakeholders an insight into the organisation’s work on how the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases and environmental hazards to keep all our communities safe.”
“On Wednesday 19th February 2025, 11am-12pm, we will be hosting our third UKHSA Presents webinar which will explore UKHSA’s groundbreaking work in the use of pathogen genomics to improve health security. ”
“In January, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launched a world-first metagenomics initiative to aid in the rapid detection of infectious diseases that could threaten the UK. The metagenomics Surveillance Collaboration and Analysis Programme (mSCAPE), which has been in development over the last year, is piloting the use of metagenomic data for public health surveillance and pathogen analysis. The programme will allow for assessment of the ability to significantly improve identification of new outbreaks as well as enabling the source of an outbreak to be better understood, predictions to be made about the effectiveness of potential treatments, and any concerning mutations can be identified. ”
“The programme is a collaborative initiative, led by UKHSA and involving a consortium of NHS and academic partners including the University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, and the NHS Clinical Respiratory Metagenomics Network led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.”
“At this webinar, attendees will hear from Professor Susan Hopkins (Chief Medical Adviser, UKHSA), Dr Meera Chand (Deputy Director, TB, Acute Respiratory Infections, Zoonoses, Emerging Infections and Travel Health, UKHSA) and Professor Nicholas Loman (Professor of Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of Birmingham). The speakers will talk more about the development of the programme, its application and the positive impact it will have on preventing, diagnosing and treating illness.”
Hubs of Illicit Trade in the Global EconomyBook Discussion
From the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC): “This book, authored by a global team of researchers and experts, the Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) team, examines how centers of illicit trade pose myriad threats to global security and sustainable development.”
“The exponential growth of illicit trade, resulting in annual losses amounting to trillions of dollars for the global economy, is increasingly concentrated within specific geographic areas. These locales serve as safe havens for smugglers and their accomplices, fostering a criminal ecosystem that facilitates the convergence of various criminal activities. The book underscores the detrimental impact of these hubs, characterized by opaque governance and lax regulatory oversight. It explores the spectrum of illicit trade present in notorious hubs such as the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay Tri-Border Area, Dubai, Panama, Belize, Guatemala, and Ukraine. Emphasizing the phenomenon of crime convergence associated with these hubs, the book offers actionable recommendations for disrupting their interconnected illicit supply chains, infrastructures, and networks.”
This hybrid event will take place on February 19 from 12-2 pm EST at George Mason’s Arlington campus. Learn more and RSVP here.
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.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NEW: 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.1This 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 14here.
Research Opportunity, The Gene Synthesis Regulatory Landscape in Asia: Towards Enhanced Biosecurity
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “DNA synthesis technology is revolutionising our ability to engineer biological systems, offering transformative benefits in areas like vaccine development and sustainable energy. However, it also presents significant risks, particularly the potential misuse of synthetic DNA to create harmful pathogens, raising concerns within the biosecurity community.”
“To minimise biosecurity concerns related to DNA synthesis, some governments and industry groups have adopted policies requiring or encouraging providers to screen DNA synthesis orders. However, there seems to be less comprehensive regulation and oversight of DNA synthesis activities across many Asian countries”
“The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) is leading a study to map the policy and regulatory landscape of DNA synthesis screening across the region. Our research aims to identify gaps and opportunities in existing frameworks and provide actionable recommendations to support the revision of existing laws and policies and/or or the development of new policies for regulating DNA synthesis screening in Asia.”
“Case Study Researchers for a Research Project on DNA Synthesis Screening in Asia”
“We are seeking experienced researchers to contribute to this research project by developing country-specific case studies on the regulation of DNA synthesis screening across Asia. Learn more about the opportunity here.”
This week’s Pandora Report discusses the 9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators, updates on the situation with USAID and from across the Trump administration, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EST on February 13. Learn more and register here.
9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators
The 9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators (IEGBBR) was held on February 3-5, 2025, in Pari, France. Since 2007, the biennial meeting has provided a crucial platform for experts from 11 member countries, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), to collaborate on enhancing global biosafety and biosecurity oversight mechanisms. This year, the meeting agenda includes: High Risk Biocontainment Facilities in Urban Areas; Global Biosafety and Biosecurity Challenges; and Biosafety and Biosecurity Concerns related to Emerging Issues. The IEGBBR was formed under the leadership of the Public Health Agency of Canada and comprises of biosafety and/or biosecurity regulatory authorities from 11 member countries. The purpose of the IEGBBR is to provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge and experience with regard to current human and zoonotic pathogen biosafety and biosecurity oversight issues.
Gerald Parker Reportedly Tapped to Lead White House Office of Pandemic Response
The White House has reportedly selected Gerald Parker, DVM, PhD, to lead the White House Office of Pandemic Response, according to CBS News. Parker is the Associate Dean for Global One Health at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He is also on the faculty of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, serving as the Director of the Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program at the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs. Among Parker’s many accomplishments are previous stints as the Commander and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, as well as time serving in the senior executive level as a federal civilian in DHS, HHS, and DOD, including serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense at DOD. He is also the former chairperson of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, and he currently serves on the Defense Science Board Permanent Subcommittee for Threat Reduction.
Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Biden, said in a statement to CBS News, “I’ve not been a fan of every choice that Donald Trump has made. And I’ve been very critical of many of them. This one is a very good choice,” describing Parker as “deeply knowledgeable, serious, not particularly partisan, but really just very focused on important issues.”
Shock and Awe as Trump Administration Dismantles USAID
If last week at USAID was chaotic, this week has proven to be a complete disaster. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a letter to lawmakers that he is the acting administrator of USAID, confirming his department’s de-facto takeover of the agency. Rubio explained in the letter that he has delegated authority to Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee who served at USAID under the first Trump administration and has been criticized by aid group and officials for, allegedly, intentionally dismantling the organization. Notably, Marocco is the one who drafted the initial order to freeze virtually all foreign aid.
On Tuesday, USAID’s previously-down website was updated with a simple announcement indicating all direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, February 7. It does indicate there is an exception for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs, and that people in those roles would be notified of the expectation they continue working by 3 pm EST on February 6. The administration also ordered all overseas missions for USAID to shut down, and for all staff to be recalled by Friday. More than 6,000 USAID employees are currently overseas. According to CBS, just 294 are considered essential out of roughly 14,000 employees. Furthermore, it is unclear what will happen to foreign nationals who are employed by USAID at overseas missions.
The agency’s announcement explains in part that, “For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.”
One official told The Washington Post, “You find yourself in a foreign country, in all likelihood a place you moved to despite the terrorism or security risks, and you’re being treated as if you’re somehow an enemy of the state. That’s not even the worst of it. You know that your career matters far less than the lives of those you were trying to help, and … a lot of them are going to die without American aid.”
USAID-provided ultra-low temperature freezer in a biomedical laboratory in Nanyuki, Kenya, sticker text: “USAID, From the American People”|Photo Credit: Danyale C. Kellogg
As the destruction unfolded at USAID, the White House released a fact sheet entitled “At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep,” that claims USAID “has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.”
The statement then lists 12 examples of this alleged waste and abuse, linking to questionable news sites like the Daily Caller and Breitbart. Several of them link to the Daily Mail, a British tabloid. One of the bulleted examples reads, “Millions to EcoHealth Alliance – which was involved in research at the Wuhan Lab”. Most of these claims were found to be false or misleading when fact checked. The statement then concludes with, “The list literally goes on and on — and it has all been happening for decades.”
In addition to the bizarre tone of this official White House statement, the cited examples are problematic. For starters, some of them are State Department grants, not USAID grants, while one of them actually comes from the first Trump administration. Some of them are so low that The Washington Postreports they were made at the ambassador level, without input from Washington. The White House has also incorrectly claimed USAID gave Politico over $8 million in funding. In reality, between 2023 and 2024, USAID paid Politico $44,000 for subscriptions to Politico publications. This is not an uncommon thing to do across the US government.
The claims made by the White House are part of a broader narrative that a large portion of the federal budget “goes to other countries.” In reality, as we discussed last week, it really only accounts for around 1% of the budget. Furthermore, much of this money does not ever leave the US, and the portion that does largely goes to NGOs, not host governments. Furthermore, much of this is obligated to go to US-based entities. An example of this is food aid, which has to be purchased in the US and must be shipped by US carriers. As a result, this attack on USAID and foreign aid in general is actually threatening to US farmers.
In a statement this week, President Trump said of the agency “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision.” Irreversible decisions have already been made that will have far-reaching, long-lasting implications not just for USAID and the federal workforce, but for those receiving foreign aid through USAID and the organizations that facilitated that. PII and classified information has been accessed by the supposed Department of Government Efficiency, and lives have been upended, seemingly at the whim of Elon Musk.
Former Administrators React
A group of former USAID administrators issued a sharp rebuke of the administration’s attacks on the agency this week, including J. Brian Atwood, Peter McPherson, Andrew Natsios, Gayle Smith, and Samantha Power. In a statement signed by the former administrators, they explain “While we don’t agree on all issues, we wholeheartedly agree that USAID and America’s foreign assistance programs are vital to our interests, that the career men and women of USAID have served each of us well, and that it is the duty of the Administration and Congress to swiftly protect the Agency’s statutory role.”
They write later in the statement, “Failure to maintain the global engagement that foreign aid enables, to honor the men and women of our civilian service as we do those in the military, or weaken and even destroy the Agency is to the benefit of neither political party and the detriment of all Americans.”
Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. both cleared key hurdles on Tuesday in their efforts to be confirmed by the Senate. Both of their committee votes came down to the wire, with Republicans ultimately making the decision to back them after pressure from members of the administration. Both are thought to likely be confirmed by the full Senate.
CDC Restores Some Purged Files and Pages
Intense backlash following the purge of files on the CDC’s website seems to have prompted the reinstatement of some online resources. Last Friday, the agency suddenly removed thousands of pages from its site that included terms like “transgender,” “LGBT,” and “pregnant person,” rushing to meet a deadline to remove such terms from its website. While many pages have since been restored, many databases and pages on topics like contraception guidelines have not been restored. The site now has a banner explaining it is being modified to comply with President Trump’s executive orders.
Beyond ideological arguments, this has massive implications for public health. For example, the now gone pages on contraception provided lists of drug interactions for providers to consider when prescribing newer forms of birth control. Similarly, pages with vaccine information have yet to be restored, despite not being targeted by the executive order.
Note: All CDC datasets that were uploaded before January 28, 2025, have been uploaded to the Internet Archive and are available here.
NSF Flagging Research Grant Proposals for Reviews Based on DEI-Related Keywords
While the National Science Foundation has unfrozen its grant funding, a list of keywords that will flag proposals has reportedly been introduced at the organization. The list of keywords is extensive, according to an internal document that has been reviewed by media outlets and multiple NSF employees with knowledge of the review process who spoke under the condition on anonymity. Terms on the list allegedly include basic ones like biases, diversity, ethnicity, excluded, female, gender, historically, inequities, institutional, minority, racially, socioeconomic, systemic, trauma, underserved, victims, and women. While the list is concerning in general, many of these terms have multiple meanings, some of which would not fall under DEI.
This comes after a notice was given at the organization last week warning about activities that do not comply with the administration’s DEI executive order. A message to investigators said in part, “In particular, this may include, but is not limited to conferences, trainings, workshops, considerations for staffing and participant selection, and any other grant activity that uses or promotes the use of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) principles and frameworks or violates federal anti-discrimination laws.”
Argentinian President Javier Milei announced his intention to withdraw his country from the WHO this week. Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who has sought to mirror Donald Trump, attributed this decision to the WHO’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said consisted of a “caveman quarantine that involved…one of the most outlandish crimes against humanity in history.”
This prompted immediate criticism from the Argentinian opposition as well as health organizations who are concerned this move will limit the country’s access to needed funding. Critics also say Milei is not able to do this unilaterally, requiring instead congressional approval. Milei’s administration refused to sign the WHO-supported Pandemic Treaty last year, citing concerns about national sovereignty.
H5N1 – “In Your Feeders” 02.07.25
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
As H5N1 spreads across the bird community, many people raise the question, “should I stop feeding the birds in my backyard?” The simple answer is…well it depends. If the bird flu is prevalent in your area, it may be best to stop. It also depends on what type of birds you feed. Right now, those known to be carriers of H5N1 are waterfowl such as ducks/geese, shorebirds (storks/plovers), raptors (hawks/owls) and songbirds such as robins and sparrows. Due to this, it is also spreading to domestic turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and quail. It is important to note that domestic songbirds only have about a 3% chance of infection, so unless you also keep poultry, there is little risk. The virus is spread from these birds in their saliva, mucus and feces, which can be dropped on the ground and can contaminate areas if you have your own flock. In other H5N1 news, there was a new strain identified in Nevada cows on Wednesday, which led Louise Moncla (an evolutionary biologist specializing in bird flu) to say, “We need to now consider the possibility that cows are more broadly susceptible to these viruses than we initially thought.” While the virus is actively mutating, officials still say the person-to-person transmission risk is low, and little to be concerned about for the average person.
Strengthening a Safe and Secure Nucleic Acid Synthesis Ecosystem: Outcomes of EBRC Stakeholder Engagement
From EBRC: “The report describes central issues and perspectives on nucleic acid synthesis screening, including screening for sequences of concern, customer screening, follow-up screening, and law enforcement reporting. It describes best practices that providers, tool developers, customers, and other stakeholders can implement to further strengthen nucleic acid synthesis screening. It also recommends policies, capabilities, and infrastructure to support the adoption and improvement of screening practices.”
“EBRC developed this report based on information and expertise shared by stakeholders across industry, government, academia, and civil society in six virtual workshops (April–August 2024) and an in-person workshop (September 2024). We thank the 200+ stakeholders who engaged with this effort for their collaborative spirit and dedication to advancing nucleic acid synthesis screening.”
“Bolstering US Biodefense: Recommendations for the New Administration”
This briefer from the Council on Strategic Risks’ Nolan Center offers recommendations for the Trump administration’s first year in office aimed at improving US biodefense. It explains in part, “In recent years, the US has shown both leadership and progress in establishing and implementing the most advanced policies yet for biodefense and biosecurity. Significant strategic advancements have included the strengthening of the US National Biodefense Strategy in 2018 and 2022, and the Department of Defense (DoD) completing its first-ever Biodefense Posture Review in 2023. Efforts to implement these ambitious strategies have included establishing DoD’s Generative Unconstrained Intelligent Drug Engineering (GUIDE) program to harness the Department of Energy’s supercomputing capabilities to design and evaluate medical countermeasures years faster than standard methodologies, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA). Still, given the scale and urgency of the risks the nation faces, the new administration must continue to pursue ever-more ambitious approaches to addressing significant biological risks.”
Transmission Interrupted, “Behind the Scenes: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hollywood”
“In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo as they continue their Pathogens in Pop Culture series with a dive into the fascinating intersection of infectious diseases and the entertainment industry with esteemed guest, Dr. Saskia Popescu. Dr. Popescu, an internationally recognized infectious disease epidemiologist and global health security expert, shares her unique experiences providing epidemiological guidance and infection prevention strategies on film sets during the COVID-19 pandemic. From creative risk assessments and navigating ever-changing guidelines to the challenges of implementing health measures in diverse climate settings all around the world, Dr. Popescu provides a candid look behind the scenes of Hollywood’s pandemic response. Get a glimpse into how science intersects with Hollywood magic, revealing an industry more receptive and complex than meets the eye. Tune in as we uncover the balance between safety and storytelling, and explore the uncharted territory of infectious diseases in pop culture.”
“Engineering Tomorrow: DARPA’s Push into the Frontier of Synthetic Biology”
Jeff Buguliskis discusses the work of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office in this piece from Synbiobeta: “For years, synthetic biology has offered tantalizing glimpses of what might be possible—personalized disease treatments, materials grown by microbes instead of extracted from petroleum, and sensors capable of detecting everything from emerging pathogens to chemical toxins. The allure has attracted investors and entrepreneurs, pushing startups to scale up with fermentation bioreactors and gene-editing technologies. But beyond the hype, we hit a sobering truth: biology is messy. Scale-ups that work beautifully on a lab bench often break down in a 10,000-liter tank. Promising genetic designs fail unpredictably because real-world conditions differ from the pristine order of the lab.”
“That’s precisely why now is the right time for deeper, broader investment in SynBio—and why the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is making its move. The mission at DARPA, known more widely for stealth planes and the internet, is to foresee threats, catalyze big ideas, and then supercharge them until they’re world-changing or prove unworkable. Mike Koeris, Director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO), envisions synthetic biology as the next great frontier in that legacy of breakthroughs. And he’s looking for new frontiers, people of science, a.k.a. Program Managers—“PMs,” as DARPA calls them—to push that frontier beyond what anyone could think possible, merging the digital realm of bits with the living realm of atoms.”
“The Value of a Biorisk Management System: Enabling Infectious Disease Laboratory Excellence on all Levels”
Patty Olinger and Stefan Wagener discuss the need for comprehensive biorisk management systems in this piece from Infection Control.tips: “Biosafety and biosecurity are essential components of modern laboratory operations, ensuring that safety and security are seamlessly integrated into daily practices. Far from being burdensome, a well-implemented biorisk management system empowers laboratories through a top management-driven approach to continual improvement, based on clear internal and external stakeholder-based policies and objectives that are monitored and assessed through key performance indicators. When possible, these measures should be embedded into workflows so effectively that they become part of day-to-day activities or culture. Such a system ensures that resources are directed toward addressing gaps, continually improving biosafety and biosecurity and fostering the integrity of research. This results in scientists taking ownership of biorisk management and focusing better on their core mission—innovative science. Moreover, a comprehensive biorisk management system extends benefits beyond the facility, safeguarding communities and the environment and rebuilding public trust with transparency and external stakeholder input.”
“Monitoring Snapshot 7”
From GP WMD Counter Disinfo: “DFRLab conducts a bimonthly analysis of data based on a search query including Ukrainian, Russian and English languages to identify when spikes of CBRN disinformation narratives are spreading. This report (10 December 2024 – 6 January 2025) saw an emergence of claims of Ukraine biolab origin of H5N1 (avian flu); an influx of unfounded allegations about alleged Ukrainian plans to attack various nuclear power plants (NPPs); and unfounded speculations around the possibility of Western involvement in the assassination of General Igor Kirillov, head of the Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Defense Troops of the Russian Armed Forces.”
“Russia Consumer Watchdog Falsely Accuses US of Mishandling Pathogens in DR Congo”
Purity Mwambia debunks a claim from the Russia State Consumer Watchdog that the US and France are irresponsibly handling dangerous pathogens in the DRC in this piece for VOA. The claim states, “The activities of this laboratory are financed by the US Agency for International Development and the French Merieux Foundation. This circumstance once again confirms the irresponsible approach of Western countries when working with dangerous infections in the territory of third countries, when biological facilities are created without the proper infrastructure and samples of pathogens of dangerous diseases are accumulated without control.”
“HSToday Threat Forecast 2025: Global Terrorism”
Mahmut Cengiz, an Associate Professor and Research Faculty with Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, recently published this article in Homeland Security Today. He writes in part, “The effectiveness of terrorism as a strategic approach has been widely debated. While many scholars argue that terrorism can be a useful tactic for non-state actors, they often believe it ultimately fails to produce lasting, long-term results. However, the Taliban’s use of terror tactics and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) recent expansion in Syria challenge this view, suggesting that, in some cases, terrorism can effectively achieve its strategic goals. As a result, both the Taliban and HTS may serve as models for other jihadist groups with similar objectives in 2025. Consequently, shifting priorities within Western governments have contributed to HTS’s rise. The U.S. has focused more on the strategic threat posed by China, while the European Union has been preoccupied with the refugee crisis. In this context, Turkiye has played a central role in facilitating HTS’s growth in Syria, and its actions appear to have been tacitly supported by Western governments. Despite these developments, Syria’s future remains uncertain. There are ongoing concerns about whether an authoritarian and often corrupt Turkish government can help guide Syria toward a stable and representative political system. Moreover, ISIS continues to be the most active and powerful actor in Syria, responsible for about one-third of the country’s terrorist attacks in 2024. There also are concerns over whether Kurdish forces in northern Syria will continue to receive U.S. support in their fight against ISIS. As such, Syria is likely to remain a key issue on the global agenda for counterterrorism in 2025.”
“Feature Article: Organ-on-a-Chip—3D Printed Tissue Allows Researchers to Study Effects of Toxic Vapors”
This article is from the Department of Homeland Security: “The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and its Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) have partnered with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) to 3D print human lung cells and tissue onto microchips for state-of-the-art analysis of the hazards posed by toxic chemicals. S&T’s other partner, the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI), is serving as the program’s evaluator.”
NEW: 2025’s National Security Challenges: A Hayden Center Open Forum
From the Hayden Center: Join the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 7:00 pm ET as we host our third annual open forum examining the year’s national security challenges. At this event, YOU get to drive the discussion with your questions!
Jennifer Victor: Associate Professor of Political Science at the Schar School; Director of Schar School’s Democracy Lab Academic Community; author, researcher, and commentator; and recipient of the National Capitol Area Political Science Association Pi Sigma Alpha Award for undergraduate student mentoring in 2024 and of the George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award in 2019;
Andrew McCabe: Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Schar School; former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; CNN senior law enforcement analyst; and co-host of UnJustified, the successor to Jack: A Special Counsel Podcast;
Larry Pfeiffer, Director of the Hayden Center, former Senior Director of the White House Situation Room, and former Chief of Staff at the CIA, will moderate the conversation.
Whether you join us in person or via livestream, we look forward to your incisive questions!
NEW: Hubs of Illicit Trade in the Global EconomyBook Discussion
From the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC): “This book, authored by a global team of researchers and experts, the Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) team, examines how centers of illicit trade pose myriad threats to global security and sustainable development.”
“The exponential growth of illicit trade, resulting in annual losses amounting to trillions of dollars for the global economy, is increasingly concentrated within specific geographic areas. These locales serve as safe havens for smugglers and their accomplices, fostering a criminal ecosystem that facilitates the convergence of various criminal activities. The book underscores the detrimental impact of these hubs, characterized by opaque governance and lax regulatory oversight. It explores the spectrum of illicit trade present in notorious hubs such as the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay Tri-Border Area, Dubai, Panama, Belize, Guatemala, and Ukraine. Emphasizing the phenomenon of crime convergence associated with these hubs, the book offers actionable recommendations for disrupting their interconnected illicit supply chains, infrastructures, and networks.”
This hybrid event will take place on February 19 from 12-2 pm EST at George Mason’s Arlington campus. Learn more and RSVP here.
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.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NEW: Call for Experts-Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings: A Workshop
“The National Academies is seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new workshop on personal protective equipment (PPE) needs and best practices to protect workers in high-risk U.S. farm settings and control Influenza A (H5N1) transmission between livestock and humans. The workshop will examine the current state of knowledge on H5N1 transmission to humans and implications for PPE use in high-risk farm settings; approaches to overcoming barriers to implementation of PPE recommendations and best practices; the potential for novel technologies to enhance protection provided by PPE in farm settings; and health communication, education, training, and research needs.”
Learn more and submit nominations by February 14 at 5 pm EThere.
NEW: Research Opportunity, The Gene Synthesis Regulatory Landscape in Asia: Towards Enhanced Biosecurity
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “DNA synthesis technology is revolutionising our ability to engineer biological systems, offering transformative benefits in areas like vaccine development and sustainable energy. However, it also presents significant risks, particularly the potential misuse of synthetic DNA to create harmful pathogens, raising concerns within the biosecurity community.”
“To minimise biosecurity concerns related to DNA synthesis, some governments and industry groups have adopted policies requiring or encouraging providers to screen DNA synthesis orders. However, there seems to be less comprehensive regulation and oversight of DNA synthesis activities across many Asian countries”
“The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) is leading a study to map the policy and regulatory landscape of DNA synthesis screening across the region. Our research aims to identify gaps and opportunities in existing frameworks and provide actionable recommendations to support the revision of existing laws and policies and/or or the development of new policies for regulating DNA synthesis screening in Asia.”
“Case Study Researchers for a Research Project on DNA Synthesis Screening in Asia”
“We are seeking experienced researchers to contribute to this research project by developing country-specific case studies on the regulation of DNA synthesis screening across Asia. Learn more about the opportunity here.”
This week’s Pandora Report includes discussion of the CIA’s updated stance on COVID-19 origins, how funding and hiring freezes are affecting the international development community, NIH’s purchasing abilities amid HHS’ communications freeze, RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing, and more. This edition also includes an H5N1 update from the Pandora Report’s new Associate Editor, Meredith Fletcher.
CIA Announces It Favors COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
Over the weekend, the CIA said in a statement that it now favors the idea that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan. CIA joins FBI and DOE in drawing this conclusion. This analysis was ordered by the outgoing Biden administration. John Ratcliffe, Trump’s now confirmed nominee for CIA Director, promised in his first interview after confirmation that he “intends to immediately get to the bottom of what the Agency knows about COVID leaking from a Wuhan lab in China.” Ratcliffe has also ordered the assessment to be declassified and made public.
The assessment from CIA was made with low confidence, as was the earlier DOE assessment. A CIA spokesperson explained that “CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting.” This analysis does not draw on any new evidence or sources. Allegedly, the change was based on closer scrutiny of the conditions at high security labs in Wuhan.
While the Intelligence Community has not explicitly defined analytic confidence levels, “low confidence” generally suggests the assessment’s information is of questionable credibility or plausibility. In past assessments from the National Intelligence Council, low confidence has been defined as “generally means that the information’s credibility and/or plausibility is questionable, or that the information is too fragmented or poorly corroborated to make solid analytic inferences, or that we have significant concerns or problems with the sources.”
Sen. Paul Subpoenas 14 Agencies RE: COVID-19 Origins and GoF Research
Senator Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued subpoenas on January 13 to 14 federal agencies “from the outgoing Biden-Harris administration in connection with the origins of COVID-19 and taxpayer-funded gain-of-function research.” Agencies subpoenaed include the National Institutes of Health, Department of State, United States Agency for International Development, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
In a statement, Senator Paul said “In the wake of Anthony Fauci’s preemptive pardon, there are still questions to be answered. Who at NIH directed funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and why was the proposal not scrutinized by the P3CO safety committee? For four years, I have requested records from the NIH and other agencies on all deliberations regarding the decision to skip oversight by the safety committee only to be stonewalled. Today, I’m announcing subpoenas were sent from the Committee to NIH and 13 other agencies regarding their involvement in risky gain-of-function research. The goal of the investigation will be to critique the process that allowed this dangerous research, that may have led to the pandemic, to occur in a foreign country under unsafe protocols and to ensure that there is sufficient oversight and review going forward, making sure a mistake of this magnitude never happens again.”
Trump Administration Updates
Stop Work Orders, Funding Freezes, and Chaos in the Federal GovernmentThreaten Foreign Aid
An executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office has thrown much of the federal government into chaos, especially those agencies involved with foreign aid. The order halts disbursements of foreign development aid for 90 days in order to allow the White House to assess whether these programs align with the President’s foreign policy. It was followed by an order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his department to cease not just development aid, but virtually all current foreign aid programs in general. The executive order explains in part, “The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values.”
This echoes a growing anti-foreign aid sentiment much of the public holds, which has been fanned by President Trump in the last decade. For example, in 2019, Brookings explained that opinion polling consistently reports that many many Americans believe foreign aid accounts for around 25% of the US federal budget. Many of those, when asked, say they believe that number should be around 10%. In fact, foreign aid accounts for around 1% or less of the federal budget annually.
Make no mistake, that 1% does incredible things that make the US and the world safer and more stable. For example, the mission of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is “to partner to end extreme poverty and to promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity.” USAID does this with its relatively small budget, not only by promoting American values abroad, but also by addressing conditions that spawn instability and violence and by strengthening economies globally. This agency strengthens the US by preventing the country from being drawn into conflicts by helping prevent them from developing, helps address threats to global health that can very easily threaten the homeland, and by creating more favorable global economic conditions.
Now, however, USAID and other agencies overseeing foreign aid have been thrown into chaos by the administration. In addition to mass confusion over the funding freeze and stop-work orders, hundreds of employees and contractors at USAID have been laid off or placed on administrative leave. Tens of thousands of people in the United States, many of whom are in the Washington, DC, area, rely on contract work with these agencies and are at risk of losing their jobs.
Part of this chaos includes a now waived pause on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR was founded by President Bush in 2003 to help reduce the global burden of HIV/AIDS, and it currently has a $6.5 billion budget. It uses this budget to provide HIV/AIDS medications to more than 20.6 million people, not just keeping them alive, but helping prevent them from transmitting HIV to others. State Department estimates indicate the program has likely saved the lives of more than 25 million people in 54 countries since its inception.
The administration moved to stop program funding from reaching clinics, hospitals, and other organizations in low-income countries for 180 days. While the administration issued a waiver for this program on Tuesday, it came after appointments were already cancelled, people were turned away from clinics, and those undergoing HIV treatment had those treatments suddenly interrupted.
The stop-work order has also halted work to address current mpox and Marburg outbreaks. It has also had an impact on ongoing efforts to recover remaining CW stockpiles in Syria by degrading the capacity of the White Helmets to continue their work there. The list of affected programs drags on and on, including programs aimed at combatting the trafficking of fentanyl and narcotics, funding reporting on and combatting Russian and Chinese disinformation, and supporting those resisting oppressive regimes in places like Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Burma. Support that is critical to ensuring the defense of Taiwan has also been paused.
This is not “putting America first.” It is handing the United States’ adversaries, especially China, the opportunity to take the influence the US holds in the international community for themselves. Furthermore, to be clear, the $70 billion that is being held up by the administration is part of an annual budget that received Congressional approval and is the product of bipartisan negotiations. While administrations can and should review where the United States is spending its money, this is a dangerous move. Pausing work even just for 90 days ensures that people will be fired, trust and expertise will be lost, and some of these programs will not be able to recover from this.
Foreign aid is not just “handouts” to people in other countries. In addition to saving and improving the lives of people who benefit from foreign aid, it helps keep the United States safer, stronger, and more secure. Whatever comes of this pause, significant damage has been done both to the agencies affected and the people around the world the United States has turned its back on.
NIH Cleared to Resume Some Purchasing for Research
Scientists at the NIH were told this week they will be allowed to continue working with some current vendors to purchase necessary supplies for their studies after a communication pause issued last week stopped their purchasing. According to a new memo, there are still exceptions on purchasing when vendors issue public documents on behalf of the agency. According to CNN, “Researchers who have clinical trial participants staying at the NIH’s on-campus hospital, the Clinical Trial Center, said last week they weren’t able to order test tubes to draw blood as well as other key study components. One researcher who was affected said his study would run out of key supplies by this week. If that happened, the research results would be compromised, and he would have to recruit new patients, he said.”
Peter Lurie, the President and Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said of the pause “It’s difficult to tell if what’s going on is rank incompetence or a willful attempt to throw sand in the gears, but it really could be either, neither reflects well on them.”
In the days before RFK Jr.’s Senate confirmation hearing, several news articles were published discussing the nominee’s actions over the years and in the run-up to his hearing. One article from The Washington Postexplained how he skipped a required transition meeting during which intended members of Trump’s cabinet hashed out their roles in the event of different crises, including a hypothetical avian influenza outbreak in humans. Kennedy, whose role in such a scenario would be pivotal, was two miles away, trying to sway skeptical senators to support his bid to lead HHS.
Furthermore, RFK Jr., who insists he is not anti-vaccine, but demands to see the “data” or “science” showing that vaccines are safe, dismissed such information when it was presented to him by a Republican senator. The senator, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, reportedly told RFK Jr. that the science is clear that childhood vaccines are safe and not linked to autism. In response, Kennedy said he would recommend such vaccines if shown the data and that “not only will I do that but I will apologize for any statements that misled people otherwise.” When Cassidy pulled out and read aloud such information, Kennedy dismissed him.
Ahead of the hearing’s start, Caroline Kenney, cousin of RFK Jr. and former US Ambassador to Australia, issued a scathing letter urging lawmakers to vote against her cousin’s confirmation. In it, she discusses her cousin’s drug addiction, how he led family members “down the path of drug addiction,” and recent disclosures indicating how “his crusade against vaccination has benefited him in other ways.”
Her letter includes statements like “It’s no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator,” “Today, while he may encourage a younger generation to attend AA meetings, Bobby is addicted to attention and power. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children – vaccinating his own children while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs,” and, of all those in the health care system, “They deserve a stable, moral, and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency. They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy- and so do the rest of us. I urge the Senate to reject his nomination.”
Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, RFK Jr.’s niece and a physician, shared with STAT News a collection of private emails between her and her uncle. They show RFK Jr. making several false claims about COVID-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic, citing articles by vaccine skeptics, tying childhood vaccinations to autism, and raising doubts about influenza vaccines.
In one email, RFK Jr. responds to his niece, who described to him some of what she had seen working in an ICU during the pandemic, “Kerry. I don’t dismiss your experience but it differs with data we are seeing from Israel, UK and other nations with much more reliable data systems. You might want to ask your hospital to publish this data so that people can take it seriously. That problem is that CDC has been using corrupt metrics to assess who is vaccinated. CDC counts all people as ‘unvaccinated’ until two weeks after their second shot. We have seen dramatically increased cases and mortalities in the two weeks following the first shot and CDC counts these as unvaccinated.”’
Now that the hearing has started, Kennedy has not fared better. In his first day of questioning, Kennedy seemed confused about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, though he also said he would like to integrate the two programs. When pressed on this, he relented that he did not know how he would do so. He also struggled with questions on his changing stance on reproductive care access.
Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado brought up Kennedy’s assertion that “COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasian and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” Bennet also brought up his claim that that Lyme disease “is highly likely to have been a military weapon,” which he said on his podcast in January of last year. RFK Jr. responded “I probably did say that,” in reference to Lyme disease, though he claimed he had not made such statements about COVID-19. Later, he claimed he “never believed” that Lyme disease was created as a biological weapon. He also cited three books suggesting this theory, though he admitted he has not read them thoroughly.
Kennedy struggled to answer for other, even wilder claims, including that Wi-Fi and 5G cause cancer and that AIDS is a different disease in Africa than it is in the US. When questioned on these, RFK Jr. said he stands behind his claims about Wi-Fi and his description of AIDS. Kennedy was also confronted by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia about a social media post he made during his presidential campaign, in which he said “My take on 9/11: It’s hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory and what isn’t. But conspiracy theories flourish when the government routinely lies to the public. As President I won’t take sides on 9/11 or any of the other debates. But I can promise is that I will open the files and usher in a new era of transparency.”
Senator Kaine asked Kennedy, “As a general matter, do you find it hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory and what isn’t? Is that kind of a general deficit that you find in your own analytical abilities?” In response, Kennedy said that his father taught him that “people in authority lie.”
The second day was not better for Kennedy. Not only has he refused to back off on his anti-vaccine statements, but he continued to spar with Senator Cassidy, refusing to answer the senator’s question on whether or not he would “reassure mothers, unequivocally and without qualification, that the measles and hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism.”
Kennedy also struggled to answer questions from Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks, who asked RFK Jr. about his past statement that “We should not be giving black people the same vaccine schedule that’s given to whites because their immune system is better than ours.” When asked by the senator, a Black woman, what different vaccine schedule he believed she should have received, he answered, “A series of studies, I think most of them by Poland, show that to particular antigens, that Blacks have a much stronger reaction. There’s differences in reaction to different products by different races—”
He was cut off by Senator Alsobrooks, who used her remaining time to admonish Kennedy for what she calls a dangerous stance. It is unclear what studies Kennedy is referring to from Poland, though some research from the Mayo Clinic has studied differences in immune responses to vaccines by people of different races. This Mayo Clinic study has been cited by some media outlets discussing Kennedy’s statement. However, while this data did show that a non-Somali, African American cohort had higher antibody responses to rubella from the MMR vaccine in comparison to white people, it is unclear how Kennedy could draw such a conclusion from that study. As one of the authors on the study explained to NPR, suggesting this indicates Black people should have different vaccine schedules is “twisting the data far beyond what they actually demonstrate.”
Kennedy also faced questions about his past comments expressing skepticism about germ theory, comparing the CDC to “Nazi death camps,” and his refusal to answer a question from Senator Bernie Sanders about whether or not healthcare is a human right. This hearing has further demonstrated not just Kennedy’s lack of qualifications and experience, but also his apparent detachment from reality and inability to answer key questions concerning the role he seeks to take on.
CDC Ordered to Stop Working with WHO, Removes Data Sets from Website
Staff at the CDC were ordered to cease engagements with the WHO immediately on Monday, despite an expected extended withdrawal. In an email to staff, the deputy director for global health wrote, “effective immediately all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means — in person or virtual — must cease their activity and await further guidance.”
The memo continued with “Please ensure your impacted staff receive this message. CDC detailees to WHO have been instructed to pause engaging in any work on behalf of WHO as part of their respective details, and to no longer go to WHO offices until further notice.”
The WHO currently has 71 collaborating centers based in the US, including 18 at CDC alone. One federal health official who spoke to The Washington Post indicated that one of the biggest effects CDC will feel from this will be in its global immunization division. This division typically has 20-30 staff assigned to WHO regional offices in several countries.
Reports are also emerging of CDC datasets now being unavailable on the agency’s website. This includes the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which now returns a page error when accessed. STAT Newsexplains in their reporting from today that this appears to be the result of agency efforts to remove “gender ideology” from their websites ahead of a deadline today.
In anticipation of the Trump administration, many organizations have issued warnings about the possibility of datasets becoming unavailable. This includes the Arizona Public Health Association, which said in a statement just two days ago, “If your work depends on federal public health data, now is the time to act. In the two weeks since President Trump took office, multiple federal websites have already removed key reports, datasets, and surveillance tools that public health practitioners and nonprofit organizations rely on. More and more data are being deleted from servers in several agencies daily – even hourly…If you use these resources, don’t assume they’ll still be there next week or that some archive website will have captured and preserved them — download and save them now before it’s too late.”
President Trump has ended the federal security detail assigned to Anthony Fauci, the former NIAID head who advised the president during the United States’ COVID-19 pandemic response. This makes Fauci another former aid to the president who has had their federal protection ended despite ongoing threats to their lives. Others who have recently had their protection ended by this administration include Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and Mark Milley. Trump told reporters in North Carolina last week that he would not feel any responsibility if Fauci were harmed. Fauci has reportedly hired private security.
Small Farms and H5N1
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
H5N1 or “bird flu” cases are on the rise in the United States, with over 147 million birds being reported infected. Apoorva Mandavilli from the New York Times stated that the response to this outbreak echoes the mistakes of the COVID-19 pandemic, and notes that officials need to start taking the bird flu seriously. In the case of Chris, who has a small flock of chickens in Colorado, many flock owners share his concerns of the implications of their family chickens. The USDA sponsors an initiative under the name “Defend the Flock” where they recommend monitoring for signs of the disease in personal chickens, limiting visitors, locking and covering feed and water, and avoiding wild birds. Symptoms include, lack of energy, swelling of eyes, twisting of the head/neck, stumbling and diarrhea. If these symptoms are spotted, call the USDA for lab testing and remove the bird from your flock.
There have currently been 67 reported human cases and one death. Despite these cases, the CDC currently reports the public health risk as low, but states they are monitoring the outbreak.
Ebola Outbreak Reported in DRC, Case Confirmed in Uganda
The DRC has reported 12 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in Equateur province, which last suffered an Ebola outbreak in 2022. Furthermore, the WHO recently confirmed that 12 cases, eight of which were fatal, were recorded in the Boyenge health area. These deaths occurred between January 10 and 22. WHO officials said samples have been sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa.
Ugandan health officials confirmed yesterday a case of Ebola in the country’s capital city of Kampala. The patient was a nurse who sought care at multiple facilities before it was determined he had Ebola. This marks the country’s seventh Ebola outbreak. The nurse died on Wednesday at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, the facility he worked in. Nobody else in the facility has shown signs of Ebola yet, according to the Ugandan health ministry.
“How a WHO Staff Member Turned the US Withdrawal into an Act of Solidarity”
This post by Sandra Sorial, Director of Campaigns and Supporter Engagement, WHO Foundation, explains how Tania Cernuschi, a WHO employee, launched a fundraising campaign for WHO in response to the United States’ withdrawal from the organization. Sorial writes in part, “Wow. As someone whose job it is to raise funding for the World Health Organization, the announcement this week that the US would withdraw its membership and funding was a major blow. Yet, out of really difficult circumstances can come solidarity and opportunity. My personal belief has always been that in a time of crisis, we see the best in humanity and the best in us.”
“Yesterday, a WHO staff member approached me saying that she would like to start her own appeal to attract support and funding. I was excited and at the same time, cautious of such an ambitious target. Then I thought to myself, the best ideas come from the people who want to make things happen because they care. Tania Cernuschi, who has worked at WHO for ten years wants to raise US $1 billion by 1 billion people giving a dollar. Just one. More is always welcome!”
“2025 Doomsday Clock Statement”
This statement from The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists provides background and justification for moving the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds this year. It explains in part, “In 2024, humanity edged ever closer to catastrophe. Trends that have deeply concerned the Science and Security Board continued, and despite unmistakable signs of danger, national leaders and their societies have failed to do what is needed to change course. Consequently, we now move the Doomsday Clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Our fervent hope is that leaders will recognize the world’s existential predicament and take bold action to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, and the potential misuse of biological science and a variety of emerging technologies.”
“Trust, but Verify: A ‘Just Culture’ Model for for Oversight of Potentially High-Risk Life Sciences Research”
In this article in Applied Biosafety, authors from the Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center at Texas A&M University and colleagues propose a new approach to overseeing potentially high-risk pathogen research: “A ‘just culture’ balances accountability for misconduct with transparency, collaboration, and proactive engagement to address the root causes of accidents and compliance issues. Fostering a just culture in the oversight of potentially high-risk life sciences research would allow the U.S. government to improve biosafety and biosecurity while promoting beneficial research.” Drawing on examples from the aviation industry and Canadian biosafety regulations, the article goes on to argue for embedding five elements of a “just culture” approach in U.S. government policy.
“The Quest for Universal Flu Vaccines”
Ryan Duncombe and Jasmin Kaur go through the history of influenza vaccine development and its future in this Long Read piece from Asimov Press: “Modern flu vaccines have an average efficacy of just 40 percent, and they must be revamped each year. How can we make vaccines that are “universal” — both broadly-protective and highly potent?”
“Patient Zero: How One Doctor Helped Uncover the Origin of the DRC’s Mpox Outbreak”
Sarah Newey discusses how Leandre Murhula Masirika was able to track down the origin of the DRC’s mpox outbreak using a WhatsApp message sent to him by another physician. The resulting epidemiological investigation demonstrated to Murhula Masirika that something abnormal was unfolding. Newey explains, “This raised alarm bells, as it didn’t fit with descriptions of clade 1. This strain of mpox has been endemic in the DRC since it was first discovered in a child in 1970. Generally, small transmission chains were sparked after the virus jumped from animals to people, but in recent years the pathogen had exploded in the western and central provinces…Yet clade 1 hits children hardest, with lesions mostly on their feet, hands and faces. That’s not what Dr Murhula Masirika and his colleagues were seeing in Kamituga.”
“Statement in Support of The Elders’ Policy Position Paper on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response”
This statement from The RH Helen Clark and HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Co-Chairs of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response expresses support for The Elders’ new Policy Position Paper on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. They write in part, “We are proud to be members of The Elders, who collectively have tackled, analysed and fostered diplomacy to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response for more than two decades. We fully support The Elders’ call for urgent focus on the need for leadership and collaboration to stop the next pandemic threat becoming a pandemic.”
“Roots of Resilience: Building Peace in an Era of Food and Climate Shocks”
Siena Cicarelli, Luca Cinciripini, Lukas Eichelter, Philip Novakovic-Wilke, and Lena von Zabern recently published this report with CRS: “In the context of the 2025 Munich Security Conference (MSC), it is critical that leaders, understandably consumed with state-centric geopolitical disruptions, pay close attention to transnational and systemic risks—one of the most significant of which is the food-climate-conflict nexus. This backgrounder unpacks the nexus and its associated risks while presenting near-term solutions, that range from the promotion of sustainable agri-food systems to empowering climate champions in defense institutions.”
“The Continuing Tragedy of Ghouta’s Chemical Attacks”
Nicole Di Ilio discusses how the 2013 CW attacks in Ghouta still affects the survivors, writing in part “Over a decade later, the terror of that night — ambulance sirens wailing, people screaming in agony and anguish, and the sound of babies crying in the still air — is still fresh in the city’s collective memory. “I can’t forget the gasps of the people rasping with distressed breaths, the foam coming out of their mouths, the terrified look in their eyes,” Khalife told me, sitting on a pile of rubble that had once been his neighbors’ house, where one destroyed building is still sliced in half from top to bottom, its empty walls and a small visible kitchen giving the space a strange verticality. “That night, even the narrow streets were packed with bodies. It was impossible not to step over the dead.It felt like the start of the apocalypse.”’
“Syria’s Chemical Weapons After Assad: A CAS Conversation”
This article includes an interview with American University Professor of Chemistry Stefano Costanzi regarding the history of CW in Syria, and what comes now after the fall of the Assad regime.
“International AI Safety Report”
This document from the UK Government is “A report on the state of advanced AI capabilities and risks – written by 100 AI experts including representatives nominated by 33 countries and intergovernmental organisations.” It includes a section on biological and chemical attacks in its portion focused on risks from malicious use of AI.
NEW: Biopower: Securing American Leadership in Biotechnology
“Biopower—a nation’s capacity to harness emerging biotechnologies to enhance national and economic security—is a growing if underappreciated force in geopolitics. Accelerating breakthroughs in biotechnologies could unlock potentially transformative applications in defense, energy, health, and manufacturing, bestowing considerable security and economic benefits.”
“Join the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on Thursday, February 6, at 12 p.m. ET for a virtual event to highlight the stakes, challenges, and opportunities for securing U.S. biotechnology leadership as we transition to new leadership in the White House and Congress.”
“The event will feature keynote remarks from Senator Todd Young (R-IN), chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, followed by an expert panel with Doug Friedman, CEO of BioMADE, Jessica Dymond, vice president of technology at In-Q-Tel, and Vivek Chilukuri, senior fellow and director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. The conversation will be moderated by Alison Snyder, managing editor at Axios.”
NEW: Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
Schar School Open House
The Schar School of Policy and Government will be hosting an in-person Arlington Graduate Open House along with the Costello College of Business, Antonin Scalia Law School, and the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Explore the different degree programs we offer at the master’s, doctoral, and professional levels, as well as our graduate-level certificates. Representatives will be in attendance to discuss our various graduate programs and how you can further your studies while continuing to work. Gregory Koblentz, Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, will also be in attendance.
This event will take place on February 4 between 5:30 and 7 pm EST. Register here.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EST on February 13. Learn more and register 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.
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.”
This edition of the Pandora Report focuses on public and global health developments from the first week of the second Trump administration. This includes the executive order to withdraw the US from the WHO, the pause on communications from the Department of Health and Human Services, and more.
HHS Formally Debars Peter Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance
Last week, following eight months of investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) severed all funding and formally debarred EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and its former president, Dr. Peter Daszak, for a period of five years. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer said in a statement about the formal announcement that, “Justice for the American people was served today. Bad actor EcoHealth Alliance and its corrupt former President, Dr. Peter Daszak, were formally debarred by HHS for using taxpayer funds to facilitate dangerous gain-of-function research in China. Today’s decision is not only a victory for the U.S. taxpayer, but also for American national security and the safety of citizens worldwide.”
He continued, “In May 2024, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup released evidence that EcoHealth repeatedly violated the terms of its NIH grant. EcoHealth routinely ignored government oversight requests, failed to report dangerous gain-of-function experiments conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and produced a required research report two years late. HHS cited all of these discoveries as key reasons for formally debarring EcoHealth and Dr. Daszak. Given that a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research is the most likely origin of COVID-19, EcoHealth and its former President should never again receive a single cent from the U.S. taxpayer.”
RFK Jr. Petitioned FDA to Revoke COVID-19 Vaccine EUAs
The New York Timesreported last week that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to lead HHS, filed a petition with the FDA in May 2021 that demanded the agency rescind emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines and refrain from approving any such vaccines in the future. In the petition, Kennedy and Meryl Nass (a physician on the Children’s Health Defense Scientific Advisory Board, an organization founded by Kennedy), claimed, in reference to COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, that “…the current risks of serious adverse events or deaths outweigh the benefits, and because existing, approved drugs provide highly effective prophylaxis and treatment against COVID, mooting the EUAs.”
These “effective prophylaxis and treatment” drugs include ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, both of which had already been proven ineffective against COVID-19. Furthermore, at the time the petition was filed, some estimates were already showing that the rapid rollout of these vaccines had saved around 140,000 lives in the US alone. While the petition garnered little attention at the time, it is now a demonstration of the profound lack of understanding RFK Jr. has of medicine and public health. His confirmation hearing as the nominee to become the Secretary of HHS is scheduled for January 29.
Trump Issues Executive Order to Withdraw the US from the WHO
On January 20, President Trump issued an executive order stating the intention of the US to withdraw from the World Health Organization. The order explains in part, “The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.”
However, these numbers are at odds with those tallied by the WHO itself. While President Trump asserted that the US gives the WHO $500 million in contrast to $39 million from China, the US was set to contribute $706 million while China is at $184 million in the organization’s 2024-25 budget.
Furthermore, WHO funding comes from two pots. The first is based on the UN’s assessment of a country’s “capacity to pay,” which is calculated based on countries’ populations and wealth. For the US and China, these numbers are sat at $264 million and $181 million respectively. This pot makes up less than 20% of WHO’s budget. The other, much larger pot, involved voluntary contributions that come not just from member states, but from philanthropic organizations, corporations, NGOs, and even private citizens. The US is projected to contribute $442 million to this fund, while China is on track to contribute just $2.5 million. While China is not contributing as much as the US, it is meeting its assessed contributions capacity to pay as determined by the UN. (Source: NPR)
As the EO alludes to, Trump tried to withdraw the US from the WHO during his first administration, with his administration formally notifying the UN Secretary-General of this intention on July 6, 2020. The United States entered into WHO membership in 1948 following a joint resolution of Congress. This resolution was signed by President Truman, who then used this to sign the Instrument of Acceptance of the Constitution of the World Health Organization. Because of this, there are questions about the legality of this 2020 order.
Some have cited the ruling in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer as a legal precedent that would prevent Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from WHO. In this case, the US Supreme Court found that President Truman lacked statutory authority conferred by Congress (or the Constitution) in seizing control of steel production during the Korean War. Justice Hugo Black wrote in the majority opinion, “When the President takes measures incompatible with the expressed or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb…”
This has formed the basis for legal arguments against Donald Trump’s previous efforts to withdraw the US from WHO membership as withdrawing without express approval from Congress would therefore violate US law. This is in addition to requirements for the US to pay its financial obligations to the WHO for the current fiscal year.
Perhaps most importantly, US withdrawal from the WHO would harm global health as a whole and represent yet further decline of US global leadership. Severing this relationship would only be detrimental to global health, which certainly cannot be good for the United States as it will undermine the country’s capacity to respond to health emergencies. Furthermore, this move would weaken US influence and diplomacy. This would also potentially present China with a greater opportunity to take leadership and reshape global norms to suit its interests, something that President Trump should be worried about.
The World Health Organization is not perfect, and it never will be. The way to address problems in the WHO, however, is by working collaboratively with the organization itself and other Member States. This has proven effective over the last several years, during which WHO has implemented the largest set of reforms in its history. The US will lose its leverage in pushing for reform by abandoning its membership, and it will also lose its place in an organization that has helped make the world a safer, healthier place for everyone.
Trump Administration Halts Federal Health Agencies’ Communications
The Trump administration has ordered federal health agencies to pause all external communications through February 1, including health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites, and social media posts. The instructions provided to staff at HHS agencies (including the FDA, CDC, and NIH) cited a review as the reason for this pause, though it is broader in scope than expected.
As The Washington Postexplains, “The pause on communications includes scientific reports issued by the CDC, known as the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR); advisories sent out to clinicians on CDC’s health alert network about public health incidents; data updates to the CDC website; and public health data releases from the National Center for Health Statistics, which tracks myriad health trends, including drug overdose deaths.”
One anonymous official told the Post that CDC was scheduled to publish several MMWR reports this week, three of which are about H5N1 avian influenza. It remains unclear if this guidance exempts urgent communications for things like foodborne disease outbreaks, drug approvals, or new bird flu cases, though the memo explains some exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
Trump Freezes NIH Meetings, Travel, and Hiring
President Trump’s administration has also implemented far-reaching pauses at the NIH. In addition to the overarching pause on HHS communications, the administration has cancelled NIH meetings like grant review panels in addition to placing a freeze on hiring (which is in effect across the federal government) and an indefinite ban on travel. Science Insider describes the confusion and uncertainty this has caused, writing in part “…officials halted midstream a training workshop for junior scientists, called off a workshop on adolescent learning minutes before it was to begin, and canceled meetings of two advisory councils. Panels that were scheduled to review grant proposals also received eleventh-hour word that they wouldn’t be meeting.”
These pauses have reportedly left many at NIH and elsewhere with great uncertainty and unease. Many research meetings with teams of people at numerous institutions were cancelled suddenly, delaying important work. The travel pause can be especially damaging for younger scientists, including graduate students and postdocs, who need conference presentations to get feedback on their work and network in their fields. The travel pause also prevents NIH employees from traveling to other NIH locations, and has required some already traveling to return home prematurely.
Possible Executive Order Pausing Gain of Function ResearchFundingAhead
The Trump administration is reportedly drafting an executive order that would pause federal funding for gain of function research. In 2014, the NIH imposed a moratorium on federal funding for certain studies involving GoF research. This stemmed from concerns about two studies involving modified H5N1 viruses and concerns about safety issues at CDC and NIH. Furthermore, the NIH stated at the time that this moratorium would “…be effective until a robust and broad deliberative process is completed that results in the adoption of a new US Government gain-of-function research policy.” By 2017, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) had developed a framework for assessing funding decisions for research that involved enhanced potential pandemic pathogens.
Nicholas Evans, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, has a new book out that examines the controversial and poorly understood domain of “gain of function” research. Published by MIT Press, Gain of Function describes what this kind of research is, what it isn’t, and why a small number of scientific experiments continue to make headlines. The book explains what gain-of-function research means in science and in the context of government policy, traces the history of the original research that sparked the initial controversy, and describes efforts to assess the risks and benefits of this research and to regulate it. The book concludes with Evans’ assessment of the future of gain of function, including how debates about this type of research will influence politics, science and public health for years to come. Use the promo code MITPCONF for a 30% discount.
New NSABB Working Group on in silico Research and Computational Models
The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) has established a new Working Group on in silico Research and Computational Models. The working group, co chaired by Rachel Levinson of Arizona State University (and chair of the NSABB) and Sarah Carter of Science Policy Consulting LLC, is “charged with developing strategies for identifying, and options for mitigating, potential risks associated with in silico research, computational models (including biological design tools), and datasets in life sciences settings. The NSABB is to especially focus on identifying approaches that could inadvertently or deliberately result in the development of dual-use information or models directly enabling the design of a pathogen with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP) or a novel biological agent or toxin that could pose significant threat to public health, including datasets that could be used to develop such models and in silico experiments that could meet the definition of dual use research of concern (DURC) outlined in the Policy. In conducting this evaluation, the NSABB should consider how in silico research and computational models could enable the design, development, enhancement, or acquisition of transmissible biological agents with specific attributes, such as increased virulence, transmissibility, environmental survivability, immune evasion, difficulty of detection and attribution, or similar characteristics.”
“Envisioning an Independent Bioresponsibility Authority to Safeguard U.S. Leadership in the Life Sciences”
From the Scowcroft Institute: “This report by the Texas A&M Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center proposes an independent federal agency to oversee the safety and security of pathogen research conducted in the United States or funded by the U.S. government. Taking a more comprehensive and collaborative approach, the agency would pair expanded regulatory oversight with technical assistance, non-punitive incident reporting, funding for biosafety and biosecurity research, and education and training efforts. It would consolidate and streamline requirements and remain flexible as technology advances. This approach to the safe, secure, and ethical conduct of life science research merits a new term: bioresponsibility.”
“Global Risks Report 2025”
This edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report “…reveals an increasingly fractured global landscape, where escalating geopolitical, environmental, societal and technological challenges threaten stability and progress.” It includes a section on biotech and the challenges posed by the current lack of global ethical boundaries for biotech developments.
“Russia Used Chemical Weapons 434 Times in December, Ukraine’s General Staff Says”
This article from the Kyiv Independent analyzes recent reporting from the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. It explains in part, “Russia has been intensifying its use of chemical agents on the battlefield in Ukraine. A Kyiv Independent investigation from August 2024 showed that instances of gas attacks are rising, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed on Nov. 18 that a riot control agent known as CS has been used in Ukraine.”
“Fact-Checking Russia’s Claims on Chemical Weapons”
In this piece from Vox Ukraine, John V. Parachini, Khrystyna Holynska, and Kateryna Ionova breakdown Russia’s CW disinformation and attempts to abuse its leadership position within OPCW: “For years, Russia positioned itself as a staunch advocate for the nonproliferation of chemical weapons. By asserting that it had eliminated the largest stockpile of chemical weapons and actively worked to deter other countries from developing and using them, Russia claimed to have a right to a leadership position in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). When accusations arose against Russia or its allies regarding the contrary, Russia vehemently denied all such claims and accused Western nations of orchestrating disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting it.”
NEW: Advanced Data Sharing to Strengthen One Health Effectiveness: Building Trust for Effective Collaboration
From NASEM: “Applying a One Health approach requires collaboration at multiple levels to address complex challenges. Actors, such as government agencies, non-government and private entities, citizens, and the research community must have reason to believe that they will receive benefits and credit for data shared without threat of retaliation, exploitation, or misapplication. Trust enables the free flow of information and resources between stakeholders and fosters an environment where diverse groups can unite towards a common goal. Without trust, efforts to tackle these challenges become fragmented and inefficient. In this webinar, invited speakers will share how their successful One Health programs establish and maintain trust, thereby supporting innovative solutions that no single discipline could achieve alone.”
This event will take place on January 28 at 4 pm EST. Learn more and register here.
NEW: The Future of Syria’s Chemical Weapons Stockpile
From the Arms Control Association: “The CWC Coalition will host a webinar on Wednesday, January 29 on the future of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile after the fall of the Assad regime.”
“The collapse of the Assad regime and the resulting political transition in Syria leaves questions about the fate of the country’s remaining chemical weapons stockpile. Since 2022, high level disarmament discussions at the UN have repeatedly remarked on the “gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies” remaining in Syria’s declaration of its chemical stockpile, while human rights groups have pressed for justice for victims of the chemical attacks.”
“We will discuss how can the OPCW, CWC member states, and civil society can approach the transitional government as an opportunity to bring Syria into compliance with its obligations under the CWC, have accountability for perpetrators, and justice for victims.”
Gregory Koblentz, Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, will be one of the speakers. His commentary will be based on his recent article with Natasha Hall, the other speaker, in Foreign Affairs.
This webinar will take place 10-11 am EST. RSVP here.
NEW: Schar School Open House
The Schar School of Policy and Government will be hosting an in-person Arlington Graduate Open House along with the Costello College of Business, Antonin Scalia Law School, and the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Explore the different degree programs we offer at the master’s, doctoral, and professional levels, as well as our graduate-level certificates. Representatives will be in attendance to discuss our various graduate programs and how you can further your studies while continuing to work. Gregory Koblentz, Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, will also be in attendance.
This event will take place on February 4 between 5:30 and 7 pm EST. Register here.
NEW: Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EST on February 13. Learn more and register here.
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.”
“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.
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).”
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.
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.”
The Pandora Report 