Tag: COVID-19 vaccines

Pandora Report 9.6.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Happy September! This week’s edition of the Pandora Report discusses promising outcomes from early studies of Moderna’s mpox vaccine candidate, H5N1 in Californian dairy cows, Pathoplexus’ launch, Google DeepMind’s AlphaProteo, and more.

Biodefense Program Virtual Information Sessions

If you are interested in a career in biodefense or global health security or want to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work at the nexus of health, science, and security, find out what the MS and PhD Biodefense degrees at the Schar School of Policy and Government have to offer. The MS in Biodefense offers the option of completing the degree entirely online. The virtual information session for the MS in Biodefense will be held on September 11 at 1 PM ET. This information session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. Register here.

The PhD in Biodefense virtual open house will be held on September 18 from 5:30-7:30 PM ET. Register here.

Moderna’s Mpox Vaccine Bests Bavarian Nordic’s In Early Testing

Amid the sprint to develop new and improved mpox vaccines, Moderna, the biotech company probably best known for its SPIKEVAX COVID-19 vaccine, has found early success with its mRNA vaccine candidate targeted at mpox. The candidate-mRNA-1769-recently outperformed the dominant JYNNEOS vaccine from Bavarian Nordic, showing itself to be better at preventing severe disease and reducing viral loads in monkeys. In an article from Fierce Biotech, Jean Nachega, an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh, was quoted saying, “The mRNA-1769 vaccine appears promising. The vaccine’s ability to elicit a strong immune response, combining neutralizing and functional antibodies, suggests its potential as an effective tool against mpox.”

California Dairy Cows Test Positive for H5N1

Animals at three dairy farms in California have tested positive for bird flu, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reported late last week. This marks the 14th US state to report cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle, this time in the top milk-producing state in the country. More than 190 herds have been infected across the country since March, in addition to 13 workers from dairy and poultry farms. The jump from birds to cows and human infections are worrying because they mean the virus may have the opportunity to mutate and spread from person-to-person, though risk to the general public remains low.

Pathoplexus Promises to be Simple to Use, Transparent

A group of scientists, in response to difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in using the primary database for sharing SARS-CoV-2 sequences, has created an open-source database focused on some of the world’s deadliest viruses. A ScienceAdivser article explains further: “Called Pathoplexus, the database launched this week at first will focus on the Sudan and Zaire strains of Ebola virus, as well as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and West Nile virus. Like similar databases, it hopes to help communities derail outbreaks before they grow, and, if that fails, better respond to epidemics and pandemics. “We believe that building trust through transparency is essential for encouraging broader participation in data sharing,” says Pathoplexus co-founder Anderson Fernandes de Brito, a computational biologist at the All for Health Institute.”

“But Pathoplexus aims to stand apart in other ways—especially compared with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database, which has become a central repository of sequences for the viruses that cause COVID-19, influenza, mpox, pneumonia, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. GISAID has been harshly criticized for concealing its finances and governance, and several scientists have complained about its founder, erstwhile businessman Peter Bogner, and his representatives reprimanding them for how they use the database and even cutting off access during disputes.”

Read more here.

Google DeepMind Creates AI System That Generates Proteins That Binds to Target Molecules

Google DeepMind recently introduced AlphaProteo, the company’s “…first AI system for designing novel, high-strength binders to serve as building blocks for biological and health research.” They explain in their press release that, “Protein design is a fast-evolving technology that holds lots of potential for advancing science in everything from understanding the factors that cause disease, to accelerating diagnostic test development for virus outbreaks, supporting more sustainable manufacturing processes, and even cleaning contaminants from the environment.”

“To account for potential risks in biosecurity, building on our long-standing approach to responsibility and safety, we’re working with leading external experts to inform our phased approach to sharing this work, and feeding into community efforts to develop best practices, including the NTI’s (Nuclear Threat Initiative) new AI Bio Forum.”

“Going forward, we’ll be working with the scientific community to leverage AlphaProteo on impactful biology problems and understand its limitations. We’ve also been exploring its drug design applications at Isomorphic Labs, and are excited for what the future holds.”

“At the same time, we’re continuing to improve the success rate and affinity of AlphaProteo’s algorithms, expanding the range of design problems it can tackle, and working with researchers in machine learning, structural biology, biochemistry and other disciplines to develop a responsible and more comprehensive protein design offering for the community.”

Read the accompanying white paper, “De novo design of high-affinity protein binders with AlphaProteo,” here.

Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins Launches Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub

The Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University announced this week the launch of the Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub, “…a new online platform dedicated to helping nucleic acid synthesis providers, manufacturers, and customers adhere to a new federal Framework aimed at preventing intentional misuse of synthetic nucleic acids and supporting safe scientific research practices in the United States.”

Learn more about the hub here and new US policies on nucleic acid synthesis screening here.

Members of Congress Introduce HR 9194, Nucleic Acid Standards in Biosecurity Act

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) and Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) recently announced the introduction of HR 9194, Nucleic Acid Standards in Biosecurity Act. Caraveo’s press release on the bill explained, “Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids, such as DNA, for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Given the increases in production, there must be larger actions taken to establish and develop industry standards for best practices or standards for identifying, flagging, and screening nucleic acid sequences of concern. Given the use of nucleic acid synthesis in downstream biologic activities, such as developing diagnostic tests or engineering antibodies to treat diseases, the development of screening best practices and standards requires careful deliberation by stakeholders.”

“These best practices must minimize risks while also supporting stakeholders to use nucleic acids for research and development to drive major societal benefits as well as contributions to economic and national security. This challenge will only grow as Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems improve in their capabilities to design complex sequences consisting of natural or engineered properties that might go unnoticed by traditional detection methods.”

“The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act would authorize consortium activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the development and improvement of best practices and technical standards for biosecurity measures related to nucleic acid synthesis. Specifically, it would:

  • Mitigate potential risks without compromising biotechnology innovation and American biotechnology leadership. This bill gives industry the tools to evaluate the performance of their screening systems, which are critically important as technical capabilities in engineering biology, artificial intelligence, and other areas grow.
  • Authorize a consortium that includes representatives from industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and customers to develop consensus best practices and standards.
  • Provide technical guidance useful for practitioners by authorizing the development of voluntary, consensus-based technical standards and operational guidance useful for both industry and customers.”

“Preventing a Pandemic: Koblentz Promotes New Federal Agency at U.S. Senate Hearing”

This news post from the Schar School discusses Biodefense Graduate Program Director Gregory Koblentz’s recent testimony before the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs: “At a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the origins of COVID-19 in June, Schar School associate professor Gregory Koblentz advocated for the creation of a new federal agency to manage the oversight of biological and pandemic risks. Koblentz, director of the Schar School’s biodefense program, emphasized that instead of trying to uncover the definitive origin of COVID-19 we should instead learn lessons from that mystery.”

“Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health: A Mini-Series Exploring Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health”

This mini-series from Think Global Health includes three articles: “A New Era for Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health” by Nataliya Shok, “Russian Cooperation with Venezuela Integrates Health” by Julio S. Castro Méndez and Victoria E. Castro Trujillo, and “Russia’s Growing Footprint on the African Health Landscape” by Aloysius Ssennyonjo and Eric Ssegujja.

“Farmed Fur Animals Harbour Viruses with Zoonotic Spillover Potential”

Zhao et al. recently published this article in Nature: “Animals such as raccoon dogs, mink and muskrats are farmed for fur and are sometimes used as food or medicinal products1,2, yet they are also potential reservoirs of emerging pathogens3. Here we performed single-sample metatranscriptomic sequencing of internal tissues from 461 individual fur animals that were found dead due to disease. We characterized 125 virus species, including 36 that were novel and 39 at potentially high risk of cross-species transmission, including zoonotic spillover. Notably, we identified seven species of coronaviruses, expanding their known host range, and documented the cross-species transmission of a novel canine respiratory coronavirus to raccoon dogs and of bat HKU5-like coronaviruses to mink, present at a high abundance in lung tissues. Three subtypes of influenza A virus—H1N2, H5N6 and H6N2—were detected in the lungs of guinea pig, mink and muskrat, respectively. Multiple known zoonotic viruses, such as Japanese encephalitis virus and mammalian orthoreovirus4,5, were detected in guinea pigs. Raccoon dogs and mink carried the highest number of potentially high-risk viruses, while viruses from the Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae and Sedoreoviridae families commonly infected multiple hosts. These data also reveal potential virus transmission between farmed animals and wild animals, and from humans to farmed animals, indicating that fur farming represents an important transmission hub for viral zoonoses.”

Read a summary and discussion of the implications of this study from Jon Cohen for ScienceAdviser here.

“WHO Global Framework to Define and Guide Studies Into the Origins of Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential”

This new technical document is from the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens: “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.”

“A Biomanufacturing Plan to Confront Future Biological Threats: Expert Panel Policy Review and Near-Term Recommendations”

The Council on Strategic Risks’ Nolan Center recently released this report. Its executive summary explains in part “The rising incidence of infectious disease outbreaks, re-emerging pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance, as well as the rising risk of future pandemics, highlight the urgent need for a close examination of our medical countermeasure production and response strategy, and implementation of changes where they are most needed. Some progress was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with extensive investment and interest in the development of broad-based diagnostics and medical countermeasures that can be advanced rapidly to address current and emerging biological threats. However, in an urgent event, the ability of such new technology to bring diagnostic kits, therapeutics, vaccines, and personal protective equipment to those in need is limited by how long it takes to scale up and produce these items at the needed quantities. Being responsive and meeting threat-driven emergent government requirements necessitates a manufacturing system that is agile, adaptable, and able to rapidly produce large quantities in a distributed manner.”

“One promising way to do this is through biomanufacturing.”

“Biomanufacturing, the process of using biological compounds or biological systems to manufacture products, lends itself to all of the above requirements and provides an industrial process that can improve US preparedness.1 It has significant potential to increase the resilience of our healthcare systems and economy, spur economic growth, and minimize dependence on foreign manufacturing for pharmaceuticals.”

“Two key US government documents have begun to envision aspects of a national biomanufacturing approach: Executive Order 14081 on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy (issued in September 2022) and the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security (released in October 2022).2 However, meeting these goals and requirements will require a whole-of-government approach along with public-private partnering efforts. Existing government capabilities and knowledge need to be leveraged, the private sector needs incentives and de-risking, the workforce needs to be trained and expanded, information and forecasting from pathogen early warning systems need to be fully distributed and rapidly shared, and pandemic response exercises using biomanufacturing need to be periodically conducted.”

Read more here.

“Eight Former CDC Directors: Hollowing Out the CDC Is a Prescription for Disaster”

William Foege, William Roper, Jeffrey Koplan, Julie Gerberding, Tom Frieden, Brenda Fitzgerald, Robert Redfield, and Rochelle Walensky, all former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently authored this article for STAT News. They write in part, “As former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are deeply concerned that recent recommendations to pare back the CDC would cost lives and damage the economy…One misguided narrative is that the CDC should focus only on a “core mission” of combatting infectious diseases. In fact, the core mission of the CDC is to save lives and protect Americans from all health threats — not only infectious diseases but also cancer, environmental risks, injuries, and the conditions that are the leading causes of death among Americans.”

“Boom, Now Bust: Budget Cuts and Layoffs Take Hold in Public Health”

Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez discusses the currently-unfolding consequences of public health’s boom-and-bust funding cycle in this piece for KFF Health News: “Even as federal aid poured into state budgets in response to the covid-19 pandemic, public health leaders warned of a boom-and-bust funding cycle on the horizon as the emergency ended and federal grants sunsetted. Now, that drought has become reality and state governments are slashing budgets that feed local health departments.”

“Identifying Pathogens in the Field with F-FAST”

Parker Martin discusses the Army’s Far-Forward Advanced Sequencing Technology (F-FAST) and its ability to identify biothreats in far-forward environments: “Future battlefields require an on-the-go approach to the identification of whatever biological threat our warfighters may come across. One such approach — Far-Forward Advanced Sequencing Technology, or F-FAST – uses rapid DNA and RNA sequencing systems for biothreat identification in far-forward environments.”

“While these types of tests normally require a degree of scientific know-how, researchers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) are working to make F-FAST’s rapid testing methods quicker and simpler than ever to address all potential biothreats – including those that are emerging and genetically modified.”

Journal of Strategic Trade Control Special Issue: Training Programs to Counter Current and Emerging Biological and Chemical Proliferation Risks: Themes, Practices, and Lessons Learnt

This special issue of the Journal of Strategic Trade Control includes articles like “The Nun Who Broke America’s Nuclear Sanctum: The Use of Case Studies in CBRN Nonproliferation Training,” “Training to Embrace Uncertainties? The ‘Pathway Evolution Process’ Serious Game for Assessing Toxic Waste Program,” “Addressing the Biological Security Educational Gap,” and more.

NEW: Schar School Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House

Prospective students are invited to join the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University for our Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House! The Schar School offers flexible part-time or full-time options for graduate certificate and master’s degree programs that teach applicable, real-world skills for in-demand careers.

This virtual event is the perfect opportunity to:
•    Explore our top-ranked master’s degree and graduate certificate programs;
•    Meet the graduate admissions team and program faculty;
•    Learn about your program of interest in depth, including the curriculum, admissions requirements, and career opportunities; and
•    Ask admissions team members specific questions about the application process.

WHEN: Monday, September 30, 7-8 p.m. Eastern

Learn more and register here.

NEW: The Role of AI in Advancing Public Health

From ICF: “For health departments that a short time ago were struggling to move from faxing to online reporting, the leap into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like a bridge too far. Even those with well-resourced data systems might find it challenging to grasp AI’s impact. However, AI has the potential to revolutionize how work gets done in local, state, tribal and territorial public health departments, improving day-to-day operations and unlocking new ways to advance health outcomes.”

“In this webinar, leading public health experts explore how AI can optimize operations at local, state, and national levels—from transforming data collection, analytics, and forecasting to customizing communication messages, responding to misinformation, and targeting resources to better promote equity.”

This event will take place at 12 pm EST on September 12. Learn more and register here. 

NEW: Pandemics, Climate, Health, Conflict: Preventing Future Shocks

From the Pandemic Action Network (PAN): “How can this year’s UN Summit of the Future (Sept. 22-23) serve as a springboard for action in the year ahead?”

“Join PAN, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, and RANA for Pandemics, Climate, Conflict: Preventing Future Shocks on Sept. 24. This event will include former Heads of State and government, senior policymakers, and non-governmental leaders sharing their perspectives on the current political state of play, opportunities, and actions necessary to ensure we are prepared to respond to, and prevent, future global shocks.”

“Please register to indicate interest. Confirmation, full program, and location details to follow. In-person space is limited for this event.”

NEW: FLUency: True Expertise and Effectiveness in the Battle Against Influenza

“This Commission meeting, FLUency: True Expertise and Effectiveness in the Battle Against Influenza, will be held on Tuesday, October 8th, in Washington, DC. The focus of this meeting will be to provide the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense with a better understanding of: (1) national leadership to defend food and agriculture against influenza; (2) federal operational requirements for preparedness, coordination, and response; (3) biosurveillance, forecasting, and the need for diagnostic tests; and (4) front-line needs and partnerships in the fight against influenza.”

This event will take place in-person on October 8 from 9:20 am to 2 pm EST. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Responsible AI: Design, Development, and Use

Join the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC) for this 3-day in-person course on Responsible AI: Design, Development, and Use!  As AI becomes increasingly pervasive across various domains, it is essential that we prioritize responsible principles, policies, and practices. Learn from top AI scholars and industry experts about ethical and safe AI deployment. You’ll also gain the critical skills to navigate the complexities of AI in business, healthcare, transportation and more.
Course Dates: October 15-17, 2024
Registration Deadline: October 8, 2024

Register now: https://bit.ly/3zMvZOR

BSL4ZNet International Conference

“The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet) is an international group of federal institutions in Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States and Canada responsible for high-containment laboratories that allows countries to work together to respond to dangerous zoonotic diseases that spread between animals and people.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference is taking place in September 2024. This year’s theme is “Emerging disease meets innovative science. The working language of the BSL4ZNet is English. The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference will be presented in English only.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference includes 4 sessions:

  • Wednesday, September 4: Threats and challenges – Delving into topics such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Climate-Related Risks, and the nuanced landscape of Science Communication amidst Misinformation/Disinformation Challenges.
  • Wednesday, September 11: Innovation and emerging technologies – Innovation and Emerging Technologies: Exploring the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the realm of emerging technologies shaping our response to infectious diseases.
  • Wednesday, September 18: Biosecurity and biosafety – Addressing critical issues surrounding biosecurity and biosafety measures, crucial pillars in combating zoonotic diseases
  • Wednesday, September 25: Innovation for BSL4 activities and challenges – Featuring an enlightening panel discussion focusing on innovative approaches to address challenges inherent to BSL4 activities.”

Associate Professor (Health Security) – Practice Track Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore 

“The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, is seeking an exceptional and motivated early to mid-career academic to join our faculty as an Assistant or Associate Professor in Health Security. This position is designed for candidates with expertise in health security, biosecurity or related fields, with a strong public health background, and who are passionate about research, teaching, and contributing to global health initiatives. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing the school’s Asia Centre for Health Security in improving health security across Asia and beyond. Details on the position can be found here.”

“The Asia Centre for Health Security (Asia CHS, https://asia-chs.org/) is a new research and policy centre in Singapore focused on preventing high-consequence biological risks of any origin. Asia CHS was established at the NUS Saw See Hock School of Public Health, in collaboration with the NTU’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the Singapore National Centre for Infectious Diseases. The centre was founded with philanthropic gifts from several Asian and European donors totaling more than $7M for the Centre’s first three years of operations.”

Call for Experts – Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies

“The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies (TAG-LAB). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.”

“Well-functioning and sustainable laboratory services, systems and diagnostics, operating according to international principles of equity, quality and safety, are essential to implement the International Health Regulations (2005)1 and achieve global health security. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework, describing the critical role of the laboratory to implement Collaborative Surveillance.”

“Laboratories also provide essential data to guide clinical care and inform coordination operations, as well as public health and social measures, in a range of emergency situations including outbreaks of pandemic and epidemic prone pathogens and humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters. Considering this, a global strategy focused on laboratory services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies is needed to address all of these contexts.” 

“This strategy will connect global efforts and advance implementation of the laboratory components of the HEPR framework and World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 74.7 on strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies that called for countries to “strengthen laboratory-based detection capacities”.”

“In this context, WHO is establishing a Technical advisory group on laboratory, services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies (“TAG-LAB”). The TAG-LAB will act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.”

“The TAG-LAB is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to virus evolution. Up to 25 Members may be selected. WHO welcomes expressions of interest from experts in laboratory services, systems or diagnostics, clinical scientists, academic researchers, healthcare professionals, or others with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • Laboratory Systems
  • Laboratory Services
  • Diagnostics
  • National and International Policy, Regulation and Guidance
  • Biosafety
  • Biosecurity
  • Bioinformatics
  • Clinical Management
  • Outbreak Preparedness, Response and Resilience
  • Emergency response in humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters
  • Academic Research
  • Public Health
  • Virology, Microbiology, Mycology, and Emerging or Re-emerging diseases”

Learn more and submit and expression of interest here by September 30.

Call for Experts: Health-Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG)

“The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking two experts to serve as new members of the Health-Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.”

“The concept of Health-Security Interface (HSI) applies to those public health activities whose performance involves to some extent the security sector broadly understood (e.g. international and non-governmental organizations, civil defense, military health personnel, law enforcement and armed forces, defense-related research programmes), certain international organizations and other entities with a security relevant mandate. These activities may include protection of health from traditional and emerging infectious disease threats; deliberate events and investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological agents including non-permissive environments and conflict zones; and any health activities performed in collaboration with security actors.”

“The HSI-TAG is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the Health-Security Interface.”

“Considering the recent developments and global trends, the Secretariat realized that there was a need to strengthen the following areas of expertise/experience, hence welcomes expressions of interest from:

  • Bioterrorism experts (knowledge on pathogens of security concern, their microbiological characterization and application/modification for weaponization, diagnostics, countermeasures and containment measures),
  • Decision/policy makers with hands-on experience dealing with significant deliberate event(s) (biological/chemical) response at the local, regional, or national level.”

“For the improved geographical and gender representation of the HSI-TAG members, the WHO Secretariat encourages applications from the WHO African, Western Pacific, European, Eastern Mediterranean and Pan American Health Organization/Americas regions and female or non-male gender identities.”

Learn more about the HSI and express interest by October 7 here.

The Nonproliferation Review Special Issue on Understanding the Nexus Between AI and WMD

“The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant opportunities and challenges for WMD nonproliferation. On the one hand, AI introduces new risks in which state and non-state actors could employ these new technologies to enable weapons development and use. AI could introduce other existential risks, some of which we may not have imagined previously. However, AI also has the potential to be a powerful tool for detecting and analyzing proliferation risks, supporting arms-control verification and treaty negotiation, and gaining new insights into the decision calculus of proliferators. Even the benefits of AI come with major risks when applied to WMD nonproliferation. To harness these benefits, policy makers must also contend with a new set of risks, including cyber-vulnerabilities that are relatively new to WMD nonproliferation but inherent to AI systems that rely upon software, hardware, and penetrable networks. The breathtaking pace of progress in the development of AI demands urgent action from the WMD-nonproliferation community to get ahead of this curve. Policy makers confront a closing window to steer outcomes toward the positive and need new insights to help them navigate these challenges.”

“This special issue will examine specific risks and opportunities at the nexus of WMD and AI while highlighting some of the general implications of AI for the WMD-nonproliferation field. Authors will be expected to conduct interviews with subject-matter experts and/or engage in other original empirical research to ensure the paper makes an original contribution and provides a technical perspective to the ongoing discussion among scholars and policy makers (see journal guidelines for more information). We welcome submissions from both academic and policy angles, but we are targeting policy makers working at the nexus of AI and WMD as the primary audience for this issue.”

Learn more here.

Pandora Report 8.30.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report covers updates on mpox, COVID-19 misinformation, the US Government’s plan to re-launch its no-cost COVID-19 testing kit program, and more.

Mpox Updates

WHO Launches Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan

The WHO announced this week the launch of its global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan that is designed to stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox. According to the organization, “The plan covers the six-month period of September 2024-February 2025, envisioning a US$135 million funding need for the response by WHO, Member States, partners including Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities, and researchers, among others,” and it aims to coordinate this through global, regional, and national efforts.

Furthermore, “The plan, which builds on the temporary recommendations and standing recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General, focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures like diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimizing animal-to-human transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak prevention and control.”

The same statement also says that WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) will collaboratively spearhead the effort to respond to mpox in the WHO Africa Region with Africa CDC. It explains that “WHO AFRO and Africa CDC have agreed on a one-plan, one-budget approach as part of the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, currently under preparation.”

However, not everyone is convinced the WHO will find success in its approach. In a recent article for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists titled “A new mpox variant is taking off in Africa. The WHO plan for stopping it isn’t realistic,” Georgios Pappas writes, “In the mpox-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, local health care systems may lack in capabilities to deal with threats like mpox.  At the same time, political instability can be a barrier to improving health care facilities. Furthermore, malnutrition in the region predisposes children to unfavorable mpox outcomes. The WHO’s declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the designation the body gives to the most threatening crises, should have served as a chance to support this lacking health infrastructure. But the proposals so far to address the crisis don’t appear to be rising to the occasion.”

DRC Struggles Without Adequate Access to Vaccines, Tests, and Treatments

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the current mpox outbreak, say they are without the necessary resources to contain the outbreak and treat those who are infected. NYT‘s Stephanie Nolen explains in a recent piece that the country has limited ability to diagnose mpox cases, a particularly concerning fact as the transmission and presentation of the disease change. She also writes “There is no effective antiviral treatment for mpox in Congo. The country is also short on the medications necessary to treat people with painful mpox lesions. Its fragile public health system is struggling to provide those infected with basic care, which has been shown to improve survival rates even in the absence of antiviral drugs.”

The DRC also continues to want for mpox vaccines, despite the country requesting them two years ago and manufacturers saying they have the supplies. This is in large part because of the WHO’s regulatory process. In the years since the last worldwide mpox outbreak, the WHO has still yet to approve the vaccines nor issue an emergency use license for them. This prevents UNICEF and Gavi from helping to facilitate immunizations in developing countries as they require one of these forms of authorization.

As Nolen explains in another piece, many low- and middle-income countries depend on the WHO to make these judgments about vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, in contrast to high-income countries that rely on their own regulators. This is a problem as “…the organization is painfully risk-averse, concerned with a need to protect its trustworthiness and ill-prepared to act swiftly in emergencies,” according to Blair Hanewall, a global health consultant who “managed the W.H.O. approvals portfolio as a deputy director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a key funder, for more than a decade.”

Despite these roadblocks, the WHO announced today that mpox vaccines are set to arrive in the DRC over the next few days. 230,000 doses, which were donated by the European Commission and Bavarian Nordic, are immediately available to be dispatched.

Read More-“Mpox Vaccine Tracker: Millions Pledged, Millions Still Yet to Be Delivered,” Chloe Searchinger and Allison Krugman, Think Global Health

WHO Urges Diagnostic Test Rapid Access and Invites Manufacturers to Emergency Review

This week, the WHO also asked manufacturers of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) for mpox to submit expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL). This comes after discussions with these manufacturers about the need for IVDs, especially in low-income settings. WHO explained in its statement on the action that “With as many as 1000 suspected cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone this week, the demand for diagnostic tests is on the rise. In this heavily affected country, WHO has worked with partners to scale up diagnostic capacity to respond to the upsurge of cases. Since May 2024, six additional labs have been equipped to diagnose mpox, enabling a decentralization of testing capacity from major cities to affected provinces. Two of these labs are in South Kivu, selected to respond to the outbreak of the new viral strain, called Ib. Thanks to these efforts, testing rates have dramatically improved in the country, with four times as many samples tested in 2024 so far as compared to 2023.”

US Government to Resume Offering COVID-19 Tests Through Mail at No Cost Again

Early this week, the US government announced it will again offer COVID-19 test kits to American households at no cost. Households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests upon the program’s reopening. This announcement comes alongside urging people to seek out updated COVID-19 boosters before the fall and winter come. While many Americans do have some immunity to COVID-19 because of previous infections or immunizations, less than 25% of adults in the US got an updated COVID-19 vaccination last fall.

More Americans Believe COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 28% of respondents incorrectly believe that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for thousands of deaths. This is in contrast to 22% in June of 2021. Furthermore, the percentage of respondents who say this is false declined from 66% to 55% during the same time period. 22% believe it is safer to be infected rather than get the vaccine, in contrast to 10% in April of 2021. The belief that COVID-19 vaccines change patients’ DNA rose from 8% in April 2021 to 15% now. Finally, while about two-thirds of respondents said the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the potential risks, this number is lower than those who believe the same for mpox, RSV, and MMR vaccines.

As Axios’ Adriel Bettelheim explains, “Previous polling has shown sizable numbers of Americans who believe COVID vaccine misinformation know they’re at odds with scientists and medical experts, suggesting that educating people on the science behind vaccines won’t change many minds.”

These trends are especially concerning given the United States’ renewed struggles with COVID-19 this summer and the push to prepare the public for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory virus season.

“International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment”

From the National Academies: “The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a vital role in fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. This workforce currently depends, and for the foreseeable future will depend, on both international and domestic talent. Foreign STEM talent contributes to domestic innovation, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in science and technology and also expands perspectives and networks essential to future scientific collaborations and discoveries.”

“At the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, this report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and their corresponding scientific, economic, and national security benefits. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining international students and scholars relative to the programs and incentives other nations use to support national research capabilities, especially in national security and defense-related fields.”

Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, an associate professor with George Mason’s Biodefense Graduate Program, provided the study committee with insight into China’s Thousand Talent Program.

“We Need a Global Framework for Promoting Safe Handling of High Consequence Pathogens”

Karlsson et al. authored this opinion piece for the BMJ, writing in their introduction “The covid-19 pandemic has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding biosafety and biosecurity procedures in global pathogen research. This includes questions about any possible role of field and laboratory research into the emergence of the SARS-COV-2 virus.1 The $125m Discovery and Exploration of Emerging Pathogens-Viral Zoonoses programme, funded by the US Agency for International Development, researching new zoonotic viruses was recently cancelled partly because of these concerns.2 This has raised broader discussion about the risks and benefits of viral surveillance and research. Limiting funds for pathogen surveillance and research compromises long term preparedness for pandemics and leaves pathogen spillover threats unmonitored. Rather than restrict scientific surveillance and research, a global safety governance framework that spans the entire pathogen value chain must be urgently developed. This must cover the life cycle of pathogen research, including collection, transportation, and laboratory handling.”

“Biotechs Bolster Biosecurity to Safeguard the Future of Nucleic Acid Sequencing”

Danielle Gerhard discusses expert calls for stricter security measures regarding synthetic DNA in this piece for The Scientist: “Since then, industry consortia and government bodies have stepped up to fill this gap and provide guidance on how DNA providers can help prevent biosecurity risks through enhanced screening frameworks. However, to keep pace with the evolving landscape of rapid technology advancements and requests for guidance from industry, the government has updated its framework for providers of these services, but some experts in the field call for end-users, including institutions, to take on more responsibility when it comes to minimizing the biosecurity risks associated with these technologies.”

“Can Operation Warp Speed Serve as a Model for Accelerating Innovations Beyond COVID Vaccines?”

Arielle D’Souza, Kendall Hoyt, Christopher M. Snyder, and Alec Stapp’s work on a framework for applying mission approaches and economic principles from Operation Warp Speed to other innovations was recently made available by the National Bureau of Economic Research: “Operation Warp Speed (OWS) was a U.S. government-led program to accelerate the development, production, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The program cut the typical ten-year timeline needed to develop a new vaccine down to ten months and began vaccinating vulnerable populations within a year after launch. OWS’s success has led to calls for a similar mission model to accelerate innovations addressing other pressing social needs, including a cure for Alzheimer’s disease or atmospheric-carbon removal to combat global warming. We provide a framework to understand which innovations call for a mission approach and apply economic principles to identify key design features that contributed to the success of OWS.”

“2022-2024 NBAF Science Accomplishments Report”

The US Department of Agriculture recently released this report on scientific accomplishments at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, KS. The report covers NBAF’s mission and capabilities as well as accomplishments made by the ARS Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, ARS Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit, ARS Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit, Biologics Development Module, and APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

“Behind the Smoke: How Disinformation Surrounding Syria’s Chemical Attacks Undermines Public Health”

Salma Daoudi recently authored this article for the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy that “…explores the strategic use of disinformation to manipulate public perceptions around the Assad regime’s chemical attacks and its ramifications for the public health sector.”

“Worldwide Trends in COVID-19-Related Attacks Against Healthcare: A Review of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition Database”

Duffhues et al. recently published this article in Health Security: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence targeting healthcare reportedly increased. Attacks against healthcare can severely hamper the public health response during a pandemic. Descriptive data analysis of these attacks may be helpful to develop prevention and mitigation strategies. This study aimed to investigate trends regarding COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare from January 2020 until January 2023. COVID-19-related incidents occurring between January 2020 and January 2023 were extracted from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition database and screened for eligibility. Included incidents were linked to COVID-19 health measures or were attacks directly interfering with COVID-19 healthcare, including conflict-related attacks. Data collected per incident included temporal factors; country; setting; attack and weapon type; perpetrator; motive; number of healthcare workers (HCWs) killed, injured, or kidnapped; and health facility damage. The study identified 255 COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare, with 18 HCWs killed, 147 HCWs injured, and 86 facilities damaged. The highest attack frequency was reported during the beginning of the pandemic and predominantly concerned stigma-related attacks against healthcare. Reported incidents in 2021 included attacks targeting vaccination campaigns, as well as conflict-related attacks interfering with COVID-19 healthcare. COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare occurred in heterogeneous contexts throughout the pandemic. Due to underreporting, the data presented are a minimum estimate of the actual magnitude of violence. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of public education campaigns, improved coordination between healthcare organizations and law enforcement, and the possible need to bolster the security of medical facilities and health workers.”

Asimov Press Pandemic Prevention Mini-Issue

Asimov Press recently published a handful of essays as part of its Pandemic Prevention Mini-Issue, including “Is That DNA Dangerous?” by Tessa Alexanian and Max Langenkamp, “Day Zero Antivirals for Future Pandemics” by Brian Wang, “Measuring the Black Death” by Saloni Dattani, and “Defense-Forward Biosecurity” by Allison Berke.

“Unmasking the Threat”

Goran Georgiev recently published this blog post focused on WMD information manipulation in Bulgaria and Romania with the Center for the Study of Democracy, writing in part “The analysis underscores a stark contrast between Bulgaria and Romania in the spread and impact of misleading content about biological laboratories, reflecting broader cultural differences in how Russia is perceived publicly. Romania does not share many of the cultural pull factors or cognitive capture that make citizens in majority Slav countries vulnerable to pro-Kremlin information interference, particularly the shared linguistic, ethnic, and historical heritage. Differences in geopolitical public perceptions have been evident in numerous comparative surveys, with Romanians being over eight times less likely (at 3%) to see Russia as a strategic ally after the invasion compared to Bulgarians (at 26%) or Slovaks (25%). These differences appear to be reflected in the level of engagement with pro-Kremlin narratives related to WMD.”

“Transoceanic Pathogen Transfer in the Age of Sail and Steam”

Elizabeth N. Blackmore and James O. Lloyd-Smith authored this article in PNAS: “In the centuries following Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage to the Americas, transoceanic travel opened unprecedented pathways in global pathogen circulation. Yet no biological transfer is a single, discrete event. We use mathematical modeling to quantify historical risk of shipborne pathogen introduction, exploring the respective contributions of journey time, ship size, population susceptibility, transmission intensity, density dependence, and pathogen biology. We contextualize our results using port arrivals data from San Francisco, 1850 to 1852, and from a selection of historically significant voyages, 1492 to 1918. We offer numerical estimates of introduction risk across historically realistic ranges of journey time and ship population size, and show that both steam travel and shipping regimes that involved frequent, large-scale movement of people substantially increased risk of transoceanic pathogen circulation.”

What We’re Listening to 🎧

Technologically Speaking Podcast: Season 4, Episode 3

“The Technologically Speaking Podcast sits down with Lindsay Gabbert, a microbiologist at the S&T Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). Lindsay and her colleagues at PIADC are on the front lines keeping dangerous animal diseases at bay and away from our farms. She talks about what the greatest threats are and what S&T and PIADC are doing to thwart them. She also shares anecdotes about her time working at PIADC, one of the most interesting and unique labs in the United States, nestled on a small and historic island in the Long Island Sound.”

BSL4ZNet International Conference

“The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet) is an international group of federal institutions in Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States and Canada responsible for high-containment laboratories that allows countries to work together to respond to dangerous zoonotic diseases that spread between animals and people.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference is taking place in September 2024. This year’s theme is “Emerging disease meets innovative science. The working language of the BSL4ZNet is English. The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference will be presented in English only.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference includes 4 sessions:

  • Wednesday, September 4: Threats and challenges – Delving into topics such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Climate-Related Risks, and the nuanced landscape of Science Communication amidst Misinformation/Disinformation Challenges.
  • Wednesday, September 11: Innovation and emerging technologies – Innovation and Emerging Technologies: Exploring the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the realm of emerging technologies shaping our response to infectious diseases.
  • Wednesday, September 18: Biosecurity and biosafety – Addressing critical issues surrounding biosecurity and biosafety measures, crucial pillars in combating zoonotic diseases
  • Wednesday, September 25: Innovation for BSL4 activities and challenges – Featuring an enlightening panel discussion focusing on innovative approaches to address challenges inherent to BSL4 activities.”

Safeguarding the Food Supply: Integrating Diverse Risks, Connecting with Consumers, and Protecting Vulnerable Populations – A Workshop

From the National Academies: “On September 4-5, the Food Forum will host a workshop that explores the state of the science around hazard- and risk-based approaches to safeguarding both domestic and global food systems. Workshop presenters will examine nutrition, economic, and equity implications in food safety decision-making, and considerations and strategies for communicating hazard and risk across sectors. The workshop will also include national and international perspectives on risk assessment and tools to mitigate risk, as well as opportunities for the future of risk management and assessment, food safety, and public health.”

Learn more and register for this virtual event here.

Pandora Report 8.23.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s edition of the Pandora Report covers the FDA’s recent approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines, more mpox updates as cases continue to crop up outside of Africa, updates on Russia’s targeting of Ukrainian healthcare facilities, and more.

FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, allowing Pfizer and Moderna to begin shipping millions of doses of their updated products. Novavax expects its updated offering to become available soon. As the AP notes, the FDA’s decision came earlier this year than last year amid a summer wave of infections across much of the country.

The same piece explains, “This fall’s vaccine recipe is tailored to a newer branch of omicron descendants. The Pfizer and Moderna shots target a subtype called KP.2 that was common earlier this year. While additional offshoots, particularly KP.3.1.1, now are spreading, they’re closely enough related that the vaccines promise cross-protection. A Pfizer spokesman said the company submitted data to FDA showing its updated vaccine “generates a substantially improved response” against multiple virus subtypes compared to last fall’s vaccine.”

The FDA included in its statement on the approvals: ‘“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”’

Mpox Updates

Department of Health and Human Services Releases Statement on US Government Response to Mpox

In response to Africa CDC’s declaration of the current mpox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the WHO’s subsequent Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration, the United States has expressed support for these declarations and pledged to work closely with “African governments, Africa CDC and WHO to ensure an effective response to the current outbreak and to protect the health and lives of people of the region.”

The Department of Health and Human Services emphasized in its statement that, while clade I tends to cause a higher number of severe infections, the Department expects outcomes would be much less severe in the United States than in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The same statement also explains that “CDC has issued an updated Health Alert Network advisory urging clinicians to consider clade I mpox in people who have been in DRC or neighboring countries in the previous 21 days; clinicians are also asked to submit specimens for clade-specific testing for these patients if they have symptoms consistent with mpox. Given the geographic spread of clade I mpox, the U.S. CDC issued an updated Travel Health Notice on Aug. 7, 2024, recommending travelers to DRC and neighboring countries practice enhanced precautions.”

United States Announces Addition Support for Africa’s Mpox Response

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced this week a further $35 million in emergency health assistance in response to the current mpox outbreak in Central and East Africa. USAID said in its press release that “The additional assistance announced today will enable USAID to continue working closely with affected countries, as well as regional and global health partners, to expand support and reduce the impact of this outbreak as it continues to evolve. USAID support includes assistance with surveillance, diagnostics, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, case management, and vaccination planning and coordination.”

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Recommends Enhancing Preparedness 

In a recently prepared risk assessment, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that it is “highly likely that the EU/EEA will see more imported cases of mpox caused by the clade I virus currently circulating in Africa. However, the likelihood of sustained transmission in Europe is very low provided that imported cases are diagnosed quickly and control measures are implemented.”

Furthermore, “ECDC recommends that public health authorities in the EU/EEA maintain high levels of preparedness planning and awareness raising activities to enable rapid detection and response of any further MPXV clade I cases that may reach Europe. Ensuring effective surveillance, laboratory testing, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing capacities will be vital to detecting cases of MPXV clade I on the continent and activating any response.”

Asia on High Alert Following Case in Thailand

Countries across Asia are sounding the alarm on mpox following Thailand’s confirmation of the first case of mpox clade Ib in Asia in Bangkok this week. The patient, a 66-year-old European, landed in Bangkok on August 14 and was sent to the hospital with mpox symptoms. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control said in a statement “We have monitored 43 people who have been in close contact with the patient and so far they have shown no symptoms, but we must continue monitoring for a total of 21 days.”

In response, China, South Korea, and other countries have announced screening and testing measures for passengers arriving from certain countries. In addition to taking similar measures, Taiwan has also begun stockpiling vaccines and starting targeted immunization campaigns for those at higher risk. South Korea identified Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Kenya, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as origin points requiring extra precautions for travelers. Furthermore, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said it will be monitoring waste from aircraft toilets in addition to distributing mpox information pamphlets at airports.

New Vaccines, Tests on the Way

A growing number of countries are promising vaccine donations in response to the outbreak, explains CIDRAP’s Lisa Schnirring, though the DRC argues they are not doing enough. Agence France-Presse reported this week that French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his country will send 100,000 doses of vaccine to impacted African countries in the coming weeks. However, DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba told Politico this week “We would like the EU to pledge more.” Kamba elaborated, saying “As we don’t know yet how the disease will progress, the amount promised by the EU would not allow us to protect our entire population should the disease affect more people.”

Politico explains that “The DRC alone needs 3.5 million doses to respond to the current level of infection, Kamba said, while Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said the continent needs at least 10 million doses.”

An official from the European Commission speaking anonymously told Politico “Nobody’s holding onto stocks that Africa desperately needs” and that the donation made by the Commission was the most the organization could get its hands on. Germany is reportedly considering whether or not to donate any vaccine doses, having given its 117,000 doses of JYNNEOS to the German Army.

Schnirring also explained that Swiss manufacturer Roche “… announced that it is working with its partners to enhance mpox lab capacity worldwide. It is also providing training for labs across Africa at the Roche Scientific Campus in South Africa and at other locations. The company also confirmed that its Cobas mpox PCR test, as well as its research-only test kits, can detect the latest mpox variants.”

Further Reading

World Marks 11th Anniversary of Ghouta Sarin Gas Attack

Wednesday marked the 11th anniversary of the 2013 sarin gas attack in Ghouta, Syria, a suburb of Damascus. In a statement on the anniversary, Mina Rozei, CWC Coalition Coordinator, said “The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which was waging a nationwide counterinsurgency campaign, launched rockets carrying sarin gas warheads against targets in the towns of Zamalka, Ein Tarma, and Irbin in the Ghouta region outside of Damascus. The attack, which was launched in the middle of night when many residents were sleeping, killed an estimated 1,127 people and left almost 6,000 more with respiratory problems.”

Rozei continued, “In the days that followed, international condemnation and the possibility of a U.S. military strike against Syria’s chemical weapons facilities led to an unprecedented U.S.-Russia proposal that called on the Syrian Arab Republic to formally accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention, make a comprehensive declaration of its chemical weapons holdings, and allow for the verified removal and eventual destruction of its chemical weapons facilities and stockpile of more than 1,000 metric tonnes of chemical agent. (See the Arms Control Association’s “Timeline of Syrian Chemical Weapons Activity, 2012-2022” for more details.)”

Read more here.

European Medicines Agency Issues Updated Guidance on Treatment, Prophylaxis for Chemical and Biological Agents

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently issued two pieces of updated guidance pertaining to medicines used for treatment or prophylaxis following patient exposure to chemical or biological agents used in terrorist attacks. As highlighted by Regulatory News, the guidance focused on chemical agents “covers general information on emergency treatments such as decontaminating victims and principles of treating symptoms for the purposes of basic life support, and summary information, such as descriptions of clinical symptoms and possible treatments, and the main classes of chemical agents that might be deliberately released.”

Furthermore, “The chemical agents covered by the guidance include blister or vesicant agents, nerve agents, cyanides, lung-damaging agents and pharmaceutically based agents. The list of substances is mainly derived from a list developed by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidance supersedes a previous version issued in April 2003.”

The new guidance on biological agents was prepared in response to a request from the European Commission and “… includes a database of scientific information on pathogenic agents that might be deliberately released and information on the existence of vaccines and other medicines available to prevent or treat their effects.”

World Health Organization Records 1,940 Attacks Against Health Care in Ukraine Since February 2022

On Monday, the WHO confirmed 1,940 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel have been carried out by Russia in Ukraine since February 2022. In its statement, the WHO said “…we aim to remind the world about one of the biggest ongoing emergencies in the WHO European Region with a grim milestone – 1940 WHO-confirmed attacks on healthcare— the highest number WHO has ever recorded in any humanitarian emergency globally to date. In addition, we are noting new patterns in the progression of the attacks.”

“For over 2.5 years now, 86% of all such attacks have impacted health facilities, with a significant proportion of such attacks involving heavy weapons. Moreover, WHO-verified attacks on health facilities have intensified significantly since December 2023 – occurring on a near-daily basis.”

““In 2024, we are observing a lot of double-tap attacks,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. “Now we have more shelling of civilian infrastructure than before. We are losing colleagues – healthcare workers, nurses, doctors, paramedics. This year, many more healthcare workers have also been injured than before. According to WHO data, first responders and health transportation are three times more likely to suffer harm from attacks compared to the rest of the healthcare personnel.”’

Read more here.

“First Biolab in South America for Studying World’s Deadliest Viruses is Set to Open”

Meghie Rodrigues recently published this Nature News piece discussing Brazil’s BSL-4 lab-Orion-that is nearing completion of its construction at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials. Rodrigues also talked to Biodefense Graduate Program Director Gregory Koblentz, writing in the piece “Another challenge for Orion will be training staff members to work in a type of facility that is new for the region. The facility must also develop a regulatory framework to ensure that risky experiments have oversight from a governing panel, and must install security measures to prevent unauthorized access by people or organizations that might intentionally release pathogens, says Gregory Koblentz, a biodefence specialist at George Mason University and a co-author of the 2023 Global BioLabs report.”

“How U.S. Farms Could Start a Bird Flu Pandemic”

Apoorva Mandavilli discusses how H5N1 continues to plague the US in this piece for the New York Times, explaining in part “Without a sharp pivot in state and federal policies, the bird flu virus that has bedeviled American farms is likely to find a firm foothold among dairy cattle, scientists are warning. And that means bird flu may soon pose a permanent threat to other animals and to people. So far, this virus, H5N1, does not easily infect humans, and the risk to the public remains low. But the longer the virus circulates in cattle, the more chances it gains to acquire the mutations necessary to set off an influenza pandemic.”

“AI and Biosecurity: The Need for Governance”

Bloomfied et al. recently published this Policy Forum piece in Science: “Great benefits to humanity will likely ensue from advances in artificial intelligence (AI) models trained on or capable of meaningfully manipulating substantial quantities of biological data, from speeding up drug and vaccine design to improving crop yields (1–3). But as with any powerful new technology, such biological models will also pose considerable risks. Because of their general-purpose nature, the same biological model able to design a benign viral vector to deliver gene therapy could be used to design a more pathogenic virus capable of evading vaccine-induced immunity (4). Voluntary commitments among developers to evaluate biological models’ potential dangerous capabilities are meaningful and important but cannot stand alone. We propose that national governments, including the United States, pass legislation and set mandatory rules that will prevent advanced biological models from substantially contributing to large-scale dangers, such as the creation of novel or enhanced pathogens capable of causing major epidemics or even pandemics.”

“Preventing and Controlling Global Antimicrobial Resistance — Implementing a Whole-System Approach”

Don Goldmann, Sowmya Rajan, and Krishna Udayakumar recently published this perspective piece with The New England Journal of Medicine, explaining in part “We recently participated in a public–private collaboration (the Surveillance Partnership to Improve Data for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance [SPIDAAR], funded by Pfizer and the Wellcome Trust) aimed at assisting ministries of health (MOHs) and hospitals in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda in implementing, scaling up, and sustaining improved AMR surveillance capacity. This demonstration project evolved from focused detection of AMR in pathogens targeted by the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) program2 to include broader efforts to leverage real-time AMR data to improve patient care. SPIDAAR provided insights into the type of integrated system that would be required to address gaps between aspirational national action plans and progress on the ground. The Ugandan MOH’s surveillance-system diagram captures a vision of the high-level systems required for improvement and MOH–hospital coordination (see figure).”

“Five Ways Science is Tackling the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis”

Nature News’ Amber Dance discusses various approaches to combating antibiotic resistance and the threat this issue poses in this piece, writing in part “Hongzhe Sun, a chemical biologist at the University of Hong Kong, says that in his part of the world, “we anticipate maybe the next pandemic will be the crisis of antibiotic resistance”. Indeed, a global crisis is already happening. According to a Lancet study, about 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 could be attributed to drug-resistant infections, making them a leading cause of death1. By 2050, such infections could kill as many as ten million people every year2, according to an expert panel commissioned by the UK government in 2014.”

“Tropical Nights, Burning Eyes: Chloropicrin in Hawaii”

Markus K. Binder discusses the 2017 use of chloropicrin by a criminal gang in Hawaii and lessons learned from the incident in this piece for CBNW. Binder writes in his conclusion “…there is the effective invisibility of criminal actors to the various tools that have been developed to identify and interdict international terrorist operatives, particularly through interception of their communications. Criminal plots frequently have very short cycle times from inception to execution and are unlikely to involve foreign controllers such as those that exposed the 2017 Sydney hydrogen-sulfide plot.”

What We’re Listening to 🎧

Tech Can’t Save Us: Reshaping Biosecurity with Kevin Flyangolts, Founder & CEO of Aclid

“In this week’s episode of Tech Can’t Save Us, hosts Paul David and Maya Dharampal-Hornby are joined by Kevin Flyangolts, Founder & CEO of Aclid.”

“With biotechnology becoming increasingly digital and automated, biosecurity guidelines are constantly changing. Aclid enables end-to-end compliance for gene synthesis providers by automating biosecurity screenings, promoting education in the life science sector, and building trust between companies and customers.”

“Tune into this episode now to hear Kevin discuss how biosecurity concerns have evolved since covid-19, and explain why adaptive regulations, responsible practices, and automated screenings and verifications are the future of biosecurity.”

NEW: BSL4ZNet International Conference

“The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet) is an international group of federal institutions in Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States and Canada responsible for high-containment laboratories that allows countries to work together to respond to dangerous zoonotic diseases that spread between animals and people.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference is taking place in September 2024. This year’s theme is “Emerging disease meets innovative science. The working language of the BSL4ZNet is English. The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference will be presented in English only.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference includes 4 sessions:

  • Wednesday, September 4: Threats and challenges – Delving into topics such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Climate-Related Risks, and the nuanced landscape of Science Communication amidst Misinformation/Disinformation Challenges.
  • Wednesday, September 11: Innovation and emerging technologies –  Innovation and Emerging Technologies: Exploring the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the realm of emerging technologies shaping our response to infectious diseases.
  • Wednesday, September 18: Biosecurity and biosafety – Addressing critical issues surrounding biosecurity and biosafety measures, crucial pillars in combating zoonotic diseases
  • Wednesday, September 25: Innovation for BSL4 activities and challenges – Featuring an enlightening panel discussion focusing on innovative approaches to address challenges inherent to BSL4 activities.”

Register for free here.

Safeguarding the Food Supply: Integrating Diverse Risks, Connecting with Consumers, and Protecting Vulnerable Populations – A Workshop

From the National Academies: “On September 4-5, the Food Forum will host a workshop that explores the state of the science around hazard- and risk-based approaches to safeguarding both domestic and global food systems. Workshop presenters will examine nutrition, economic, and equity implications in food safety decision-making, and considerations and strategies for communicating hazard and risk across sectors. The workshop will also include national and international perspectives on risk assessment and tools to mitigate risk, as well as opportunities for the future of risk management and assessment, food safety, and public health.”

Learn more and register for this virtual event here.

NEW: Horizon Fellowship Applications Open

Applications are now open for the 2025 Horizon Fellowship cohort

What do you get?

  • The fellowship program will fund and facilitate placements for 1-2 years in full-time US policy roles at executive branch offices, Congressional offices, and think tanks in Washington, DC.
    • Horizon has placed fellows at the Department of Defense, White House, Department of Commerce, Senate committees, House personal offices and prominent think tanks. You can learn more about past fellows and their placements at Meet our Fellows and Fellow Accomplishments.
  • It also includes ten weeks of remote, part time policy-focused training, mentorship, and an access to an extended network of emerging tech policy professionals.

Who is it for?

  • Entry-level and mid-career roles
  • No prior policy experience is required (but is welcome)
  • Demonstrated interest in emerging technology
  • US citizens, green card holders, or students on OPT
  • Able to start a full time role in Washington DC by Aug 2025
    • Training is remote, so current undergraduate and graduate school students graduating by summer 2025 are eligible

Research shows that great candidates often disqualify themselves too quickly, especially if they are from underrepresented groups. If you are excited about the program but on the fence about whether you are eligible or qualified, we strongly encourage you to apply. The application deadline is August 30th, 2024.

NEW: International Science Reserve, Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation Launch Serious Game

“The International Science Reserve (ISR), in partnership with the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS), has launched a free, digital game to help scientists and experts worldwide explore and improve their decision-making in public health crisis contexts.”

“In the new game, launched today, players must navigate an evolving and hypothetical public health crisis, evaluating new information that is shared as the game progresses. To simulate real-world situations, players are presented with dynamic information and surveillance data about a pathogen outbreak. In a series of game rounds, they are asked to practice their decision-making skills using data to identify outbreak trends and better prepare for and reduce the public health threat.”  

“The game, the first of a series, fills a major gap in global scientific research planning on crisis preparedness and response. “Serious games” can help experts explore risk and response to situations that could arise, related to climate change adaptation and public health crises.”

“For example, despite lessons from the COVID pandemic, there is currently a slow response to the initial spread to humans of bird flu. More advance experience of scenarios like the digital pathogen game can help accustom policymakers to assessing different sources of scientific information to make decisions, while it can help scientists explore how their research could be prioritized and adapted when most needed.”

Read more here.

Call for Experts-Potential Research Priorities to Inform Readiness and Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1): A Workshop

From the National Academies: The National Academies is seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new workshop exploring research priorities to inform readiness and response to the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) outbreak in the United States. Recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, and their shared environment, the workshop will take a One Health approach to bring together federal government agencies, the academic community, and the private sector, as well as other relevant stakeholders across the health, agriculture, and food safety sectors and will focus primarily on basic science and research questions of specific concern. 

Approximately 8-10 volunteer experts are needed to build a committee for a future workshop and any publications resulting from this activity. Expertise in the following areas is desired:

  • One Health and emerging infectious diseases
  • National, state, and/or local public health and medical readiness and response
  • Epidemiology and surveillance
  • Medical countermeasures (diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics)
  • Agricultural and veterinary health and sciences
  • Food safety
  • Social sciences, risk communication, and community engagement
  • Modeling, risk assessment, and strategic foresight
  • Regulatory issues

Please submit nominations by August 30, 2024. For any additional questions regarding the forum, please view the project page or email Shalini Singaravelu at SSingaravelu@nas.edu.

Learn more and submit nominations here.