Tag: H5N1

Happy Friday! This week’s Pandora Report includes updates on H5N1 following the report of another human case in the United States, the Department of Health and Huaman Services’ announcement of actions against EcoHealth Alliance leader Peter Daszak, discussion of recently-introduced agricultural bills, and more.

H5N1 Updates

United States Reports Another Human Case

Earlier this week, the United States reported a third human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) in Michigan. This is the second human case associated with the current multistate outbreak of A(H5N1) in dairy cows. According to the CDC, “As with the case in Texas, the individual is a worker on a dairy farm where H5N1 virus has been identified in cows. While a nasal swab from the person tested negative for influenza in Michigan, an eye swab from the patient was shipped to CDC and tested positive for influenza A(H5) virus, indicating an eye infection. Similar to the Texas case, the patient only reported eye symptoms. CDC has been watching influenza surveillance systems closely, particularly in affected states, and there has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including in syndromic surveillance.”

However, based on information currently available, CDC says that the risk to the general public remains low. People with exposure to potentially infected animals are urged to take recommended precautions. People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds and other animals-or to environments contaminated by them-are at a greater risk of infection. The CDC has issued interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of H5N1 cases in people as well as updated recommendations for worker protection and use of personal protective equipment.

Putting the Vacca Back in Vaccination

Earlier this month, the USDA issued a request for information to US companies about their abilities to produce H5N1 vaccines for cows. However, Science explains that market uncertainties and concerns about safety rules and export standards could be major roadblocks to developing and using such vaccines widely. The same article also explains that “The outbreak of avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds raises an obvious question: Why not adopt the strategy many countries use to protect poultry and vaccinate the cows? An H5N1 vaccine might not only protect cattle from infection and the concomitant drop in milk production, but also reduce the risk of the virus sickening farm workers. And it could limit opportunities for the virus to mutate and further adapt to mammals, which in theory could trigger a pandemic.”

Early Warnings in Texas

Multiple articles published recently have discussed the early warning signs of H5N1’s spread in Texas, including this piece from KFF Health News, which explains “In early February, dairy farmers in the Texas Panhandle began to notice sick cattle. The buzz soon reached Darren Turley, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen: “They said there is something moving from herd to herd.”’

“Nearly 60 days passed before veterinarians identified the culprit: a highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus, H5N1. Had it been detected sooner, the outbreak might have been swiftly contained. Now it has spread to at least eight other states, and it will be hard to eliminate.”

A CNN article discusses the run-up to Texas’ announcement that H5N1 was spreading amongst dairy cattle in the state for the first time. It discusses how, in early March, scientists at the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and UTHealth Houston were aware of the spread of the virus because of wastewater surveillance.

As the KFF article explains, “Why did it take so long to recognize the virus on high-tech farms in the world’s richest country? Because even though H5N1 has circulated for nearly three decades, its arrival in dairy cattle was most unexpected. “People tend to think that an outbreak starts at Monday at 9 a.m. with a sign saying, ‘Outbreak has started,’” said Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist at the World Health Organization. “It’s rarely like that.”’

Biden Administration Suspends Peter Daszak’s Funding

This week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to Peter Daszak announcing actions similar to those taken against his organization, the EcoHealth Alliance (EHA), less than a week prior. The administration has “…suspended from all federal funding programs the scientist at the heart of the lab leak theory of the origins of the coronavirus, and proposed blocking him from receiving federal funding in the future.”

The letter explains that HHS aims to hold Daszak accountable for EHA’s “failure to adequately monitor the activities of the Wuhan Institute of Virology and then subsequently failing to report on the lab’s high-risk virus studies.” It further stated, “The alleged conduct of EHA is imputed to you, because during all or part of the time relevant, you participated in, knew of, or had reason to know of EHA’s improper conduct, through your role as the President of EHA.”

Read more about this letter and the circumstances leading to it here.

National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Announces Introduction of Agriculture Bills

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced this week that its Congressional Commissioners-Senators Padilla and Young and Representatives Bice and Khanna-have introduced multiple agriculture bills that incorporate recommendations from NSCEB’s first report. NSCEB explains that “Recognizing that food security and agricultural supply chains are key elements of national security, the Commission developed its first three legislative proposals: the Agriculture and National Security Act, the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act, and the Biotechnology Oversight Coordination Act. These bills direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other agencies to consider emerging technology in multiple ways. Each bill makes structural improvements that strengthen the government’s abilities at the intersection of national security and emerging biotechnology.”

Furthermore, in addition to the bills (the Agriculture and National Security Act, Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act, and Biotechnology Oversight Coordination Act), “…the Senate package includes the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act (originally sponsored by Commissioner Senator Young and endorsed by the Commission). This would create a Synthetic Biology Center under USDA with a focus on the application of synthetic biology to food security and agriculture. Endorsing legislation is another mechanism that the NSCEB can use to promote good policy options.”

Learn more about these bills and their potential impact here.

CORRECTION: Last week in our announcement about graduating Biodefense MS students, we erroneously announced the winner of this year’s Frances Harbour Award as Olivia Parker. The winner of this year’s Frances Harbour Award is Sophia Hirshfield in recognition of her community leadership in the Biodefense Program. Congratulations to Sophia!

“Lessons Learned From the Kyrgyz Republic’s Public Health Response to COVID-19”

Biodefense MS Program alumnus Lewis Grant recently published this commentary piece in Health Security. He explains in part, “Throughout the pandemic, the Kyrgyz Republic also experienced border clashes over water resources with its neighbor, the Republic of Tajikistan. On April 28, 2021, tensions between Kyrgyz residents of Batken Province and Tajik residents of Sughd Province escalated into armed conflict, resulting in over 40,000 Kyrgyz people evacuated, 36 deaths, and 173 injuries.7 The COVID-19 pandemic was described as a major challenge to care provision in the final report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.7 The report states that social distancing was difficult for Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan workers while assisting Kyrgyz citizens affected by the violence. The report also states that infection prevention measures were difficult to promote among the emotionally distressed population.”

“New Biotech Platforms Offer Better Paths to Biosecurity”

Ryan Morhard recently published this piece with Think Global Health, writing in part, “The emergence of improved cybersecurity across information technologies can point the way how to secure another technological domain undergoing revolutionary change—biotechnology. The tools of biotechnology continue to improve rapidly, and governments, including that of the United States, are rightfully prioritizing biotechnology in their economic and security strategies. Now is a good time to consider how lessons from securing digital tech can guide efforts to safeguard the potential of the bioeconomy.”

“Safeguarding the Pandemic Agreement from Disinformation”

Alexandra Finch, Kevin A. Klock, Lawrence O. Gostin, Sam F. Halabi, and Sarah Wetter recently published this piece in Think Global Health that discusses a “sustained disinformation campaign worldwide that is “undermining the highly anticipated pandemic agreement.” They write in part of their introduction, “Complicating matters has been a sustained disinformation campaign worldwide to undermine the agreement by making and amplifying spurious assertions about what it intends to accomplish and how it will do so. Central to the disinformation campaign are erroneous claims about national sovereignty and forcible takings of pandemic countermeasures. Further, legitimate and unfounded unease concern weakened intellectual property (IP) and speech rights…Having followed the negotiations and provided technical assistance to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) leadership over the last three years, our team is here to set the record straight.”

“Loyce Pace: U.S. Priorities at the 77th World Health Assembly”

Brian Simpson interviews Loyce Pace, the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the US Department of Health and Human Services and part of the US delegation to the upcoming World Health Assembly, about the United States’ priorities at this meeting. When asked about the United States’ big priorities, Pace explained “Broadly speaking, we want to make sure that we continue to have the important conversations around global health security, and not just around response or emergency mode. Preparedness or prevention is just as important.”

“Also, we need to get back to basics when it comes to global health access overall, and explicitly equity across global health services and other issues.”

“A third priority for the U.S. is to make sure we have a sound WHO. We talked about WHO reform for a number of years—and WHO resources. The [WHO] is going to be unveiling their draft program of work, which is their strategy for the next several years. And that, notably, is going to lift up some areas that are increasingly important for global health and for global health institutions to prioritize.”

Read more here.

“Fatal Attacks on Health-Care Workers Doubled in 2023”

Allison Krugman recently authored this piece for Think Global Health discussing the findings of a new report from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition that indicates 2023 was the deadliest year for attacks against healthcare workers since the coalition began its reporting a decade ago. She explains, “SHCC documented 480 health worker killings last year, almost double the figure from 2022. The report draws on conflicts across 30 countries, the greatest number of killings taking place in Myanmar, Palestinian territories (including Gaza), Sudan, and Ukraine…Doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and pharmacists were among those targeted or caught in crossfire. In Gaza, the number of health workers killed in 2023 was the highest of any conflict documented by the SHCC since its reporting began in 2016.”

“Dstl Helps Develop National Microbial Forensics Capability”

From the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, this post discusses a recent workshop focused on the United Kingdom Microbial Forensics Consortium (UKMFC). The post explains in part, “The attendees of the workshop considered the strategic aims of the UKMFC and examined what existing computational tools and approaches could help meet this requirement. They also considered what analytical tools the UKMFC would need in the future to address new and emerging areas of concern…This is the first time bioinformaticians from government genomics laboratories have come together to consider the microbial forensics question. The connections have already led to new cross government collaborations in human, animal and plant pathogen genomics.”

“Body Lice May Be Bigger Plague Spreaders Than Previously Thought”

This Science Daily piece summarizes a recent PLOS study on body lice and Y. pestis transmission: “A new laboratory study suggests that human body lice are more efficient at transmitting Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, than previously thought, supporting the possibility that they may have contributed to past pandemics. David Bland and colleagues at the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Biology on May 21.”

“Will Destruction Of Smallpox Virus Get Postponed Again?”

Mark Kortepeter discusses the elimination of variola virus in this piece for Forbes, writing in part, “Is it finally time to eliminate the remaining stocks of variola (smallpox) virus for good? The World Health Assembly will discuss the current status on May 27. The World Health Assembly in 1996 set a date for virus destruction, but in subsequent resolutions the destruction of the virus has been postponed repeatedly to provide opportunities for research on the deadly virus to develop new countermeasures. There has been a decades-long debate on whether to eliminate the virus.”

“Meeting China’s Nuclear and WMD Buildup: Regional Threat Perceptions and Responses”

“This NBR Special Report presents case studies of how six regional countries (Australia, India, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam) view China’s development of its nuclear weapons and other WMD capabilities. The case studies are preceded by an introduction from editor Bates Gill that discusses key findings and policy implications.”

Nuclear Facilities in Times of Crisis

From the Nuclear Threat Initiative: “As increasingly frequent and intense global crises pose new threats to civilian nuclear facilities, NTI has released a new paper, Nuclear Facilities in Times of Crisis, that evaluates existing strategies for reducing risks and recommends additional steps that governments, industry, and other stakeholders can take to build resiliency.”

“The NTI Paper examines two types of crises: armed conflict and natural disasters. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is a stark example of the type of armed conflict that nuclear facilities were not designed for, but now find themselves facing. At the same time, over 90% of the world’s nuclear energy plants are in locations that face high or extremely high risks of wildfire, drought, or flooding. The risks associated with these crises are particularly important to prepare for now, as a growing number of countries embark on nuclear energy programs in an effort to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, bolster energy security, and improve grid reliability.”

“The paper’s recommendations fall into four categories:

1. Plugging gaps and planning for the future by developing an international code of conduct for dealing with armed conflict near nuclear facilities.
2. Preventing attacks on nuclear facilities by establishing and strengthening political and legal commitments for protecting facilities during armed conflict
3. Building resiliency at nuclear facilities and improving response and contingency planning
4. Containing crises that may erupt at a nuclear facility by keeping the most dangerous weapons-usable nuclear materials out of the fuel cycle”

“Burning Skin, Teary Eyes: Ukraine’s Troops Say Russia Is Using a Banned Toxic Gas”

Jane Lytvynenko recently authored this piece for the Wall Street Journal, writing in its introduction, “The Ukrainian soldiers were hunkered down last month in a front-line dugout and under siege from Russian drones dropping grenades. They were relieved at first when bomblets landed that didn’t explode. Then a strong smell of chlorine filled the air: The grenades were seeping poisonous gas.”

“The Ukrainians felt their skin sting, eyes water and lungs fill with smoke, provoking a hard cough. They rushed to wet rags with water and place them over their faces as the heavy gas filled the air around them. One of the fighters left the protection of the dugout to distract the enemy drones, allowing his compatriots to escape.”

“Oleksiy Bozhko, a volunteer medic whose team examined the men near the eastern city of Avdiivka, identified the gas as chloropicrin, a banned chemical irritant, based on the men’s symptoms and description of the smell. U.S. and Ukrainian officials, as well as medics, soldiers and international researchers say Russian use of toxic gases on the battlefield is increasing as Moscow ramps up an offensive designed to seize more of Ukraine’s territory than the roughly 20% it already occupies.”

Read more here.

“International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI”

From the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the AI Safety Institute: “The International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI interim report sets out an up-to-date, science-based understanding of the safety of advanced AI systems. The independent, international, and inclusive report is a landmark moment of international collaboration. It marks the first time the international community has come together to support efforts to build a shared scientific and evidence-based understanding of frontier AI risks.”

“The interim report restricts its focus to a summary of the evidence on general-purpose AI, which have advanced rapidly in recent years. The report synthesises the evidence base on the capabilities of, and risks from, general-purpose AI and evaluates technical methods for assessing and mitigating them.”

“The report underlines the need for continuing collaborative international efforts to research and share knowledge about these rapidly evolving technologies. The approach taken was deliberately inclusive of different views and perspectives, and areas of uncertainty, consensus or dissent are highlighted, promoting transparency.”

ICYMI-Death Dust: Why the World Should Still Worry about Radiological Weapons – A Geneva Security Debate

From the Middlebury Institute: “Should the world still worry about state-level radiological weapons—a category of nonconventional weapons often referred to as “dirty bombs” and usually associated with non-state actors? What factors account for the initial pursuit of radiological weapons in the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Iraq, and what explains their eventual abandonment? Looking forward, what are the prospects for the proliferation and use of radiological weapons and what can be done to curb their spread?”

“Two distinguished arms control experts will discuss lessons from prior radiological weapons programs and past efforts at the Conference on Disarmament to prohibit this category of nonconventional weapons. They also will examine a new US-led initiative to revive negotiations on a legally binding prohibition of radiological weapons production and use.”

“This seminar focuses on the findings of the new book “Death Dust: The Rise, Decline and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs” co-authored by William Potter, Sarah Bidgood, Samuel Meyer, and Hanna Notte (Stanford University Press, 2023).”

Watch the recording here.

ICYMI-Today’s Threats, Tomorrow’s Health: A Discussion with CDC Leaders

From CSIS: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) overseas mission is an integral part of its mandate to respond to outbreaks at their source, protect the health of all Americans, and strengthen global health security. But this global programming has long remained underpowered, under resourced, and unrecognized for the critical contributions it secures for both national security and the stability of the broader world. This oversight threatens the sustainability of these vital programs, which are essential not only globally but also for maintaining health security within the United States.”

A full recording of this event is available here.

ICYMI-Strengthening US Defense Capabilities Against Deliberate Biological Threats: What Congress Needs to Know

From Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security: The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Tom Inglesby, discussed how the US government views and prepares for deliberate biological threats. Panelists shared how each of their agencies contributes to US biodefense and how they work across government to advance this mission.”

Watch the event recording here.

NEW: Security and Emerging Technology Series: Assessing the AIxBio Policy Landscapes

From CSET: “We are pleased to invite you to the next session of our Security and Emerging Technology Seminar Series on June 6 at 12PM ET, which will feature a discussion of the policy challenges at the intersection of AI and biotechnology.”

“The Biden Administration’s Executive Order on AI included several provisions relevant to AI, biology, and the intersection of the two. For example, the EO calls for a study on the biosecurity risks presented by novel AI tools and directs the creation of a DNA synthesis screening mechanism.”

“Now that we’ve passed the 180 day milestone since the EO’s signing, where do things stand? Join us on June 6 for a discussion on what’s been accomplished, what we have learned, and what challenges remain. CSET Research Analyst Vikram Venkatram will moderate a discussion with CSET Research Fellow Dr. Steph Batalis, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Fellow Matthew E. Walsh, and Science Policy Consulting Principal Dr. Sarah Carter. Their discussion will be followed by audience Q&A.”

Learn more and register here.

NEW: Advancing Data Sharing to Strengthen One Health Effectiveness: A Webinar Series

From the National Academies: “Data sharing is critical for evidence-based decision making for health security and resilience. The One Health approach, which is founded on the interconnectedness of human, plant, animal, and environmental health, demonstrates the need for cross-disciplinary data sharing and interoperability. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host the first event in a quarterly webinar series that explores how a One Health approach can inform more robust data sharing.”

“The series will present a call to action, identify barriers and success stories, and highlight potential future actions to advance data sharing through a One Health lens. The five webinars will provide an overview of data sharing and One Health and will demonstrate how data sharing is critical for addressing climate change, building resilient data systems, and developing trust among diverse stakeholders in order to address pressing global health issues.”

This event will take place on June 11 at 12 pm ET. Learn more and RSVP here.

NEW: 2024 ChABSA Annual Scientific Symposium

The Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association (ChABSA) is hosting its 2024 Annual Scientific Symposium in-person in Rockville, MD, and virtually on June 5. This year’s keynote presentation will be delivered by Lisa Hensley, Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit USDA, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Learn more and register here.

Ready or Not 2024: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism

From TFAH: “Please join Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) for a virtual Congressional briefing and national webinar on our recent report, Ready or Not 2024: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism.”

“The report identifies gaps in national and state preparedness to protect residents’ health during emergencies and makes recommendations to strengthen the nation’s public health system and improve emergency readiness. As the nation experiences an increasing number of infectious disease outbreaks and extreme weather events, the report found that while emergency preparedness has improved in some areas, policymakers not heeding the lessons of past emergencies, funding cuts, and health misinformation are all putting decades of progress at risk.”

“A panel of subject matter experts will discuss the nation’s readiness for public health emergencies, examine the findings of the report, and discuss key recommendations for policymakers. The briefing will include time for Q&A from the audience.”

This event will take place on May 29 and 2 pm EST. Learn more and register here.

Optimizing Federal, State, and Local Response to Public Health Emergencies

From NASEM: “The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Law cordially invites you to attend a virtual workshop to examine how legal authorities affected the ability of public health agencies and federal, state, and local governments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and explore approaches to ensure a more effective response to future public health crises. The allocation of legal authority has become an issue of immediate relevance as the United States confronts an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in dairy cattle.”

“The workshop, which will highlight ideas for optimizing the response to future public health emergencies, will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 12:00 to 5:30 pm U.S. Eastern and Friday, May 31, 2024 from 12:00 to 4:30 pm U.S. Eastern. It will include the following sessions:

1) Optimizing Federal, State, and Local Public Health Preparedness  
2) The COVID-19 Pandemic: What happened? What went right? What went wrong?  
3) Public Health Emergency Authorities: What we know about them and how did we experience them before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic? 

• Case Study I: Pandemic Orders and Religious Liberty
• Case Study II: New York City Vaccine Mandates: Who Has the Authority?
• Case Study III: The Experience with Public Health Emergency Authorities Before, During, and After COVID-19
• Case Study IV: The Future of Public Health Authority at the Federal, State, and Local Level

4) Exploring Routes and Barriers to Effective Public Health Response Efforts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
5) Looking to the Future: Where do we go from here? 
6) Concluding Thoughts from Workshop Planning Committee”

Learn more and register here.

American Democracy and Health Security Initiative: Lighting a Path Amid Pandemic Polarization

“Please join the Brown University School of Public Health Pandemic Center, the COVID Collaborative, and the CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security for the launch of the American Democracy and Health Security Initiative.”

“The story of how America fared under the Covid-19 pandemic is actually two stories. While the more well-known story is one of failure, confusion, and polarization, the other story is one of American ingenuity amidst profound uncertainty. State and local leaders were at the center of this untold story—in serving their communities they innovated, bridged divides, and illuminated America’s path during the Covid-19 pandemic’s darkest days. The American Democracy and Health Security Initiative spotlights these lamplighters and harvests their hard-won lessons, to ensure the most successful strategies can be sustained or replicated in future crises.”

“On June 5, the American Democracy and Health Security Initiative will publish its findings on what actionable steps are needed to advance our health security for the future. The event will feature leaders from across the country from Governors, advisors, and health leaders to community organizations, educators, businesses, and crisis managers. We will discuss urgent opportunities to make the country more resilient against future threats to our health security and to our democracy and identify national and local innovations that must be retained and playbooks that are needed to reinvigorate leadership, bipartisanship, and equitable access in the face of the next health emergency in America.”

This event will take place on June 5 at 2 pm ET. Register here.

Addressing the Challenges Posed by Chemical and Biological Weapons: Intensive Online Introductory Course for Students of Technical Disciplines

“SIPRI and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) invite graduate and postgraduate students of the technical or natural science disciplines to apply for an intensive online introductory course on chemical and biological weapons—their proliferation, the efforts to eliminate them, the various mechanisms used to control their spread—and endeavours underway to reduce the risk of chemical or biological agents in terrorist attacks. The course will take place online, during four half-days on 28–31 May 2024, 14:00 to 18:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST).”

“The course will cover the fundamentals of chemical and biological weapons as well as of missiles and other means of delivery; the history of chemical and biological warfare; the evolution of international norms against these weapons; the threats associated with potential terrorist uses of chemical and biological material; bioweapons and other related scientific advances; the current challenges posed by chemical weapons; arms control treaties; and mechanisms to curb the spread of dangerous substances, including export controls.”

“The course will also discuss the role of the EU institutions and industry to address the challenges mentioned above. The course will be instructed by renowned experts on non-proliferation, arms control, disarmament, export controls, verification and related subjects from SIPRI, other European research centres, think tanks and international organizations.”

Learn more and apply here.

Registration for GHS 2024 Now Open

Registration is now open for the Global Health Security 2024 conference in Sydney, Australia. This iteration will take place 18-21 June, 2024. The call for abstracts is also still open. “The mission of the Global Health Security conference is to provide a forum where leaders, researchers, policy-makers, and representatives from government, international organisations, civil society, and private industry from around the world can engage with each other, review the latest research and policy innovations, and agree solutions for making the world safer and healthier. To that end, our mission is to help foster a genuinely multidisciplinary community of practice that is committed to working collaboratively to enhance global health security and eliminate disease, irrespective of its origin or source.”

SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology, and Biosecurity Conference in Africa

“Join us for the SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa, a groundbreaking event that brings together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts in the field of synthetic biology. This in-person conference will take place at the Laico Regency Hotel from Wed, Jul 17, 2024 to Friday, Jul 19, 2024.”

“Get ready to dive into the exciting world of synthetic biology and explore its potential applications in Africa. From cutting-edge research to innovative solutions, this conference offers a unique opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with like-minded individuals.”

“Discover the latest advancements, trends, and challenges in synthetic biology through engaging keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking panel discussions. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere where ideas flow freely and new connections are made.”

“Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in synthetic biology, this conference provides a platform to expand your knowledge, exchange ideas, and contribute to the growth of the field in Africa.”

“Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event that promises to shape the future of synthetic biology and biosecurity in Africa. Mark your calendars and join us at the SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa!”

Learn more and register here.

IFBA Launches “BIORISK ADVENTURE” Online Risk Assessment Game

From the International Federation of Biosafety Association: “The IFBA is pleased to announce the launch of BIORISK ADVENTURE, an online game-based learning tool, illustrating the concepts of the risk-based approach for managing biological risks as outlined in the WHO 4^th Edition Laboratory Biosafety Manual and its supporting monographs. Through real-life scenarios set in several geographical locations and incorporating the core requirements and options for heightened control measures, players use their judgment in selecting available risk mitigation measures depending on the nature of the pathogen and laboratory activities, local geographic conditions, and available resources.”

“Biological risk assessment forms the foundation of sustainable and impactful biosafety and biosecurity solutions. By playing this game, you will learn how to apply knowledge and make sound judgments in the selection of appropriate risk-control measures that are achievable using the local resources available, that are not overly restrictive, and that enable the work to proceed safely and securely.”

“Click here to create and account and start playing, earn achievement badges and see your name at the top of the leaderboard! http://ifbabioriskadventure.org/“

“On July 1^st, after the first month of play, the highest-ranking individual on the leaderboard will be awarded a voucher towards a free online IFBA professional certification exam.”

AdvancingBiosecurity Tianjin Biosecurity Roleplay Challenge

AdvancingBiosecurity now offers this roleplaying challenge which allows users to “…take on the role of different stakeholders in the biosecurity realm, that face different dilemmas in their everyday lives.” It is designed to help better understand the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists. The page also includes several brief videos explaining different facets of the guidelines. Learn more and play here.