Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue features developments in vaccine safety and regulatory instability in the U.S., including continued leadership upheavals at the FDA and NIH and the potential public health consequences of weakening vaccination mandates. It also covers global health topics, from avian influenza outbreaks to emerging biosecurity and biosafety initiatives.
The Vaccine Safety Net is Fraying – and Communities Will Pay the Price
By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report
Figure 1. Preparing a vaccine dose – an essential tool in protecting communities as health agencies confront rising mis- and disinformation and shifting immunization policies. (Credit: Pexels)
Regulatory stability in the U.S. faces major shocks this week. StatNews reported that two senior FDA officials – Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg – are quietly reshaping vaccine regulation by introducing new policies. These changes include stricter approval requirements and a narrower focus on high-risk populations for COVID-19 vaccines, raising alarms about transparency, the erosion of established norms, and potential negative impacts on public health. The turbulence continues with the abrupt replacement of the director of the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Kyle Walsh, PhD, a neuroepidemiologist and close ally of Vice President JD Vance, was appointed as the new director. NIH employees noted that Walsh was not selected through the standard selection process for filling a vacant position.
At the FDA, deeper turmoil unfolded as Dr. George Tidmarsh, head of the agency’s drug center, resigned last Sunday following the launch of an HHS investigation into “serious concerns” about his personal conduct. His departure came as a drugmaker connected to Tidmarsh filed a lawsuit alleging that he made “false and defamatory statements” during his tenure at the FDA. Tidmarsh’s ousting marks the latest in a string of chaotic leadership changes at the FDA, which have been impaired for months by firings, departures, and controversial decisions on vaccines, fluoride and other issues.
Against this backdrop, experts are working to preserve public trust in vaccines amid mounting disinformation. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, and his team at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) launched the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) in April – an initiative designed to provide clear, science-based information on vaccine safety and efficacy in order to fill gaps left by weakened advisory bodies such as ACIP.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has announced plans to end nearly half a century of childhood vaccination mandates. Physicians warn that removing these requirements could trigger a resurgence of diseases like measles, hepatitis, meningitis, and pneumonia – disease historically kept at bay because mandates reliably boost vaccination rates. Yet many critics, including doctors, say they are afraid to publicly oppose the policy despite the well-documented evidence that mandates protect communities by increasing vaccine uptake – and in turn, strengthening the overall health and resilience of communities.
The consequences of retreating from immunization are already visible at the regional level. Canada officially lost its measles elimination status, meaning the entire Americas region has now lost the designation due to sustained transmission. The cause is clear: “We’re seeing transmission of the measles virus in communities, essentially, that are under-vaccinated. So measles is a very contagious virus, and when it gets into a community where there’s a low vaccine rate, then we see really quick spread of that virus,” says Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 continue to emerge across the United States as migratory birds carry the bird flu virus south for winter. In the past 30 days alone, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported bird flu cases in over 60 commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Indiana has become a hotspot, with Lagrange County recording six major detections since late October. Most recently, three commercial farms were affected, including facilities housing 8,400 ducks, 8,300 ducks, and 18,300 egg-laying chickens. Michigan and Minnesota have also experienced increases activity, with additional cases reported on both coasts in California, Oregon, and Virginia.
Compounding the crisis is a scaled-back federal response. Wendy Puryear, a virologist at Tufts University acknowledged that the U.S. is not in a great position to monitor the ongoing outbreaks as much of the infrastructure to do so has been shut down or hampered by the current administration. Collaboration between researchers and federal health agencies has diminished significantly due to restrictions on communication and staffing cuts within the government. Funding cuts have also forced many to halt H5N1 studies. Even prior to the government shutdown, which further exacerbated the situation, data from federally-run labs processing genetic sequencing data from infected animals was already notably slow. Experts warn this reduced surveillance leaves the country vulnerable, particularly as farm worker testing remains inadequate despite their high-risk exposure.
Europe is experiencing an equally severe surge, with 688 wild bird outbreaks documented this season compared to just 189 last year. Currently, 15 of 27 EU countries have recorded farm outbreaks so far this season. Germany has been hit hardest, recording 66 outbreaks between October 1 and November 5, with over 400 cases in wild birds, particularly cranes. The outbreak has prompted sweeping protective measures across the continent including confinement of poultry indoors to protect them from wild birds. Ireland implemented a nationwide housing order on November 5 after its first outbreak in three years, joining France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all of which imposed similar lockdown measures over the past month.
Special Collection: How Scandals Shape Responsible Research and Innovation
Figure 2. The Journal of Responsible Innovation has launched a series of articles focused on how scandals shape Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). Learn more here.
The Journal of Responsible Innovationis releasing a new series of articles examining how scientific scandals reshape norms, governance, and public expectations of research. Drawing on historical and contemporary cases from both the Global North and South, the collection explores the relationship between scandals and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through three interlinked perspectives: systemically (how scandals expose the gaps between legal frameworks and knowledge production), culturally (how scandals challenge perceptions of legitimacy and ethics), and epistemically (how scandals reveal hidden power structures and vested interests). Together, these pieces argue that scandals are not only moments of wrongdoing, but also opportunities for learning, reform, and strengthening RRI.
Guest Editors: Joy Y. Zhang, Kathleen Yogel, and Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley.
MIHCLE: A New Standard for High-Containment Lab Safety and Transparency
Researchers have proposed a new reporting standard called MIHCLE (Minimum Information about a High Containment Laboratory Experiment) to improve transparency and safety in work with high-risk pathogens. While it’s especially designed for BSL‑4 labs, MIHCLE could also apply to BSL‑3 research, helping standardize how experiments are documented under maximum containment conditions. This framework aims to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity by making high-risk experiments more traceable and accountable.
Biosecurity Knowledge Day 2025: Anticipating Biorisks and Building Preparedness
Figure 3. Introducing a new Dual-Use Infographic launched by the Biosecurity Office at the International Biosecurity Symposium 2025. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to the phases of dual-use risk assessment cycle.
On last Thursday, November 6, the International Biosecurity Symposium 2025brought together an inspiring community of biosafety and biosecurity professionals to discuss emerging biorisk topics in the life sciences. Highlights included Johanna Sweere’s presentation on #mirrorlife, exploring how we can anticipate and govern risks from novel biotechnologies before they emerge.
Participants also engaged with the new dual-use infographic developed by the Biosecurity Office, a practical tool for assessing and mitigating dual-use risks (see here: link). Afternoon workshops offered hands-on experiences, from tabletop exercises testing organizational preparedness, to sessions on knowledge security dilemmas led by experts from TUDelft and the National Contact Point for Knowledge Security. Attendees also explored integrating security into Safe & Sustainable-by-Design (or #SSbD) and tackled biosecurity challenges in an interactive escape room. Learn more here.
NEW: How Can the Biological Weapons Convention Address the Dual-Use Challenges of AI-Driven Biodesign Tools?
From UNIDIR: “In collaboration with the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UNIDIR is organizing a series of online technical briefs on emerging technologies and the BWC. The upcoming session will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools for molecular design and biological engineering – areas advancing at a rapid pace. It will examine their current capabilities, potential dual-use risks, evolving international policy responses, and implications for strengthening the BWC. The session will include a conversation-style expert panel, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment with the audience.”
This event will take place online on November 26, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here.
NEW: Cyberbiosecurity: Emerging Risks and Opportunities for the Biological Weapons Convention
From UNIDIR: This session is organized as part of UNIDIR’s “Science and Technology Watchtower” project, aimed at identifying science and technology (S&T) developments and analysing their risks and opportunities for disarmament and international security. It will feature a short presentation of the main findings of UNIDIR’s new paper Cyberbiosecurity: A Matter of International Peace and Security?. The session will then feature a conversation-style panel with experts to explore the implications of cyberbiosecurity for bioscience governance, verification, and national implementation of the BWC, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.”
This event will take place online on December 4, 2025. Learn more and RSVP here.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean
From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health
From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.
The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 30here.
Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit
The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.
Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31here.
64th ISODARCO Course
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue features new emerging pathogens and persistent vulnerabilities in the nation’s health system as scientists identify a new bat coronavirus in Brazil, CEPI scales up global partnerships to create the world’s largest Nipah vaccine reserve, and the U.S. biotech sector faces post-pandemic stagnation. We also cover new findings on silent avian influenza infections, and a global initiative redefining DNA screening standards for biosecurity.
Progress and Peril: New Viruses and Old Weaknesses in Global Health Preparedness
By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report
Figure 1. Bats in Latin America, such as Pteronotus parnellii, are key reservoirs for a new coronavirus, underscoring the importance of continued wildlife surveillance in pandemic prevention (Credit: Pexels)
Even as the world moves further away from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global health landscape continues to reveal both progress and peril in the fight against emerging pathogens.
This week, scientists identified a new coronavirus in wild Brazilian bats carrying a key genetic feature also found in SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19 and MERS. The virus, named BRZ batCoV, was detected in Pteronotus parnellii – a small insect-eating bat common across Latin America. Researchers collected samples from the states of Maranhão and São Paulo, and while there’s no evidence that BRZ batCoV can infect humans, its discovery underscores the importance of sustained wildlife surveillance to track and mitigate spillover risks.
At the same time, global health organizations are racing to strengthen defenses against another deadly zoonotic threat: Nipah virus. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) has partnered with the Serum Institute of India and the University of Oxford to manufacture ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccines for Phase II trials to create the world’s largest Nipah vaccine reserve – up to 100,000 investigational doses ready for emergency deployment. The collaboration aims to ensure rapid response capacity during future outbreaks, a model that could reshape how the world preemptively prepares for viral threats.
Yet while scientists work to prevent the next pandemic, the private biotech sector is grappling with waning momentum of interest. Moderna – once a pandemic-era powerhouse – has seen its market value plummet by more than 90% since 2021. Following declining COVID-19 vaccine sales and falsehoods touted by anti-vaxxers, the company faces deep layoffs and federal contract cancellations. In May, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. terminated $766 million in contracts intended for bird flu preparedness, amplifying concerns about political interference and declining investment in public health countermeasures.
Meanwhile, a new survey by Emergent BioSolutions revealed sobering perceptions among U.S. policy leaders: 65% believe a biological attack on U.S. soil is becoming more likely – and easier to execute – than a nuclear strike, while 45% say the country remains unprepared to respond. Experts like Khahlil A. Louisy highlight that the pandemic exposed major weaknesses in the nation’s health system, warning that decades of underfunding, disinformation, and gaps in local- and state-level infrastructure have left the U.S. “still unprepared for the next pandemic.” As climate change reshapes disease ecology and mis- and disinformation undermines science-based policymaking, the cracks in the U.S. biodefense system continue to widen.
Taken together, these developments highlight a troubling paradox: the world continues to make scientific strides against emerging pathogens, yet political instability, funding shortfalls, and public mistrust threaten to erode the very systems meant to protect us.
A scoping review by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers published in JAMA Network Open last week has shown that asymptomatic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus have occurred. Additionally, the research indicates person-to-person transmission may be possible in certain environments, challenging previous assumptions about the clinical presentation and transmission patterns of this pathogen.
CDC researchers identified 18 cases of asymptomatic H5N1 infection from reports published through August 25, 2025. These cases include two with both molecular and serologic confirmation and 16 with molecular confirmation alone. While asymptomatic infections represent a small fraction of the more than 1,000 human H5N1 infections reported globally since 1997, their documentation has significant implications for public health surveillance and risk assessment.
The two fully confirmed asymptomatic cases occurred in adults in Pakistan (2007) and Vietnam (2011), both identified through household contact investigations of H5N1 patients. The Pakistani case patient had no documented exposure to infected poultry and is believed to have acquired infection through human-to-human transmission from symptomatic household members. The patient in Vietnam lived in the same household as a symptomatic confirmed H5N1 patient, but both handled and slaughtered virus-infected chickens before their infections were confirmed. Neither patient reported using personal protective equipment during exposure to symptomatic, confirmed cases within their household or, in the case of the patient in Vietnam, infected poultry.
Among the 16 molecularly confirmed cases, 11 were identified through enhanced surveillance programs targeting individuals with occupational exposure to infected poultry in Bangladesh, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The remaining five cases, including the only two cases in children, were detected through household contact investigations in Vietnam and Cambodia.
In an accompanying commentary, Rick Bright, PhD, of Bright Global Health, and Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Harvard Medical School, emphasized the substantial implications of this review and highlighted critical deficiencies in current surveillance systems. Since March 2024, the ongoing H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle has affected over 800 herds across at least 16 states, with 70 confirmed human cases and one death reported as of mid-2025. The findings of this review directly challenge the notion that there has been no human-to-human transmission related to these events.
Bright and Lurie stressed the need to strengthen, not curb, H5N1 surveillance reporting, noting, “the persistence of influenza A(H5N1) in wild birds, its ongoing adaptation in mammals, and its repeated incursions into human populations make it clear that the threat does not subside when immediate headlines fade.” Surveillance systems designed primarily for symptomatic case detection are insufficient for pathogens with pandemic potential. They argued that if asymptomatic infections occur undetected, transmission chains can progress unrecognized, providing opportunities for viral adaptation before an emerging pandemic is identified.
This research underscores the need for prospective surveillance studies incorporating serial molecular and serologic testing of high-risk populations, including farm workers, veterinarians, and household contacts of confirmed cases, regardless of symptom status. Furthermore, enhanced surveillance systems using a One Health approach integrating animal, human, and environmental data are essential for early detection and containment of a potential avian influenza pandemic threat.
New Initiative: The Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC)
Figure 2. Homepage of the Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC), a new initiative to define and manage biological “sequences of concern.”
A new international partnership is advancing the frontiers of sequence-level biosecurity. The Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC), founded in 2024, brings together DNA synthesis providers, screening tool developers, policymakers, and scientific experts to establish clear, science-based standards for identifying and managing biological “sequences of concern.”
By maintaining a standardized Biosecurity Flag Rubric and a large Test Sets Collection of labeled genetic sequences, the SBRC aims to harmonize risk assessments and strengthen oversight across the biotech ecosystem. Through a community-driven consensus process, the consortium defines which genetic sequences pose clear risks, which are low-risk, and where uncertainties remain – reducing confusion and regulatory risk for responsible providers. The SBRC’s work addresses a long-standing challenge: while some sequences, such as toxin genes, clearly warrant scrutiny, many others occupy a gray area where risk assessment is subjective. The consortium’s standards and test materials help align screening practices across the bioeconomy, bridging gaps between science, policy, and industry.
From AI for SynBio: “Agentic AI and Biological Design Tools reduce the required expertise for new biotech developments enabling new benefits and novel harms. To guard against these harms, technical and policy solutions leveraging these AI and biotech advances should be deployed proactively to help red-team and safeguard against misuse in an exponentially changing landscape. This workshop series will shape the safeguards necessary to prevent harm and empower the community with technical and policy resources for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks participation from academia, non-profits, industry, and government.”
This event will take place on November 13. Register here.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
NEW: Global South Fellowship Programme: Biosecurity
From CEPI: The Global South Fellowship Programme (GSFP) at CEPI, in its second round, is offering a fifth fellowship to actively participate in Global Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR) forums while locally/nationally/regionally championing the vision for the development of vaccines in 100 days and preparation for a world free from pandemics.
The fellowship duration will be up to maximum 1 year (fixed term) and will commence most likely in January 2026. Throughout this duration, the selected fellow will remain in their country of residence/employment. The Fellow shall conduct all of their work for CEPI remotely from their normal working location. The fellow will be subject to a successful contractual agreement between CEPI and their current employer (the Host Institution), and the Host Institution agreeing to second the Fellow to CEPI for the period of the Fellowship. Please refer to the following sections on more detailed information on scope and ways of working. The fellowship is a full-time position. However, if a full-time commitment is not possible for you, please flag this in your application and we would be happy to discuss.” Learn more and submit your application by November 16 here.
NEW: Call for Presenters: International Bio Recovery Summit
The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) has opened its Call for Presenters for the 2026 International Bio Recovery Summit, taking place March 16-18 in Aberdeen, Maryland. As the industry’s leading event, the summit brings together bio-recovery professionals to address emerging challenges, regulatory updates, new technologies, and evolving safety standards in the field. ABRA invites experts to submit proposals aligned with conference objectives – including discussions on industry guidelines, insurance claims, hazardous substances, and business practices.
Learn more and submit your presentation by December 31here.
The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean
From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health
From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.
The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 30here.
64th ISODARCO Course
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! Happy Halloween! 🎃 This issue uncovers the real horrors haunting U.S. public health: anti-science bills eroding trust and slashed PhD admissions threatening the next generation of scientists; explores rising biosecurity and chemical threats, from U.S. biotech gaps to Kazakhstan’s global oversight initiatives; and tracks Europe’s early bird flu wave, BWC verification innovations, and must-read pandemic preparedness insights. We also spotlight upcoming events, fellowships, and calls for papers shaping the future of global health security.
🎃The Scariest Story This Halloween: How American Public Health is Falling Apart 😱
By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor of the Pandora Report
This Halloween, the real horrors haunting the U.S. research and public health ecosystem aren’t ghouls or ghosts – they’re policy decisions and administrative chaos. From statehouses pushing anti-science laws to universities slashing PhD admissions amid federal funding cuts, America’s public health system faces a frightening test of endurance.
An AP investigation revealed that more than 420 anti-science bills have been introduced across many U.S. statehouses this year – targeting long-standing protections like vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride. Many of these efforts have been coordinated by allies of the HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump administration officials, aiming to reshape laws and minds nationwide.
Experts warn that the very programs under attack have saved millions of lives: vaccination programs have prevented an estimated 154 million deaths since 1974, while fluoridation and pasteurization have dramatically reduced cavities and foodborne illness. Yet, in a political climate increasingly hostile to science, facts are losing their footing against the rapid onslaught of misinformation, disinformation and populist rhetoric.
The damage is showing. According to new poll from Axios/Ipsos, public trust in federal health agencies is plummeting. Confidence in the CDC has fallen to 54%, down from 66% in December 2024, while trust in the FDA dropped to 52% from 60%. Support for childhood vaccinations has also slipped, with just 74% of Americans now agreeing that parents should follow the CDC’s recommended schedules – down from 81% in March 2025.
Figure 1. If you think this is scary, imagine a zombie apocalypse. Back in 2011, the CDC published a graphic novel called Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic to teach Americans about outbreak preparedness. In the story, CDC experts rapidly detect a pathogen that turns people into zombie, coordinate emergency operations, sequence the virus in labs, and roll out mass vaccination campaigns.
These numbers mirror the rough year the CDC has had under the Trump-Kennedy administration. Following months of upheaval, the agency has lost roughly a third of its workforce through firings, resignations, or administrative leave. Many of those caught in the purge led chronic disease programs, measured health and nutrition across the U.S., or provided mental health support for employees after the August shooting at CDC headquarters. Additionally, the fates of more than 600 workers continues to hang in the balance now that a federal judge has temporarily blocked their terminations.
The administration tied the firings to the shutdown, while other officials had offered a piteous “system glitch” as the cause for the termination notices that were sent and later rescinded, but few buy that explanation. “It seemed like intentional chaos for the sake of chaos so that nobody knew what was going on,” said one CDC employee, speaking anonymously out of fear of retribution.
Some observers believe the administration’s moves are retaliatory. “What they want to do is humiliate the CDC in the same way that they felt humiliated by it during COVID,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, who resigned in February as the CDC’s principal deputy director. The fallout has already frozen key operations: the agency’s ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) has indefinitely postponed its October meeting, potentially leaving the U.S. without a mechanism to update routine vaccination recommendations for 2026 and jeopardizing the pipeline for new vaccines.
The crisis extends beyond federal agencies. As Nature reports, universities nationwide are slashing PhD admissions by up to 75%, with some halting recruitment entirely. The cuts follow sweeping freezes on federal science funding, and now the administration is asking all US universities to support its priorities, really, ideological directives, including a ban on diversity programs, in exchange for better access to future federal research grants.
Experts warn this coercive use of funding power could result in a “lost generation” of scientists. Graduate students perform much of the hands-on research that drives biomedical and biodefense innovation – and without them, labs go quiet. “If this persists for a number of years,” economist Donna Ginther told Nature, “The scientific workforce will shrink,” and with it, America’s capacity for discovery.
🧪Biosecurity Nightmares: Biotech, Dual-Use Risks, and Chemical Threats 👻
Preparing for a Biotech-Powered Future in the U.S.
As biotechnology advances at an unprecedented rate, so do the risks – and the stakes – for national security. The U.S. is moving to ensure its defense and security apparatus can keep pace, especially as China makes significant gains in both civilian and military biotechnology applications. House lawmakers recently passed an amendment to the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish training programs for Pentagon personnel on biotechnology and its convergence with emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. Led by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and informed by findings from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), the initiative aims to equip U.S. defense personnel to understand, evaluate, and respond to developments in biotech across research, risk assessment, testing and evaluation, and operational deployment.
The private sector is also stepping up in the bio-domain. Valthos Inc., a New York-based biodefense startup company received $30 million in funding to develop AI-driven software to detect emerging bioweapon threats and refine medical countermeasure designs. The company’s work comes at a critical time: U.S. biotechnology funding has dropped to its lowest levels in more than a decade, even as AI advancements increase both the potential and the risks of biotech misuse. Companies like Valthos are now on the frontline of preventing biotech innovations from being weaponized.
Global Moves Toward Biosecurity Oversight in Kazakhstan
Internationally, Kazakhstan continues to push the frontiers of global biosecurity. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advanced the establishment an International Agency for Biosafety (IABS) to strengthen oversight under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Five years later, Kazakhstan held a seminar in Almaty to mark the BTWC’s 50th anniversary and explore ways to reinforce the treaty. Developed in consultation with states and experts, the draft final report outlines mechanisms for international cooperation, review of scientific and technological developments, while considering the creation of a working group to address verification and compliance. This initiative also navigates potential overlaps with existing organizations such as WHO, WOAH, and FAO. Looking forward, Kazakhstan may transform IABS into a “testbed” for technical studies, enabling scientists and civil society to develop models that inform Geneva negotiations while remaining flexible in the face of emerging biological threats.
Chemical Weapons Remain a Global Threat
The shadow of chemical weapons continues to loom over global security. France has issued a new arrest warrant for ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad over deadly chemical attacks in Adra, Douma, and Eastern Ghouta in August 2013, which reportedly killed or injured nearly 1,500 people. This marks France’s third arrest warrant for Assad, who is now living in Russia following his ousting in December 2024. Charges include complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes, and a separate warrant issued for Talal Makhlouf, a former Syrian Republican Guard commander.
African Civil Society Acts Against Chemical Weapons
Meanwhile, African civil society is taking historic steps to address chemical weapons concerns closer to home. At the 85th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, the NGO Forum passed a resolution addressing chemical weapons use in Sudan’s Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Sennar, and Darfur states. The measure calls on Sudan to fully cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, allowing independent investigations into the reported attacks. While Sudan, a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), has previously denied using such weapons, the Forum found the government’s assurances insufficient, citing inadequate transparency and enforcement measures. Adoption of the resolution represents a milestone for African human rights advocacy in holding Sudan accountable and could influence both regional and international mechanisms for monitoring chemical weapons use.
A concerning wave of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza is sweeping across Europe, prompting urgent biosecurity measures and large-scale culling operations as authorities work to prevent viral spread. Bird flu has already triggered 56 outbreaks across ten European countries and Britain since August, marking the earliest widespread seasonal occurrence in at least a decade, although the total number of outbreaks still remains lower than in 2022 when the bird flu crisis hit its peak.
Poland, the EU’s top poultry producer, along with Spain and Germany have been hit especially hard. German authorities recently announced the country has culled more than 400,000 poultry with detections across 30 farms housing chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Experts noted the current outbreak resembles Germany’s devastating 2021 bird flu wave, which forced the country to cull over 2 million birds.
In response to the mounting crisis, preventive action is being implemented across the EU and the United Kingdom. Great Britain and Northern Ireland are implementing an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone on November 1st, requiring all flock owners to follow strict biosecurity protocols. While birds can still go outdoors, keepers must ensure wild birds cannot access their food or water, and mandatory cleaning and disinfection rules must be followed.
As migration season continues, veterinary and human health authorities across Europe remain on high alert, recognizing that vigilance and biosecurity compliance are critical to preventing further escalation of this agricultural and public health challenge.
Meanwhile, the United States faces readiness challenges as migratory birds continue to drive up avian flu cases across the country, with infections detected in 62 commercial and backyard flocks across 17 states in the last month, affecting nearly 6.6 million birds. Public health officials warn that federal response has been hampered by staff cuts at both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the government shutdown, which has suspended critical activities like weekly calls among animal health laboratories. The shutdown is also preventing USDA participation in a key meeting of top animal health experts next week. Concerns have been intensifying in public health circles since the administration gutted the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness this summer and pulled funding for an mRNA vaccine for bird flu in humans. Despite a $1 billion comprehensive strategy to fight bird flu announced by the administration in February, which focused primarily on biosecurity audits and financial relief for impacted farmers, experts warn that shrinking resources and information blackouts are making it increasingly difficult to make evidence-based decisions about how to respond to this pandemic-potential threat.
GMU Biodefense Alumni Tackles BWC Verification with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Dr. Yong-Bee Lim, a GMU PhD Biodefense alumni and Associate Director, Global Risk at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), recently co-authored a paper exploring how open-source intelligence (OSINT) could bolster verification of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
OSINT, a type of intelligence-gathering discipline, involves information collection, analysis, and methods application, offers a “layered” approach to help fact-check, investigate suspicious activities, and examine areas of concern or interest. While the BWC established critical norms against the development of biological weapons, it continues to face deep challenges – especially in verification, interstate friction and distrust, and issues with intentional treaty violation. The authors argue that OSINT, which has already proven effective in tracking other weapons of mass destruction, could now help strengthen the BWC’s architecture and support international norms as biological data continues to proliferate.
Learn more about Dr. Yong-Bee Lim and his work: FAS bio page
Book Review – The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics
By: Shreya Rajkumar, MS Biodefense student at GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government
“The Big One” is the stuff of nightmares, a pandemic more deadly, transmissible, and long-lasting than COVID-19, and precisely what Michael Osterholm and Mark Olshaker address in their aptly named book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics. This book is not the first to dissect US preparedness for a pandemic or offer suggestions for improvements, nor it is the first to warn the public about the ramifications of a devastating “Disease X.” However, The Big One brings a much-needed dose of humility and reality that cuts through the noise surrounding current discussions about pandemics and public health.
Combining Osterholm’s decades of public health experience with Olshaker’s storytelling and analytic writing, The Big One is a comprehensive review of US pandemic preparedness and response. The authors succeed in making the book accessible to those without a background in public health and infectious disease yet still relevant to practitioners in those fields. Whether discussing basic science, disease transmission, public health mandates, vaccines, risk communication, biosurveillance, or politics, Osterholm’s strong voice carefully explains public health concepts, addresses the failures of the past, and recommends improvements for the future.
There are many public health actions that Osterholm criticizes in The Big One, of which the most consequential may be the public health establishment’s reluctance to admit its mistakes. As the former state epidemiologist for the Minnesota Department of Health and consultant to a variety of national and international public health agencies, Osterholm is a prominent member of this establishment and concedes several instances where he was wrong and had to re-evaluate his arguments. By doing this, he reaffirms his dedication to the scientific method, accepting new data, and speaking uncomfortable truths. Osterholm holds prominent public health organizations accountable for their reluctance to do the same during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples include when public health officials continued supporting contact tracing even when it was shown that asymptomatic transmission severely complicated those efforts, and when public health organizations persisted in stating that the virus was spread through droplets despite scientific evidence demonstrating aerosol-based transmission.
At the same time, The Big One pushes back against anti-science rhetoric and encourages increased funding for innovative public health programs. Vaccines and respirators are two such areas the book argues in favor of. Specifically, the authors call for a funding schedule like that of the Department of Defense, where technologies receive investments prior to the point of need, and new products are continuously funded and developed. After all, “The Big One” will be poised to take millions of lives, so these costs will be worth it.
One of the clever ways The Big One cuts through the noise of debates on pandemic preparedness and response is the use of fiction. Framed as a tabletop simulation, each chapter of The Big One feeds into an overarching plot where the world responds to a novel coronavirus outbreak. Fiction has an ability to grab the attention of the public that is hard to match. Consider Richard Preston’s The Cobra Event, which captivated then-President Bill Clinton and resulted in his administration’s efforts to counter bioterrorism. The scenarios presented in The Big One could have a similar effect as Osterholm and Olshaker expertly illustrate concepts that the chapters dive into, making it easier for the reader to imagine the public health factors that the authors analyze.
In the more technical parts of the chapters, a combination of humility and reality form the basis for Osterholm’s recommendations. As early as the prologue, the authors state, “Indeed, it [humility] is an acknowledgement of reality.” This “acknowledgement” and its role as the foundation for future improvements is something that other public health experts echo in their work. Former CDC director Tom Friedman’s newest book, Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives-Including Your Own, impresses upon the reader the formula: “See, Believe, Create.” According to Frieden, managing public health crises begins with identifying an issue and believing it exists and can be fixed, before taking action to create solutions. Some of the issues Osterholm addresses and proposes solutions for include misinformation (which could be combatted by an independent third-party validation bureau) and lengthy school closures (which could be shortened and enacted only during periods of high disease transmission, inspired by the logic behind declaring “snow days”).
I must admit to some shortfalls in The Big One. The early chapters first touch upon basic science, disease transmission, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and vaccines before pivoting to address communication, disease reporting, and politics. This sequence implies the order of priorities in responding to a pandemic, and we see this play out in the book’s tabletop simulation, to the detriment of the fictional government. Because they neglect to combat misinformation in favor of focusing on vaccine development, the administration struggles to play catch-up in the wake of rampant disinformation in the media. I would have preferred to see communication, surveillance, and politics be addressed concurrently to the progression from pathogen identification to vaccine development to show an increased importance on those concepts. For a book that communicates so well, it is ironic that it waits until its second half to properly address the topic of communication.
Another criticism regards the fictional president’s actions and their consequences. In the scenario, the president listens to scientists and employs honest, empathetic communication in the style of World War II-era leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. However, in the epilogue section, it is revealed that the president’s efforts could not save their re-election campaign. It would be hypocritical for a book rooted in humility and accepting reality to present a scenario where perfect decisions result in perfect endings. However, in a world where political leaders have a vested interest in being re-elected, one must wonder how helpful this example is in convincing officials to champion science and adopt empathetic honest communication. Perhaps this dose of reality is too strong.
Despite these flaws, The Big One remains a refreshing read. In the context of biodefense and health security, the succinct nature of the book allows the authors to address an exhaustive list of factors in pandemic preparedness and response, and to propose many tailored future steps. Any of these ideas, such as the improper use of mathematical modeling, could be an interesting topic of study on their own. The willingness to hold public health agencies accountable and the discussion around politics in public health are also valuable aspects of the book.
When “The Big One” inevitably hits, we will either find ourselves in the role of the fictional officials who lament the lack of proactive pandemic preparedness programs, or we will be in a situation where we have built upon the lessons from COVID to enact a more effective response. As Osterholm and Olshaker state at the end of The Big One, “we have seen what’s coming. The choice of how we prepare for and face it is up to us.” Indeed, this is one last humble act of the book, for we have not only “seen what’s coming” in this book, but also “how to prepare for and face it.” The only question left is whether we will act on what we have learned.
NEW: Bridging Perspectives in COVID’s Wake: Science Policy, and Public Trust in Crisis Response
From AEI: “As we move beyond the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to thoughtfully examine the health outcomes and policy decisions that shaped our collective response to the crisis. Structured around Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee’s In COVID’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us, this flagship event will feature a fireside chat with the authors and panel discussions examining how scientific evidence, policy implementation, and public communication intersected during the pandemic. These conversations aim to build mutual understanding among leading public health, science, and policy experts and identify lessons that can strengthen our response to future challenges.
This event is part of a broader collaboration between Johns Hopkins University faculty and American Enterprise Institute scholars.”
This event will be from 2:00 – 5:45 PM ET in Baltimore, MD on Thursday, November 6. Register here.
DC Biosecurity Happy Hour at Blackfinn DC!
This will be an informal event for biosecurity enthusiasts and professionals in DC to get to know each other outside of email and Zoom calls and talk about new ideas in this space.
The next event will be from 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 3. Register here.
Nexus Series: AI x Bio: Workshop 1
From AI for SynBio: “Agentic AI and Biological Design Tools reduce the required expertise for new biotech developments enabling new benefits and novel harms. To guard against these harms, technical and policy solutions leveraging these AI and biotech advances should be deployed proactively to help red-team and safeguard against misuse in an exponentially changing landscape. This workshop series will shape the safeguards necessary to prevent harm and empower the community with technical and policy resources for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks participation from academia, non-profits, industry, and government.”
This event will take place on November 13. Register here.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean
From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
From ERA: “ERA, in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub, is now accepting applications for our AIxBio Fellowship – an eight-week, fully-funded research programme focused on addressing biosecurity risks amplified by advances in frontier AI. Running from 25th January to 22nd March, 2026 in Cambridge, UK, this fellowship offers researchers the opportunity to design and execute concrete research projects at the AIxBiosecurity interface.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 5 here.
Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health
From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.
The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 30here.
64th ISODARCO Course
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! 🍂 This issue unprecedented workforce disruptions at the CDC, as mass layoffs and leadership changes raises questions about ‘America’s first’ public health readiness; a deeper dive into the global fallout of U.S. foreign health aid cuts; and a look at the new biotech and AI race, where China’s rapid rise and fragile U.S. supply chains expose risks for both national security and innovation.
Thinking About Graduate Study in Biodefense?
The Schar School of Policy and Government has several upcoming recruitment events, including one for prospective PhD students:
Following multiple rounds of mass firings, partial reversals, and several terminations still pending legal review, the union representing the employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)estimates that roughly 3,000 of its 13,000 staff received RIF (reduction-in-force) notices this year. Many of these affected worked on chronic disease prevention, nutrition and health initiatives, or handled state requests to investigate overdose and drowning deaths. Others were mental health professionals who supported staff after the August shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
Officials warn that these layoffs have left the CDC dangerously unprepared to protect Americans’ health and safety. “The CDC cannot protect all of us in the U.S. if they continue to have staff and resource cuts,” said Debra Houry, the former Chief Medical Officer.
The leadership turmoil doesn’t end there. In recent weeks, former acting CDC Director, Richard Besser, called the cuts “absolutely heartbreaking” and criticized current acting Director Jim O’Neill’s proposal to split the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots – despite O’Neill’s lack of public health or scientific training. The proposal has raised alarms from health experts, who warn that dividing the vaccine into multiple doses would increase the number of health care visits needed; reduce access to the vaccines; and lower overall vaccination rates.
Broader Impacts Across Health and Security Agencies in the U.S.
The CDC is not the only federal agency reeling from disruptions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has faced furloughs and staffing cuts – just days before the start of open enrollment. CMS later confirmed that workers would return on Oct. 27, noting that the agency would cover user operation fees as the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week.
Meanwhile, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) – responsible for overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile – furloughed 1,400 employees on Monday as part of the ongoing shutdown, with fewer than 400 remaining to safeguard the stockpile. Earlier this year, the Trump administration also fired hundreds of NNSA employees, before reversing the decision following criticism of jeopardizing national security.
The Fallout of U.S. Aid Cuts: Threats to Global Health
Global health leaders are sounding the alarm over a fractured aid system and declining U.S. support. At the World Health Summit in Berlin last week, executives from major institutions – including the Global Fund, Gavi, and the World Health Organization (WHO) – called to addressed the financial crisis facing global health as the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. aid under the Trump administration exposed structural problems that officials acknowledged had existed for years.
Between 2024 and 2025, global development assistance for health fell 21%, driven primarily by a 67% drop in U.S. funding – over $9 billion – according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Health Policy Watch notes: “Tens of millions of lives, particularly among children under five and people in the world’s poorest countries, are threatened by the cuts.”
Therefore, ongoing RIFs in the U.S. now unfortunately also include reductions-in-funding. This reflects a shift in foreign aid priorities, exemplified by the State Department’s America First Global Health Strategy. While the strategy promotes bold U.S. leadership, observers warn that it overlooks the realities faced by communities on the ground. Disregarding the needs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) risks worsening the very problems the strategy aims to solve.
The Swift American Exit Threatens Communities Worldwide – from Somalia to the DRC
The consequences of U.S. aid cuts to LMICs are already being felt. For years, funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) sustained hundreds of community health clinics, food programs, and maternal health initiatives worldwide. When the Trump administration dismantled the agency and slashed foreign aid, much of this support abruptly ended – including programs run by Save the Children and the International Medical Corps.
U.S. humanitarian aid to Somalia, for example, has plummeted – from an average of $450 million per year over the past decade to just $128 million in 2025, crippling programs that once provided fortified food and basic healthcare services. The impact is devastating: in Baidoa, a city in southern Somalia, emergency feeding centers are overwhelmed with malnourished children suffering from preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, cholera, and whooping cough. Save the Children had to close some emergency centers and other countries, including the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, have also reduced contributions.
Global initiatives are also affected. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a coalition to eradicate polio including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gates Foundation, will see a 30% budget reduction in 2026 and a $1.7bn funding gap through 2029, largely due to the U.S. withdrawal from WHO. To copy, GPEI plans to prioritize surveillance, vaccination in high-risk areas, and adopt strategies such as fractional dosing, which stretches limited vaccine supplies while protecting children from infection.
These funding shortfalls exacerbate ongoing health crises. In Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the worst cholera outbreaks in a decade is rapidly spreading, with 20 of 26 provinces affected. Since mid-October, more than 58,000 suspected cases and over 1,700 deaths have been reported. Doctors Without Borders warns that the country’s healthcare system is ill-equipped to contain the outbreak amid shortages of medical supplies and vaccines.
The New Biotech Race: How Supply Chain Fragility and China’s Rise Threaten U.S. Health Security
From life-saving medicines to AI, U.S. leadership in critical technologies and supply chains is under pressure. The pandemic revealed how fragile global supply chains for essential drugs had become – and how quickly technological dependencies can turn into security risks. Now, these vulnerabilities are deepening, spanning from the factory to the cloud.
China is rapidly becoming a global biotech powerhouse. Over the past five years, Chinese companies producing cancer and gene therapy drugs have more than doubled licensing agreements for their intellectual property, while they’ve also invested heavily in raw material production and advanced manufacturing capacity. In contrast, the U.S. still lacks a coordinated national biotechnology strategy. Federal research funding in the U.S. has also stagnated, regulatory systems remain fragmented burdened with barriers to slow the translation of discoveries from lab to market, and private investors remain cautious to fund cutting-edge research in the face of political and economic uncertainty. As Todd Young writes in Foreign Affairs, failure for the U.S. to act decisively could mean ceding control over the technologies that define global health, economic power, and national and international security in the decades ahead.
The consequences of this drift are already visible. Nearly 700 medicines approved in the U.S., including antibiotics and generics for heart disease, seizures, and HIV, rely on at least one chemical solely sourced from China. A new module on the USP Medicine Supply Map highlights vulnerabilities in the U.S. upstream pharmaceutical supply chains. They highlighted three key findings:
Most key starting materials (KSMs) used to synthesize active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are extremely concentration, with 58% sole-sourced from a single country.
There are sourcing clusters in China and India, with China supplying 41% of KSMs used in US-approved APIs and India 16%.
Many APIs rely on one country for key ingredients.
From USP: “To strengthen American medicine supply chain, we should incentivize diverse manufacturing through onshoring and friend-shoring and modernize procurement practices to prioritize reliability and resilience alongside cost.”
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
PAHO Reports Continued Spread of Bird Flu Across the Americas
Last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released its latest epidemiological update on highly pathogenic avian influenza A subtype H5N1 (HPAI), documenting the ongoing expansion of the virus across the Americas. Since 2022, 19 countries and territories in the Americas Region have reported 5,063 outbreaks of HPAI to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), with 115 additional outbreaks recorded since PAHO’s last update published May 2025.
Between 2022 and October 2025, 76 human infections and two deaths caused by HPAI were reported across five countries in the Americas (United States, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Ecuador). On October 2, Mexico confirmed its second human H5 infection this year (the neuraminidase of the strain has yet to be identified). A 23-year-old female with no history of seasonal influenza vaccination or recent travel developed symptoms including fever, runny nose, and difficulty swallowing which progressed to hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and chest pains requiring hospitalization. Subsequent RT-PCR testing of the patient’s respiratory samples confirmed infection with influenza type A (H5). The patient was treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and discharged on October 11. Environmental investigation revealed influenza A(H5)-positive samples from poultry and pigeons found in her apartment building’s courtyard. Fortunately, this patient recovered; however, globally, the cumulative fatality rate of H5N1 since 2003 remains alarmingly high at 48%, with 475 deaths among 990 cases across 25 countries.
The PAHO report also noted the continued unprecedented jump of avian influenza from birds to mammalian species. In the United States alone, 1,080 dairy herds across 18 states have been affected since March 2024, with 27 additional herds identified since May. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reported 20 detections in wild mammals in Canada this year. PAHO emphasized the concerning increase in HPAI detection in both terrestrial and marine mammals worldwide, including companion and production animals, and the need for heightened surveillance and implementation of biosecurity measures to reduce virus spread. This week, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported dozens of new detections in wild waterfowl across multiple states, including mallards in New Hampshire, black vultures in four states, and various species in Minnesota, Montana, and Oregon. The ease with which the virus transmits from wild birds to domestic flocks underscores ongoing surveillance challenges.
Although avian influenza outbreaks primarily affect animals, the virus still poses ongoing risks to public health. PAHO urges continued intersectoral collaboration between Member States to strengthen human-animal surveillance and improve infection prevention and control in health and agricultural settings.
NEW: The Role of the Media in Investigating the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic
From Brookings: Free media institutions are essential for informing the public and serving as a check on those in power — uncovering corruption and other malfeasance through investigative reporting, and elevating transparency in our governing processes. The media was perhaps even more important when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, as it played a key role in disseminating public health information and shaping public perception.
On October 27, the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets will hold an event to examine the role of the media in investigating the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and draw important lessons for journalistic investigations of future crises to ensure independence and accountability in reporting. This event is part of a CRM workstream on biosafety regulation and pandemic prevention, which also included a recent event on “Building resilience: Enhancing biosafety, biosecurity, and pandemic preparedness.”
This event will take place from 1:30 – 3:15 PM EDT on October 27 in Washinton, DC, and virtually. Learn more and register here.
NEW: DC Biosecurity Happy Hour at Blackfinn DC!
This will be an informal event for biosecurity enthusiasts and professionals in DC to get to know each other outside of email and Zoom calls and talk about new ideas in this space.
The next event will be from 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 3. Register here.
2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit, “Bridging the Gaps: Resilient Supply Chains in the Age of Pandemics.”
From the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs: “This summit will convene scholars, policymakers, emergency managers, international partners, and industry leaders to examine the vulnerabilities exposed by recent global health emergencies and explore innovative policy solutions to strengthen domestic and global supply chain resilience. Together, we will identify strategies to ensure the reliable flow of critical goods and services in the face of future pandemics and public health crises.”
The summit will take place on October 27-28 in College Station, TX. Learn more and register here.
Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: A Workshop
From NASEM: “The National Academies’ Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health will host a hybrid public workshop on October 28 to explore current and potential future applications for AI in genomics and precision health along the continuum from translational research to clinical applications. The workshop will:
Explore the current implementation of AI in genomics and precision health (e.g., variant interpretation, data integration, patient and participant identification, return of results, treatment selection).
Discuss potential benefits and challenges of future AI applications (e.g., data harmonization and security, workforce, and usefulness for all).
Consider evaluations for and impact of the accuracy of, and bias inherent to, AI technologies in genomics-related research and clinical care.
Examine lessons learned from applications of AI in other fields that may be transferable to genomics and precision health throughout the translational research process.”
This workshop will take place 8:30am-5:00pm ET on October 28. Register here.
Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction
From the World Organisation for Animal Health: “In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.”
“The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.”
“The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.”
“Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.”
“The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place. ”
AI-Accelerated Biological Risk: Delving into Asia’s Challenges and Emerging Solutions
From Singapore AI Safety Hub: “As AI-enabled biodesign accelerates, so do the questions around responsible development, risk mitigation, and international cooperation. This 90-minute virtual roundtable brings together experts from AI safety, biosecurity research and policy to explore:
🔬 What are the most urgent AI-bio risks we face today—and which ones aren’t getting enough attention?
🌏 How does Asia’s unique regulatory and research landscape shape these challenges and opportunities?
🛡️ What solutions and interventions show the most promise for responsible governance?
🚀 What practical steps should researchers, policymakers, and practitioners prioritize in the next 12 months?
This panel will explore the convergence of AI and biosecurity—unpacking Asia’s unique challenges, emerging solutions, and the pathways toward responsible governance. From urgent risk assessment to practical next steps for researchers and policymakers, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.”
This virtual roundtable will take place from9:00 AM-10:30 AM EDT on Thursday, October 30. Register here.
Nexus Series: AI x Bio: Workshop 1
From AI for SynBio: “Agentic AI and Biological Design Tools reduce the required expertise for new biotech developments enabling new benefits and novel harms. To guard against these harms, technical and policy solutions leveraging these AI and biotech advances should be deployed proactively to help red-team and safeguard against misuse in an exponentially changing landscape. This workshop series will shape the safeguards necessary to prevent harm and empower the community with technical and policy resources for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks participation from academia, non-profits, industry, and government.”
This event will take place on November 13. Register here.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean
From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
“There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory and on-farm biological risk management has gaps, and that applied agricultural biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence. This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied agricultural biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis. ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
Learn more and submit your proposal by October 31here.
Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
“The Editors of Applied Biosafety are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue focused on the myriad of topics associated with global biosafety management. This special issue will showcase examples of innovative approaches, creative solutions, and best practices developed and used around the world for managing risks associated with the handling, use, and storage of infectious biological agents, toxins, and potentially infectious materials in research and clinical settings.”
From ERA: “ERA, in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub, is now accepting applications for our AIxBio Fellowship – an eight-week, fully-funded research programme focused on addressing biosecurity risks amplified by advances in frontier AI. Running from 25th January to 22nd March, 2026 in Cambridge, UK, this fellowship offers researchers the opportunity to design and execute concrete research projects at the AIxBiosecurity interface.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 5 here.
Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health
From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.
The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 30here.
64th ISODARCO Course
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue features unprecedented disruptions across U.S. federal health agencies, including mass layoffs at the CDC and HHS, emerging challenges in biotechnology governance with BIOSECURE 2.0 and AI-drive generative biology, and new global health security initiatives from WHO and GPMB to improve early detection and pandemic preparedness across governments and communities.
Thinking About Graduate Study in Biodefense?
The Schar School of Policy and Government has several upcoming recruitment events, including one for prospective PhD students:
☕ Plus: Regional coffee chats with faculty and admissions staff across Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Learn more here.
💡 Tuition Benefit: Master’s and certificate students living in Maryland and DC quality for in-state tuition rates. Learn more and register here.
Fragmented Foundations: The Consequences of Mass Firings, Government Shutdown, and Political Turmoil Across U.S. Federal Agencies
By Carmen Shaw, Co-Managing Editor
The U.S. public health system is reeling from an unprecedented wave of mass firings, rehirings, and leadership reshuffles across federal health agencies. The Hill reports that more than 4,100 federal employees were laidoff on Friday, Oct. 10 – what many are describing as a “workforce massacre.” More than 1,000 staff at the CDC received layoff letters, while another 1,100-1,200 were terminated from the HHS. This marks the latest blow to the CDC that was already strained by mass resignations, a shooting at its Atlanta headquarters in August, and the recent firing of its director, Dr. Susan Monarez, under pressure from the HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Many of the CDC layoffs were later rescinded following public outcry, with the Trump administration claiming the decisions were made in error. The reversals, however, only deepened the sense of confusion and unease within the agency, and were not without consequences – as critical teams in biodefense and preparedness were still gutted. Those affected included staff from the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), known as “disease detectives,” experts from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) – the CDC’s flagship alert system for emerging infectious diseases, and teams working on chronic disease, immunization, respiratory illnesses, and responses to the growing measles outbreak in the U.S.
“The effect of the on-again, off-again RIF on the psyche of a traumatized organization is not inconsequential,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, one of the three senior CDC leaders who resigned in August to protest Monarez’s firing. “Americans are going to get hurt,” he warned. Daskalakis, formerly the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, saw his leadership team laid off – and then hastily brought back.
Other agencies were also affected. According to The Hill, “Friday’s RIFs also impacted approximately 466 Education Department employees, 442 Department of Housing and Urban Development employees, 315 Commerce Department employees, 187 Energy Department employees and 176 Department of Homeland Security employees.”
The cuts came during the second week of a government shutdown – a move both unusual and legally contested. Lawsuits have since been filed by the American Federal of Government Employees, the nation’s largest federal employee union, among others, which sued hours before the government funding lapsed on Oct. 1, arguing that the administration lacks the authority to permanently eliminate positions during a shutdown and may only furlough workers.
Taken together, these mass firings and policy shifts represent more than bureaucratic mismanagement; they signal a strategic and dangerous devaluation of scientific integrity and public health. Each day of the shutdown leaves federal research programs in limbo, delaying critical work in university labs that rely on federal funding. Experts warn that if the shutdown continues for even a few more weeks, the disruptions could become “devastating,” echoing challenges from the longest shutdown in 2019. Every dismissal, delayed report, and frozen study further erodes national preparedness against biological risks. Unless decisive action is taken to restore transparency, scientific independence from political motives, and stable leadership, the United States risks entering the next public health emergency with a fractured, demoralized workforce and a weakened scientific infrastructure.
From BIOSECURE 2.0 to Generative Biology: Evolving Challenges in Biotechnology Governance
Lawmakers and analysts are sounding the alarm over the rapid pace of biotechnology advanced abroad – particularly in China – arguing that U.S. leadership in defense biotech is slipping at a critical moment. As Defense One reports, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rep. Chrissy Houlaha (D-Pa.), and other members of Congress are urging greater investment in defense-oriented biotech research to counter China’s growing dominance in gene editing, biomanufacturing, and pharmaceutical innovation. RealClear World similarly warns that the American biotech ecosystem is increasingly “made in China,” with U.S. supply chains, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and chemical industries deeply dependent on Chinese firms.
In response, the House and Senate services committees have added a number of biotechnology measures into the most recent National Defense Authorization Act bill, including a new amendment named “BIOSECURE 2.0,” building on 2024’s BIOSECURE 1.0 Act. While BIOSECURE 1.0 explicitly named four Chinese firms as “biotechnology companies of concern,” the updated legislation shifts toward a process-based identification system. Instead of naming any specific companies, BIOSECURE 2.0 will identify companies of concern based on whether they meet certain statutorily defined criteria and national security risk assessments, allowing for more adaptive and transparent enforcement.
Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum highlights the urgent need to build safeguards around generative biology, which integrates AI, automation, and computational design to accelerate the creation of novel biological systems. While this convergence is transforming industries – from Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold, which has successfully predicted 3D structures of millions of proteins, to food companies like Perfect Day and Impossible Foods using engineered microbes to produce alternatives to conventional dairy and livestock – generative biology also introduces profound security concerns. One group of risks include emerging AI threats, warning that these systems could lower barriers to misuse, are vulnerable to adversarial attacks that could compromise the model’s accuracy, and allow for the insertion of poisoned datasets that could distort results, leading to inflated false positives and negatives.
A recent NBC News investigation found that certain versions of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) could be “tricked and manipulated” to provide detailed instruction on creating chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, underscoring how AI may inadvertently expand access to dangerous expertise. These vulnerabilities illustrate the dual-use dilemma of emerging technologies, emphasizing the urgent need for pre-deployment testing, regulatory oversight, and ethical frameworks to prevent malicious applications while advancing scientific progress.
Advancing Global Health Security: WHO and GPMD Launch New Preparedness Systems
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMD) launched its 2025 report, The New Face of Pandemic Preparedness, during the World Health Summit in Berlin on Oct. 13, calling for a paradigm shift in pandemic preparedness through scaled up investment in primary healthcare, real-time risk assessment, and strengthened international cooperation to ensure local, regional and global communities are ready to prevent and respond to the next pandemic.
Complementing this, the WHO has introduced two major initiatives to bolster global health security. First, the PHSM Decision Navigator, a first-of-its-kind decision navigator framework designed to support governments in making complex, evidence-informed, and threat-agnostic public health and social measures (PHSM) decisions during global health emergencies. By offering a step-by-step guide to prioritize and adjust interventions like quarantine, masking, and mobility restrictions, the navigator aims to balance epidemiological risks, economic and social impacts, and ethical considerations.
Second, WHO launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, which leverages AI and expanded data sources to provide early detection of public health threats worldwide. Together, these tools exemplify the critical need for agile, transparent, and science-driven systems in preparing governments and communities to respond effectively in health emergencies.
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
Bird Flu Season Kicks into High Gear Across the United States
Fall bird flu season appears well under way as H5N1 activity surges across the United States in commercial poultry operations, backyard flocks, and wild bird populations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed multiple significant outbreaks in the last month, with 47 flocks affected, including 28 commercial operations and 19 backyard locations, totaling more than 4.4 million birds.
The geographic distribution appears concentrated in Midwest and Southern states. Three large commercial turkey farms in Minnesota experienced major losses this week, with facilities reporting 30,000, 61,000, and 92,000 infections across three counties. The Pacific Northwest also faces rising bird flu fears following detection of H5N1 in a commercial egg layer facility in Washington, housing nearly 2 million birds. Oregon and Idaho identified additional cases in both backyard flocks and, in Idaho’s case, a preliminary confirmation in a dairy herd as well.
Wild bird detections have spiked particularly among migratory waterfowl species. Hunter-harvested blue-winged teal in Kansas tested positive for H5N1, as did specimens collected in Louisiana. Black vultures, turkey vultures, Canada geese, and trumpeter swans have shown H5 positivity across multiple states including Wyoming, Ohio, Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, New York, and Michigan.
From Farm to Table: Bird Flu May be Hiding in Artisanal Cheeses
As bird flu expands into cattle populations, emerging research has identified an unexpected food safety concern in cheese. The virus has been shown to survive the aging process in certain raw milk cheeses, potentially reaching consumers on supermarket shelves months after contaminated milk was used.
A study published in early October in Nature Medicine revealed that in cheeses with moderate pH levels between 5.8 and 6.6, infectious H5N1 persisted after 120 days of aging at a temperature of 39 Fahrenheit. The FDA requires that raw milk cheese must be aged a minimum of 60 days at or above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning there is a potential health risk for consumers. However, not all raw milk cheeses appear to pose a risk. Researchers found that highly acidic cheeses like feta, which has a pH around 4.6 or lower, showed no detectable virus, suggesting acidity acts as a natural antiviral barrier.
These findings create a troubling situation for the cheese industry as the qualities that give artisanal cheeses their prized flavors and textures are the same conditions that may allow H5N1 to persist. It also puts additional strain on dairy farmers already grappling with herd infections across 17 states. A single contaminated milk batch could produce hundreds of wheels of cheese destined for distribution before any problem is detected.
Mitigation pathways exist but will require industry coordination: screening milk samples prior to cheese making to ensure only virus-free milk is used or heating milk to sub-pasteurization temperatures to preserve the desirable raw milk characteristics while rendering the pathogen harmless. The challenge lies in implementing these measures rapidly enough to protect both industry viability and public health.
H5N1 Vaccine Project Aims to Meet 100-Day Development Target
This week the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced a significant partnership with the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, to develop a new H5N1 vaccine as a prototype for Disease X, an as-yet unknown pathogen with pandemic potential.
The goal of the project, which has been granted $16.4 million in financial support, is to allow rapid development of broadly protective vaccines capable of responding to multiple H5 virus strains. The vaccine will be developed on a baculovirus platform and will compare two H5 antigens for a recombinant protein vaccine: a wild-type and an artificial intelligence (AI)-optimized, broad-spectrum H5 antigen designed by scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute.
According to CEPI leadership, the project is a key component of the organization’s ambitious 100-day mission, which aims to compress vaccine development timelines to within 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat.
“Milton Leitenberg: Pioneering Work on Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wars and Arms Control”
Kathleen M. Vogel, Nicole J. Ball, and Milton Leitenberg are pleased to announce the publication of Milton Leitenberg: Pioneering Work on Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wars and Arms Control (Springer, 2025). This nearly 900-page book is a collection of 44 representative publications and papers by Milton Leitenberg on nuclear and biological arms control, wars, conflicts, genocide and humanitarian intervention, and weapons of mass destruction. Several chapters explore aspects of disinformation, notably on the use and production of biological weapons and the origins of Covid. In addition to publications that appeared in journals and books, this volume contains several previously unpublished reports prepared for national and international organizations. Spanning 55 years, these studies made substantial contributions to policy literature and discussions over the years and are of continued interest to security studies, political science, and policy audiences today.
This book is available in hard copy and eBook formats here
NEW: 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit, “Bridging the Gaps: Resilient Supply Chains in the Age of Pandemics.”
From the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs: “This summit will convene scholars, policymakers, emergency managers, international partners, and industry leaders to examine the vulnerabilities exposed by recent global health emergencies and explore innovative policy solutions to strengthen domestic and global supply chain resilience. Together, we will identify strategies to ensure the reliable flow of critical goods and services in the face of future pandemics and public health crises.”
The summit will take place on October 27-28 in College Station, TX. Learn more and register here.
AI, Health, and the Future of Scientific Cooperation: A Seminar
From Harvard Kennedy School: “This seminar explores how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, global health, and the scientific enterprise: accelerating discovery, strengthening biosecurity, and reshaping international collaboration. Moderated by Dr. Syra Madad, fellow and biosecurity expert, the discussion will highlight both the opportunities and risks at the intersection of AI, medicine, and scientific cooperation in a rapidly evolving world.”
This event will take place from 12:00-2:00pm ET on October 20. Register here.
Improving Resiliency in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Through Make-Buy-Invest Strategic Actions: A Workshop
From NASEM: “The National Academies will convene a hybrid public workshop, October 22-23, to develop a framework to inform policymakers and stakeholders on how to apply Make, Buy, or Invest strategies across the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. Discussions will consider variables such as national security and health; drug manufacturing practices; systemic enablers to support implementation practices; methods to assess market conditions; and the roles of key public and private stakeholders to influence the resilience of the domestic drug supply chain.”
This event will take place from 8:30am-5:30pm ET on October 22-23. Register here.
Governance of Dual-Use Risks of Synthetic Biology: Recent Efforts in China
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “Scientific progress in cutting-edge biotechnology has enabled the development of new medical countermeasures and disease surveillance capabilities. With the increasing ease of use and accessibility, and lower cost of biotechnology, unintentional misuse or deliberate abuse of dual-use cutting edge biotechnology will result in serious economic and security consequences.
Professor Zhang will explain how the Tianjin University Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, the first scientific think tank focusing biotechnology-related biosecurity governance in China, raises awareness of the dual-use risks of biotechnology, develops solutions and policies to address these risks, and reinforces ethical practice in the scientific community.”
This event will take place from 6:00–7:00 pm (GMT+08:00) on October 23. Register here.
Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: A Workshop
From NASEM: “The National Academies’ Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health will host a hybrid public workshop on October 28 to explore current and potential future applications for AI in genomics and precision health along the continuum from translational research to clinical applications. The workshop will:
Explore the current implementation of AI in genomics and precision health (e.g., variant interpretation, data integration, patient and participant identification, return of results, treatment selection).
Discuss potential benefits and challenges of future AI applications (e.g., data harmonization and security, workforce, and usefulness for all).
Consider evaluations for and impact of the accuracy of, and bias inherent to, AI technologies in genomics-related research and clinical care.
Examine lessons learned from applications of AI in other fields that may be transferable to genomics and precision health throughout the translational research process.”
This workshop will take place 8:30am-5:00pm ET on October 28. Register here.
Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction
From the World Organisation for Animal Health: “In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.”
“The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.”
“The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.”
“Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.”
“The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place. ”
AI-Accelerated Biological Risk: Delving into Asia’s Challenges and Emerging Solutions
From Singapore AI Safety Hub: “As AI-enabled biodesign accelerates, so do the questions around responsible development, risk mitigation, and international cooperation. This 90-minute virtual roundtable brings together experts from AI safety, biosecurity research and policy to explore:
🔬 What are the most urgent AI-bio risks we face today—and which ones aren’t getting enough attention?
🌏 How does Asia’s unique regulatory and research landscape shape these challenges and opportunities?
🛡️ What solutions and interventions show the most promise for responsible governance?
🚀 What practical steps should researchers, policymakers, and practitioners prioritize in the next 12 months?
This panel will explore the convergence of AI and biosecurity—unpacking Asia’s unique challenges, emerging solutions, and the pathways toward responsible governance. From urgent risk assessment to practical next steps for researchers and policymakers, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.”
This virtual roundtable will take place from9:00 AM-10:30 AM EDT on Thursday, October 30. Register here.
Nexus Series: AI x Bio: Workshop 1
From AI for SynBio: “Agentic AI and Biological Design Tools reduce the required expertise for new biotech developments enabling new benefits and novel harms. To guard against these harms, technical and policy solutions leveraging these AI and biotech advances should be deployed proactively to help red-team and safeguard against misuse in an exponentially changing landscape. This workshop series will shape the safeguards necessary to prevent harm and empower the community with technical and policy resources for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks participation from academia, non-profits, industry, and government.”
This event will take place on November 13. Register here.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
NEW: The Human Biosafety Health Foundation – A New Hub for Biosafety in the Mediterranean
From the Human Biosafety Health Foundation: “The Human Biosafety Health Foundation has been established to promote research, training, and international cooperation in the fields of biosafety, public health, and health resilience. The Foundation aims to serve as a Mediterranean hub for the development of shared and innovative strategies in response to global challenges related to conventional and non-conventional biological threats, climate change, and health emergencies. The Scientific Committee is composed of medical officers and biosafety experts in high biocontainment transport from the Italian Air Force, ensuring a highly qualified, interdisciplinary, and operationally secure approach. By bringing together academic expertise, institutions, and civil society, the Foundation seeks to build an integrated network for health security, based on knowledge, prevention, and prediction.”
“The fellowship ensures a pipeline of the brightest, most dedicated, and diverse next-generation experts into leading think tanks and advocacy groups in order to inspire creative new approaches to the pervasive challenges to peace and security. Its goal is to bridge the gap between academia and the professional world by providing an entree for mission-driven grads eager to learn about and contribute to public-interest organizations. The fellowship was established to honor longtime nuclear arms control activist Dr. Herbert (Pete) Scoville, Jr., a Ph.D. in physical chemistry and dedicated public servant, who encouraged young people to become involved in arms control and national security.”
Learn more and submit your application by October 20 here.
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
“There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory and on-farm biological risk management has gaps, and that applied agricultural biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence. This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied agricultural biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis. ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
Learn more and submit your proposal by October 31here.
Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
“The Editors of Applied Biosafety are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue focused on the myriad of topics associated with global biosafety management. This special issue will showcase examples of innovative approaches, creative solutions, and best practices developed and used around the world for managing risks associated with the handling, use, and storage of infectious biological agents, toxins, and potentially infectious materials in research and clinical settings.”
From ERA: “ERA, in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub, is now accepting applications for our AIxBio Fellowship – an eight-week, fully-funded research programme focused on addressing biosecurity risks amplified by advances in frontier AI. Running from 25th January to 22nd March, 2026 in Cambridge, UK, this fellowship offers researchers the opportunity to design and execute concrete research projects at the AIxBiosecurity interface.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 5 here.
Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health
From Harvard’s Global Health Institute: “To equip and empower more leaders in global health, the Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offers a transformational 1-year fellowship specifically designed to promote leadership skills in individuals in low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health. Candidates should be currently based/working in a LMIC, and plan to return there after their fellowship.
The fellowship experience provides global health leaders time to reflect, recalibrate, and explore uncharted territories. To date, fellows have come from 18 different countries, with representation from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their areas of focus have ranged from HIV/AIDS and healthcare to health policy at the highest levels of government. Past fellows’ areas of expertise span disciplines including research, advocacy, administration, and policy.”
Learn more and submit your application by November 30here.
64th ISODARCO Course
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue features federal undercutting on U.S. science funding and the risk of a brain drain, the U.S. “America First” global health strategy and its implications for international aid, the narrowing of COVID-19 vaccine guidance and state-level responses, the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a breakthrough in biotechnology with the first AI-designed viruses capable of targeting E. coli.
Thinking About Graduate Study in Biodefense?
The Schar School of Policy and Government has several upcoming recruitment events:
☕ Plus: Regional coffee chats with faculty and admissions staff across Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Learn more here.
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From Classroom to Commission: Mason Biodefense Students Shaping Biotechnology Policy
By Jay Bickell
Jay Bickell is pursuing a MS in Biodefense at George Mason University and works as a Staff Scientist at MRIGlobal supporting biorisk management programs.
Earlier this year, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) released its final report, Charting the Future of Biotechnology. What emerged was not a victory lap or a reassurance, but both an inspiring reminder of the promise of biotechnology and a stark warning about what is at stake in the biotechnology innovation race. The report’s executive summary wastes no time, bluntly stating that “countries that win the innovation race tend to win actual wars, too.” From the outset, the message is clear: the U.S. cannot afford complacency in biotechnology.
Given the breadth of issues at play, the Commission relied on expertise from many different disciplines. Among those involved were George Mason University Biodefense students and alumni, who contributed their expertise and academic training to the practical work of shaping U.S. biotechnology policy.
This article explores the origins of the commission, the key findings of its report, and the role of GMU biodefense students and alumni who served as policy advisors and fellows.
The Commission
The NSCEB was established by Congress in 2022 as an independent legislative advisory body, created in response to the rapid pace of emerging biotechnology and its profound implications for both the U.S. bioeconomy and national security. Its establishment was a bicameral decision, reflecting bipartisan concern, and its commissioners brought a wide range of expertise from across science, industry, defense, and policy.
The Commission had an ambitious charge to provide Congress with an assessment of biotechnology’s role in national security and to recommend concrete steps for harnessing its benefits while mitigating risks. Modeled in part on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, the NSCEB conducted an extensive two-year study, gathering insights from more than 1,800 professionals worldwide. Beyond analysis, its task was also pragmatic in nature, to ensure recommendations were actionable and capable of being translated into policy. The NSCEB will continue turning those recommendations into bills before the commission winds down in December 2026.
The Report
The final report, Charting the Future of Biotechnology, begins with a sobering vision of a not-so-distant future where the U.S. fails to keep pace in biotechnology innovation and with it, risks losing both economic and military advantages. Over the course of nearly 400 pages the report delivers 49 specific and concrete recommendations ranging from establishing a National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO) in the Executive Office of the President, to providing workforce training. Ultimately every recommendation culminates in the main recommendation that “the U.S. government should dedicate a minimum of $15 billion over the next five years to unleash more private capital into our national biotechnology sector.”
Behind the Report: GMU Students and Alumni
Behind the report’s recommendations lies the work of 63 commission staff as well as countless other participants. Notably, among them were several students and alumni from George Mason University’s Biodefense (BIOD) program, who brought their expertise to an effort that will shape U.S. biotechnology policy for years to come.
Aishwarya Sriraman is a third-year PhD student in the BIOD program and served as a research and policy fellow supporting Commissioners in developing the report. Her work focused on recognizing how education and workforce development will build tomorrow’s biotechnology workforce. Drawing on her technical background in biochemistry and biotechnology, she helped connect the policymaking process to the realities facing biotechnology and biosecurity professionals. Aishwarya hopes “that professionals get excited by the potential of emerging biotechnology (the science and its potential impact) while also recognizing their roles and responsibilities in ensuring its success.”
Olivia Parker, joined the commission as a policy advisor in August of 2024, shortly after earning her Master of Science in Biodefense in May 2024. She credits the multidisciplinary nature of the Biodefense program as preparing her for this role. According to Olivia, “One of the things I’ve appreciated most about working on the Commission staff has been learning from my colleagues. The folks on staff come from a broad range of professional worlds, and it’s been really illuminating to see the different perspectives they bring while contributing my own.”
Kimberly Ma is a third-year PhD student in the BIOD program and is a policy advisor with the commission where she is co-leading the infrastructure workstream and closely supporting the biosecurity workstream. When it comes to thinking about policy she credits both time in Georgetown’s MS Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases program and GMU’s Biodefense program with complementing her hands-on career experience in U.S. government biotechnology spaces. Kimberly commented that, “Even for someone trained in molecular biology and biosecurity, I think I had not truly internalized or experienced how vast the bioeconomy is. During my time at the Commission, the breadth of folks who have shown interest in our work, provided us their expertise and anecdotes, reposted our press releases on social media, or showed up to our launch event absolutely blew my mind. I feel a sense of awe, as well as increased obligation to ensure that promoting and protecting biotech are national priorities for our country.”
Looking Forward
The contributions of these Biodefense students and graduates are not just a testament to their training, they are a reminder that the future of biotechnology and biosecurity leadership is already taking shape. Their experiences reflect the heart of the Commission’s work: recognizing both the opportunities and risks that lie ahead and preparing the next generation to meet them.
Though the report is sobering in its assessment, the example set by these students and alumni offers reason for optimism. They show that the next wave of scientists and policy experts are already stepping into roles of national importance. Opportunity and risk both loom large, but as their work illustrates, the direction biotechnology takes will depend on the choices and the commitments we make today.
Science Under Siege: Federal Cuts and the Risk of a U.S. Brain Drain
From Nature: “Months into President Trump’s second term, science and scientists are under attack as never before in the United States. The administration is forcing devastating cuts to previously stable US research investments, dismantling federal science agencies and programmes, ousting independent scientific officials and blatantly disregarding evidence on issues that affect us all, including vaccines, air pollution, and fossil fuels.”
Both early-career and seasoned specialists have been left bewildered and, in many cases, unemployed by these aggressive actions. Experts warn that the U.S. risks losing scientific expertise across multiple fields – a phenomenon many are calling a “brain drain” – with recovery potentially taking decades. “There will be lasting damage, and it will likely take multiple political administration to get over and to rebuild what has been lost,” said Jennifer Jones, Director of the Center for Science and Diplomacy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
America First Global Health: Cuts, Conditions, and Questions Ahead
This week, the State Department unveiled its “America First Global Health Strategy,” a policy framework emphasizing U.S. priorities in global health. Just days before, the House advanced its FY26 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, proposing severe cuts to CDC funding, eliminating certain prevention programs, and drastically scaling back USAID’s role in global health initiatives. Under the new strategy, the U.S. plans to shift from global health aid to fostering self-reliance in partner countries, requiring them to co-invest in health programs and meet “performance benchmarks” before additional U.S. foreign health assistance is released. According to the document, the administration aims to finalize multi-year bilateral agreements with recipient nations by April 2026, aiming to reduce “the culture of dependency.” Taken together, these moves reflect a broader shift in U.S. health policy toward prioritizing domestic interests over multilateral cooperation. In a related development, President Trump also called for a global ban on bioweapons at the UN, proposing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to verify compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). While presented as a high-tech initiative to strengthen the BWC, the plan’s limited details leave open questions about how effectively it will be implemented and whether it can gain broad international support.
ACIP Narrows COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance, Prompting State and Expert Divergence
Last Friday, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to narrow its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, reserving a routine recommendation for adults 65 and older while shifting younger groups to “shared clinical decision-making” through consultation with providers. While the vaccine remains available to anyone over six months, this change could reduce ease of access compared to prior years and has raised concerns about sowing doubt among the public. As former acting CDC director Richard Besser noted, “What this process over these two days did was it instilled doubt in a lot of people who didn’t have doubt. And it’s going to lead people who were trying to do the right thing for their families, for their children, to make wrong decisions.” Meanwhile, ACIP voted to postpone a decision on whether to delay the first hepatitis B vaccine dose for newborns, temporarily maintaining the current recommendation. In response to federal uncertainty, several states and medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which had long worked in concert with the CDC, are breaking with federal recommendations and issuing their own vaccine guidance, citing a lack of confidence and trust in federal leadership.
DRC Faces Escalating Ebola Outbreak Amid Reduced Global Aid
The Ebola outbreak in Kasaï province continues to escalate, with the latest reports indicating 47 confirmed cases and 25 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with a probably 10 additional cases and deaths. Vaccination campaigns are ongoing, with an initial shipment of 400 doses of Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) being deployed to Bulape and another 360 doses arriving in Tshikapa. The WHO has launched an appeal for US$21million to support the DRC’s governmental response. While the DRC has learned from previous outbreaks and in many ways is now better prepared to respond, experts warn cuts to global aid spending risk constraining response efforts. “Viruses do not respect political decisions or borders. Disengaging in global leadership and slashing funding to countries like the DRC will have serious consequences,” said Ms. Kate Phillips-Barrasso, Mercy Corps Vice President of Global Policy and Advocacy.
During previous Ebola outbreaks, the U.S. provided critical support through USAID, funding laboratories, vaccines, treatments, personal protective equipment (PPE), and community awareness programs. Since cuts to these programs, stockpiles of drugs and PPE have not been consistently maintained, and key prevention initiatives – like clean water and hygiene campaigns – have been scaled back. Shortages of PPE and difficulties distributing information, vaccines and treatments to remote areas, however, long predate recent funding cuts. While some analysts have speculated that China could fill the gap left by U.S. aid reductions, its capacity and willingness to do so remain limited. Beijing seems to emphasize a “trade, not aid” model, prioritizing trade over large-scale development assistance and intervening only in countries of immediate strategic interest. Humanitarian organizations stress that maintaining robust international support, rather than piecemeal substitutes, is critical to containing Ebola and supporting the DRC’s health system.
AI Creates Functional Bacteriophages Targeting E. coli
Scientists at Stanford University and the Arc Institute have created the first ever viruses designed by artificial intelligence (AI), capable of infecting and killing E. coli bacteria. The work, described in a preprint paper, used AI models called Evo 1 and Evo 2, which were pre-trained on over two million phage genomes. These models were developed to generate DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. The AI models were given a template virus called ΦX174 to start with, which was simple and safe. The AI models were trained to create similar viruses aimed at infecting E. coli, especially resistant strains. From thousands of AI-generated genome sequences, the researchers identified 302 viable bacteriophages, of which roughly 16 phages showed host specificity for E. coli and could successfully infect the bacteria. “This study provides a compelling case study of what is possible today and sets the stage for more-ambitious applications in the future,” says Peter Koo, a computational biologist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Laurel Hollow, New York. “It provides a spotlight for an interesting application domain,” he adds.
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
September Signals Start of H5N1 Resurgence Worldwide
Just as wildlife experts predicted, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is surging internationally as fall bird migration kicks into high gear. Europe has already logged 263 commercial poultry outbreaks of bird flu so far in 2025. Hungary leads the tally with 105 outbreaks, followed by Poland (85) and Italy (21). On Monday, Poland reported two new detections resulting in the death of nearly 4,000 birds. An outbreak in Spain earlier this month was particularly devastating, wiping out over 761,000 laying hens in a single facility in Castile and Leon.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to see a steady resurgence as well. Multiple Mid-West states continue to fight outbreaks in commercial turkey flocks, with over half a million cases confirmed by the USDA across the Dakotas and Minnesota since the start of September. Iowa also confirmed the presence of HPAI in Canada geese, mallards, and red-tailed hawks this week following reports of dead birds in Dubuque.
With migration season just beginning, case numbers are expected to continue. The question isn’t whether H5N1 will spread further, it’s whether current containment efforts can keep pace with nature’s own distribution network.
The New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak in Central America took a concerning turn this week as Mexico confirmed its northernmost case yet, only 69 miles from the Texas border. A young cow in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, tested positive for the flesh-eating parasite, marking a significant geographic leap from the previous detection in Veracruz in July, some 370 miles south of the U.S. border. The location is especially worrying as Sabinas Hidalgo sits along the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon’s capital and largest city, to Laredo, Texas, one of the world’s busiest commercial corridors.
The U.S. response has been swift but costly for bilateral relations. USDA continues the suspension on all imports of Mexican cattle, bison, and horses while the NWS outbreak is handled, a move that could cost Mexico’s ranching industry up to $400 million if maintained through the year. In response to the new detection near the border, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that Washington will take “decisive measures to protect our borders, even in the absence of cooperation.” Nearly 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico have screened over 13,000 samples without detecting screwworm flies stateside. The USDA has also allocated $100 million for enhanced sterile-fly production and advanced detection tools.
With over 500 active cases across Mexico’s southern states and the parasite’s ability to infect any warm-blooded animal, this outbreak represents a significant agricultural security challenge that will require sustained binational cooperation.
Typologies of Terrorist Organizations: Conceptual Lenses and Counterterrorism Measures
This forthcoming book was authored by Mahmut Cengiz, Mitchel P. Roth, and Huseyin Cinoglu. Cengiz is an associate professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government and a research faculty member with Mason’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center who teaches courses in the Biodefense Graduate Program: “Explore the complex landscape of global terrorism with Typologies of Terrorist Organizations: Conceptual Lenses and Counterterrorism Measures. This essential volume provides a comprehensive examination of hundreds of terrorist groups and employs a detailed framework of typological classifications—religious, left-wing/revolutionary, ethnonationalist, anarchist, right-wing, ecoterrorism, state terrorism, cyberterrorism, and narcoterrorism—to analyze each group in depth, focusing on their ideologies, key actors, methods, and underlying motives.”
“What sets this book apart is its multidimensional approach, using conceptual lenses to delve into the causes of terrorist actions, the motivations driving these groups, and their strategies. This approach not only aids in combating terrorism but also enhances understanding of the broader context in which these groups operate. It provides insights into their organizational structures, tactics, weaponry, victim profiles, target types, funding sources, and networks, painting a comprehensive picture of the evolving nature of terrorism.”
“Additionally, Typologies of Terrorist Organizations offers a critical review of domestic and global counterterrorism strategies, examining how these strategies have evolved to address emerging threats. Each chapter provides a detailed perspective on counterterrorism efforts, making this book a valuable resource for understanding both the development of terrorist tactics and the responses designed to counter them.”
“Ideal for scholars, policymakers, and security professionals, this book is not only crucial for those engaged in counterterrorism but also for anyone seeking to understand the broader contextual dynamics of global terrorism. Its combination of theoretical depth and practical analysis makes it a significant contribution to the field of counterterrorism studies and an indispensable guide for navigating contemporary security challenges.”
“Upward and Onward: 2025 Preparedness Summit”
Read about Biodefense PhD student Kimmy Ma’s experience at the the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ (NACCHO) 2025 Preparedness Summit in this article from the Pandora Report. In it, Ma writes in part, “It will by no means be a simple or easy road, but I believe my public health preparedness colleagues’ adamant desire and mindset to serve their constituents is what brings them back to their work and keep attending Prep Summit, year after year. It seems like, deep down, they never truly give up on their belief that there is a way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel and serve their communities in the process.”
“Physical Approaches to Civilian Biodefense: Identifying Potential Preparedness Measures for Challenging Biological Threats”
From the RAND Corporation: “This research project was initiated in response to emerging evidence on three possible biological threat scenarios that could have catastrophic effects on the United States: a fast scenario involving a rapidly spreading outbreak of a lethal human-to-human-transmissible pathogen, a silent scenario involving a pathogen that infects much of the population before infected people display visible symptoms, and a saturating scenario involving a pathogen that replicates and persists in the environment. Although these three broad scenario categories have been discussed elsewhere, the goal of this report is to better define the possibilities and limits of physical approaches to civilian biodefense against these scenarios. In this report, we offer initial frameworks for thinking about how the United States could achieve resilience against these scenarios (as well as any less severe versions), and we recommend actions that governments and civil society can take to work toward resilience. This work is not precise or conclusive; it can and should be verified and analyzed in a more detailed and expanded manner to support more-precise recommendations. This report is intended primarily for policymakers and technical staff, as well as philanthropists, who work on pandemic preparedness and catastrophic threat mitigation.”
Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings: A Workshop
From NASEM: “A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize a virtual public workshop to examine personal protective equipment (PPE) needs and best practices to protect workers in high-risk U.S. farm settings and control Influenza A (H5N1) transmission between livestock and humans. This workshop will provide the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas among interested and impacted parties–including technical experts, policy makers, livestock industry leaders and farm owners, and PPE users in farm settings (e.g., farmworkers, veterinarians).”
These workshops will take place 10 am-4:30pm ET on September 29-30. Register here.
Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop
From NASEM: “Most biological molecules are chiral entities where their mirror images have different structures and functional characteristics. Scientists have begun synthesizing left-handed DNA and RNA and creating proteins that can write left-handed nucleic acids. This, and other related research, is described as “mirror biology” and includes research toward creating mirror-image self-replicating living systems. The National Academies will host a foundational workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trends in research and development, risks and benefits of this research, and considerations relating for future governance of relevant enabling technologies.”
This event will take place virtually, September 29-30. Register here.
Doing More with Less: Practical Biosafety on a Budget
“Led by Azelia Labs biosafety experts, Katerina Semenyuk, PhD, RBP (ABSA) and Sarah Ziegler, PhD, RPB, CBSP (ABSA) this webinar will provide a comprehensive guide to maintaining a robust biosafety program in resource-constrained environments. We will address the unique challenges that arise when faced with limited funding or leadership hesitation to invest in safety protocols.”
“This session will focus on practical, actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles. Topics will include how to prioritize essential safety measures when budgets are tight, creative solutions for providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and innovative approaches to maintaining equipment and facilities without costly upgrades. We will also discuss methods for effectively communicating the value of biosafety to leadership to secure the necessary support for your program.”
This online event will take place on October 2, 12-1 pm EDT. Register here.
Feeding Resilience: Risk and Readiness in Food Security
From CSR: “This event will convene a multidisciplinary group interested in food security, agriculture, climate, security, and development in-person at KSU and virtually for other US and international audiences. Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to network and engage with expert speakers on food and water security challenges, agricultural trade and innovation, workforce development, and the way forward in today’s global policymaking environment. The event is part of CCS’s Feeding Resilience program, which has analyzed and developed policy recommendations on food, climate, and security risks for the United States and is now deepening analysis and policy engagements for European and global audiences.”
This event will take place 8:30am-2:35pm CDT in Manhattan, KS, on October 7. Register here.
EMBRACE 2025 – Scientific Pathways to Biotoxin Preparedness Online Event
From CMINE: “Join us at the forefront of chemical and biological security for EMBRACE 2025 – a key event dedicated to cutting-edge research on biotoxins and human biomarkers of intoxication. This international symposium will spotlight ground-breaking scientific work and host the inauguration of EMBRACE’s Biotoxin Task Force.”
“What to Expect:
A unique opportunity to shape the scientific landscape of biotoxin threat preparedness and learn more about the EU EMBRACE project and the Biotoxin Task Force
A platform for showcasing innovation in biotoxin detection and response
Networking with global experts in biological forensics and toxicology”
This event will take place on October 15, 0900-1700 CEST. Register here.
Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: A Workshop
From NASEM: “The National Academies’ Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health will host a hybrid public workshop on October 28 to explore current and potential future applications for AI in genomics and precision health along the continuum from translational research to clinical applications. The workshop will:
Explore the current implementation of AI in genomics and precision health (e.g., variant interpretation, data integration, patient and participant identification, return of results, treatment selection).
Discuss potential benefits and challenges of future AI applications (e.g., data harmonization and security, workforce, and usefulness for all).
Consider evaluations for and impact of the accuracy of, and bias inherent to, AI technologies in genomics-related research and clinical care.
Examine lessons learned from applications of AI in other fields that may be transferable to genomics and precision health throughout the translational research process.”
This workshop will take place 8:30am-5:00pm ET on October 28. Register here.
Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction
From the World Organisation for Animal Health: “In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.”
“The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.”
“The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.”
“Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.”
“The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place. ”
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
NEW: Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship
“The Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship inspires and connects the next generation of biosecurity leaders and innovators. Launched in 2012, ELBI is a highly competitive, part-time program that provides an opportunity for talented graduate students and professionals to deepen their expertise, expand their network, and build their leadership skills through a series of events coordinated by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The fellowship boasts over 300 alumni with backgrounds in government, national security, private industry, science, law, public health, medicine, global health, journalism, the social sciences, and academia.”
Learn more and submit your application by October 12 here.
NEW: AI & National Security Convergence Fellowship
“In this context, the Converging Risks Lab (CRL), an institute of the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR), is partnering with the Future of Life Institute (FLI) on the “AGI and National Security Convergence Project,” a new initiative endeavoring to arm decision-makers with the understanding and capabilities required to future-proof national security against the potential perils of AGI while maximizing its promise. This partnership combines CRL’s experience in training and engaging national security leaders on convergence topics through experiential learning methods with FLI’s commitment to educating policymakers on the national security implications of developing AGI.”
Learn more and submit your application by October 13 here.
NEW: Council on Foreign Relations Internships
In an ever-changing world, CFR’s work as a leading nonpartisan resource for information and ideas about foreign policy is more important than ever. At CFR, interns participate in one of the foremost paid internship programs in the foreign policy arena. They do work that matters alongside smart and dedicated staff in a diverse and inclusive environment. Interns are paid a competitive hourly wage while gaining valuable experience through exposure to leading foreign policy experts. They are also offered professional development training as a foundation for future work in the field of foreign policy and international affairs. Internship opportunities are offered through the Blavatnik Internship Program and Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program.
Learn more and submit your application by October 13 here.
NEW: Scoville Peace Fellowship
“The fellowship ensures a pipeline of the brightest, most dedicated, and diverse next-generation experts into leading think tanks and advocacy groups in order to inspire creative new approaches to the pervasive challenges to peace and security. Its goal is to bridge the gap between academia and the professional world by providing an entree for mission-driven grads eager to learn about and contribute to public-interest organizations. The fellowship was established to honor longtime nuclear arms control activist Dr. Herbert (Pete) Scoville, Jr., a Ph.D. in physical chemistry and dedicated public servant, who encouraged young people to become involved in arms control and national security.”
Learn more and submit your application by October 20 here.
NEW: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
“There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory and on-farm biological risk management has gaps, and that applied agricultural biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence. This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied agricultural biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis. ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
Learn more and submit your proposal by October 31here.
NEW: Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly Call for Papers
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Cyberbiosecurity Quarterly, a new academic and trade journal dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity and the bioeconomy. Published by Kansas State University’s New Prairie Press and sponsored by the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), this quarterly journal will serve as an important resource for professionals, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard digital and physical biological infrastructures. Cyberbiosecurity is an emerging discipline that addresses the protection of biomanufacturing, biomedical research, synthetic biology, digital agriculture, and other life sciences sectors from digital threats. This journal will explore topics at the nexus of cybersecurity, digital biosecurity, and the bioeconomy, including but not limited to:
Best practices for network configuration and management in biomedical environments (ingress/egress protection, segmentation, isolation, access control, traffic protection, etc.)
Cybersecurity Vendor Management and Assessment
Cyber and Digital Biosecurity Education for the Bioeconomy’s Workforce
The Quality-Cybersecurity Tension in Practice and Techniques for Mitigation
Threat Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Biological Systems
Regulatory and Policy Perspectives on Cyberbiosecurity
Incident Response and Risk Mitigation in Biomanufacturing
AI and Machine Learning in Digital and Cyber Biosecurity”
“The Editors of Applied Biosafety are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue focused on the myriad of topics associated with global biosafety management. This special issue will showcase examples of innovative approaches, creative solutions, and best practices developed and used around the world for managing risks associated with the handling, use, and storage of infectious biological agents, toxins, and potentially infectious materials in research and clinical settings.”
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue features sweeping changes in U.S. vaccine policy and the state-level battles they’ve sparked, major shakeups across the intelligence community and pharmaceutical supply chains, and new developments at the intersection of AI, biosecurity, and biotechnology risks. From public health politics to national security and emerging technologies, here’s what you need to know.
Thinking About Graduate Study in Biodefense?
The Schar School of Policy and Government has several upcoming recruitment events:
☕ Plus: Regional coffee chats with faculty and admissions staff across Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Learn more here.
💡 Tuition Benefit: Master’s and certificate students living in Maryland and DC quality for in-state tuition rates. Learn more and register here.
State Pushback and Federal Tensions Over Vaccine Policy
Recent federal changes to vaccine policy under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have prompted a strong state-level reaction: blue and swing states including Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and others are moving to preserve vaccine access through legislation, bills, executive orders, and regional collaborations that can issue independent recommendations and expand pharmacy-based administration of vaccines regardless of federal guidance. State lawmakers and medical experts warn, however, that these piecemeal measures may not fully mitigate the harm of an expected federal rollback of vaccine access across different age groups, leaving tens of millions – including Medicare enrollees, military members and veterans, and people on employer plans – exposed to higher out-of-pocket costs and potential loss of coverage.
Conversely, some red states, like Florida, are taking a more restrictive approach to vaccines. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has called for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be “not available to anyone,” clarifying that other vaccines would remain accessible to Floridians but singling out mRNA shots as unsafe in his view. This news comes amid waning public confidence in federal vaccine policy: a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only one in four Americans believe recent vaccine policy changes are grounded in scientific evidence, with the majority expressing skepticism and concerns about the politicization of public health decisions. “Infectious diseases do not respect political boundaries,” said Pennsylvania Democratic state Rep. Arvind Venkat. “We’re talking about contagious illnesses. What you do affects me and what I do affects you.”
On Wednesday, former CDC Director Susan Monarez testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that she was fired for resisting Secretary Kennedy’s demands to pre-approve vaccine recommendations for the public and fire career scientists. “Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology,” says Monarez. Just days before a high-stakes meeting this week, HHS and CDC announced five new members to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with votes expected on recommendations for vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV), and respiratory syncytial virus.
In a perplexing conclusion to the otherwise tense meeting on Thursday, the panel seemed to contradict itself when voting on the MMRV recommendation: the members voted 8 to 3, with one abstention, in favor of recommending that children under 4 receive MMR and varicella vaccines separately rather than the combined MMRV shot. However, on a follow-up vote regarding whether this decision should apply to coverage under the nation’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, the panel backpedaled, issuing eight no votes, one yes vote, and three abstentions, citing confusion over how to reconcile coverage with the updated recommendations. Analysts at Citi noted that while the decision may impact parental choice and Merck’s vaccine specifically, overall vaccination rates for the four diseases “are likely to remain stable.”
These deliberations occur against a broader backdrop of declining childhood vaccination rates across the U.S. A six-month NBC News investigation, in collaboration with Stanford University, found that since 2019, 77% of counties and jurisdictions in the U.S. have reported notable declines in core childhood vaccines–including MMR, polio, whooping cough and diphtheria shots–with some countries seeing drops of more than 40 percentage points. Rising exemption rates for school children further exacerbate the problem: among states tracking MMR vaccine data, 67% of counties now fall below the 95% herd immunity threshold needed to protect outbreaks. “As childhood vaccination rates fall, we’ll see more diseases like measles,” Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said.
From Intelligence to Supply Chains: Evolving National Security Challenges
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is reportedly considering reductions to the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), key hubs for coordinating the U.S. government’s counterintelligence activities against espionage campaigns. These changes come as part of a broader restructuring across several federal agencies and the intelligence community, including CISA, the FBI, NSA, CIA, and other agencies. A previous reorganization already reduced NCSC leadership from six senior directors and assistant directors to a single acting director, according to one former senior official, and further cuts are expected. In the meantime, the White House has nominated George Wesley Street to serve as the next director of the center.
National security concerns extend into the pharmaceutical sector. The Trump administration is reportedly weighing several restrictions on medicines sourced from China, including experimental treatments, amid warnings from prominent investors and corporate executives with close ties to the White House that such measures could help crackdown against what they view as an existential threat by China to U.S. biotechnology. A draft of the executive orders under consideration would prioritize domestic production of key medicine, including antibiotics and acetaminophen, and offer tax credits to companies relocating manufacturing to the U.S. The policy debates highlight concerns that America’s reliance on China for essential medicines represents a national security vulnerability, especially as major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and AstraZeneca have invested heavily in Chinese experimental drug markets.
AI, Biosecurity, and the Fragile Line Between Promise and Peril
OpenAI is collaborating with the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) and the UK’s AI Standards Institute (AISI) to strengthen safeguards in AI systems, particularly in domains with national security relevance such as cyber and chemical-biological risk domains. The partnership focuses on joint red-teaming of safeguards against biological misuse, end-to-end product testing for security issues, and rapid feedback loops to address vulnerabilities. Since July, OpenAI and CAISI have worked to identify potential security vulnerabilities in agentic systems, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent, while the UK AISI began red-teaming safeguards against biological misuse in May–ongoing collaboration to continuously improve the effectiveness of OpenAI’s safety stack.
In parallel, Boston University has recently developed an AI tool to enhance surveillance of disease outbreaks across the globe. This project known as the Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON), launched in April, combines algorithmic analysis and expert oversight to track emerging diseases in the U.S. and abroad. “Our main goal is to reduce the time between the reporting of a disease and its response,” said Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious disease physician who served in the Biden administration’s COVID response team. “You want a potential alarm bell.” In just three months, BEACON has flagged about 420 outbreaks and mapped 134 pathogens affecting humans, animals and other species, with active users spanning 162 countries, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
At the same time, scientists are revisiting older fears about biotechnology’s risks. In the late 2024, a team of Nobel-winning biologists and experts warned of the dangers of creating “mirror life” – synthetic organisms built from molecules with the opposite handedness of all known biology. Such organisms could theoretically infect cells while remaining potentially invisible to immune defenses, posing catastrophic ecological risks. Though purely hypothetical today, the idea dates to Louis Pasteur’s 19th-century discovery of molecular asymmetry, underscoring the long history of anxieties over humanity accidentally unleashing forces beyond its control.
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
Early Birds: H5N1 Gets a Head Start on Migration Season
This week saw a flurry of new H5N1 bird flu developments across the country in both wild bird populations and agricultural settings, potentially signaling a rise in virus spread as the fall migration season takes flight.
In Maryland, Charles County health officials reported that several dead vultures found near La Plata tested presumptively positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza on September 12th. While confirmatory results are pending, the detection underscores H5N1’s continued circulation in wild bird populations, particularly among scavenging species like vultures. The public is urged not to handle sick or dead birds and report any encounters to the USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service.
Meanwhile, Nebraska announced its first confirmed H5N1 detection in dairy cattle. USDA officials identified the virus in a central Nebraska herd through pre-movement milk sampling, a testament to the value of proactive surveillance measures. Genetic analysis confirmed the strain matches the B3.13 genotype seen in circulating in dairy operations in other U.S. states, including California.
Minnesota also saw its disease-free status end this week following confirmation of H5N1 in a Redwood County turkey flock that saw increased bird mortality over the weekend. This marks the state’s first detection since April 23rd, just weeks after officials declared Minnesota free from the disease on August 25th.
These new detections come shortly after outbreaks in North and South Dakota last month that have already claimed nearly 200,000 birds. South Dakota state veterinarian Beth Thompson said South Dakota is at the “leading edge” of this season’s bird flu infections with 134,900 turkeys killed across three facilities to contain the spread. North Dakota reported 60,300 turkey deaths in response to outbreaks there.
With fall migration season set to intensify over the coming weeks and months, the recent wave of detections highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance across both wild bird populations and agricultural settings. Effective coordination between state agriculture departments and federal agencies will prove increasingly vital as the virus capitalizes on seasonal bird movements to spread across the country to new flocks and farms.
“Saving Lives, Spending Less: The Global Investment Case for Noncommunicable Diseases”
From WHO: “Saving lives, spending less: the global investment case for noncommunicable diseases outlines why urgent investment in cost-effective interventions for NCDs is essential for health and sustainable development. Drawing on the World Health Organization’s package of NCD best buys, the report demonstrates how these evidence-based measures can help countries reduce premature deaths, strengthen health systems, and advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It provides policymakers, donors, advocates, and partners with a clear economic and social rationale for scaling up implementation of proven solutions. By framing NCD prevention and control as both a health and development priority, the report offers a roadmap for action that delivers benefits across populations, economies, and generations. The evidence is clear: investing in WHO’s best buys is not only possible—it is imperative. The time to act is now.”
NEW: Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings: A Workshop
From NASEM: “A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize a virtual public workshop to examine personal protective equipment (PPE) needs and best practices to protect workers in high-risk U.S. farm settings and control Influenza A (H5N1) transmission between livestock and humans. This workshop will provide the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas among interested and impacted parties–including technical experts, policy makers, livestock industry leaders and farm owners, and PPE users in farm settings (e.g., farmworkers, veterinarians).”
These workshops will take place 10 am-4:30pm ET on September 29-30. Register here.
NEW: Feeding Resilience: Risk and Readiness in Food Security
From CSR: “This event will convene a multidisciplinary group interested in food security, agriculture, climate, security, and development in-person at KSU and virtually for other US and international audiences. Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to network and engage with expert speakers on food and water security challenges, agricultural trade and innovation, workforce development, and the way forward in today’s global policymaking environment. The event is part of CCS’s Feeding Resilience program, which has analyzed and developed policy recommendations on food, climate, and security risks for the United States and is now deepening analysis and policy engagements for European and global audiences.”
This event will take place 8:30am-2:35pm CDT in Manhattan, KS, on October 7. Register here.
NEW: Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: A Workshop
From NASEM: “The National Academies’ Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health will host a hybrid public workshop on October 28 to explore current and potential future applications for AI in genomics and precision health along the continuum from translational research to clinical applications. The workshop will:
Explore the current implementation of AI in genomics and precision health (e.g., variant interpretation, data integration, patient and participant identification, return of results, treatment selection).
Discuss potential benefits and challenges of future AI applications (e.g., data harmonization and security, workforce, and usefulness for all).
Consider evaluations for and impact of the accuracy of, and bias inherent to, AI technologies in genomics-related research and clinical care.
Examine lessons learned from applications of AI in other fields that may be transferable to genomics and precision health throughout the translational research process.”
This workshop will take place 8:30am-5:00pm ET on October 28. Register here.
Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop
From NASEM: “Most biological molecules are chiral entities where their mirror images have different structures and functional characteristics. Scientists have begun synthesizing left-handed DNA and RNA and creating proteins that can write left-handed nucleic acids. This, and other related research, is described as “mirror biology” and includes research toward creating mirror-image self-replicating living systems. The National Academies will host a foundational workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trends in research and development, risks and benefits of this research, and considerations relating for future governance of relevant enabling technologies.”
This event will take place virtually, September 29-30. Register here.
Doing More with Less: Practical Biosafety on a Budget
“Led by Azelia Labs biosafety experts, Katerina Semenyuk, PhD, RBP (ABSA) and Sarah Ziegler, PhD, RPB, CBSP (ABSA) this webinar will provide a comprehensive guide to maintaining a robust biosafety program in resource-constrained environments. We will address the unique challenges that arise when faced with limited funding or leadership hesitation to invest in safety protocols.”
“This session will focus on practical, actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles. Topics will include how to prioritize essential safety measures when budgets are tight, creative solutions for providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and innovative approaches to maintaining equipment and facilities without costly upgrades. We will also discuss methods for effectively communicating the value of biosafety to leadership to secure the necessary support for your program.”
This online event will take place on October 2, 12-1 pm EDT. Register here.
EMBRACE 2025 – Scientific Pathways to Biotoxin Preparedness Online Event
From CMINE: “Join us at the forefront of chemical and biological security for EMBRACE 2025 – a key event dedicated to cutting-edge research on biotoxins and human biomarkers of intoxication. This international symposium will spotlight ground-breaking scientific work and host the inauguration of EMBRACE’s Biotoxin Task Force.”
“What to Expect:
A unique opportunity to shape the scientific landscape of biotoxin threat preparedness and learn more about the EU EMBRACE project and the Biotoxin Task Force
A platform for showcasing innovation in biotoxin detection and response
Networking with global experts in biological forensics and toxicology”
This event will take place on October 15, 0900-1700 CEST. Register here.
Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction
From the World Organisation for Animal Health: “In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.”
“The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.”
“The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.”
“Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.”
“The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place. ”
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
“The Editors of Applied Biosafety are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue focused on the myriad of topics associated with global biosafety management. This special issue will showcase examples of innovative approaches, creative solutions, and best practices developed and used around the world for managing risks associated with the handling, use, and storage of infectious biological agents, toxins, and potentially infectious materials in research and clinical settings.”
From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”
“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”
“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”
“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”
This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.
This week’s Pandora Report covers updates on the Trump administration’s response to the West Texas measles outbreak, challenges at NIH, possible budget cuts to DOD programs focused on WMDs and pandemic preparedness, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 20. Learn more and register here.
Updates on the Trump Administration
Top HHS Officials Retire and Resign
Francis S. Collins, the well-known geneticist who ran the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, announced on Saturday that he has retired from the NIH and the federal government. Collins did not provide a reason for his departure, and he has refused to do any interviews. His parting statement offered a subtle yet pointed message to the Trump administration, with Collins writing in part “As I depart N.I.H., I want to express my gratitude and love for the men and women with whom I have worked side by side for so many years. They are individuals of extraordinary intellect and integrity, selfless and hard-working, generous and compassionate. They personify excellence in every way, and they deserve the utmost respect and support of all Americans.”
Tom Corry, Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at HHS, also abruptly resigned from the department last Friday, just two weeks after starting his new role. Corry did not provide a reason for his departure either. He previously served as a senior advisor and Director of Communications at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the first Trump administration.
Kennedy Embraces Unconventional Remedies as Measles Outbreak Grows
As the West Texas measles outbreak grows, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has touted several unconventional remedies while continuing to not urge all Americans to get vaccinated against the disease. In an interview, Kennedy said the federal government is shipping doses of vitamin A to Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the outbreak, and helping to arrange ambulance rides. He also claimed that physicians in Texas have seen “very, very good results” treating measles with budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil. This has prompted strong backlash from many in the medical community.
As of March 6, 222 cases have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. The US eliminated measles in 2000. Today, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico has been reported dead, a little over a week after the death of an unvaccinated child in Lubbock, Texas. The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert in response to the outbreak earlier this week.
Bhattacharya Promises “Scientific Dissent” at NIH
Jay Bhattacharya, Donald Trump’s nominee for NIH director, said on Wednesday that NIH officials “oversaw a culture of coverup, obfuscation, and a lack of tolerance for ideas that differed from theirs” in recent years. He promised to, in response to this, “establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and and scientific dissent at the agency.”
Bhattacharya infamously co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020, which argued for allowing people at lower risk of COVID-19 complications to go about life as normal, assuming that, if infected, they would experience mild disease and contribute to herd immunity. NPR explains that, “During the COVID pandemic, Bhattacharya clashed with the mainstream medical establishment, including the NIH, over lockdowns and other measures designed to control the spread of the virus. He says he was shunned and penalized for his views and he didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate.”
NIH Set to Terminate Active Research Grants
The NIH has begun mass terminations of research grants funding active scientific projects that no longer meet “agency priorities”. According to Nature News, “NIH staff members have been instructed to identify and potentially cancel grants for projects studying transgender populations, gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the scientific workforce, environmental justice and any other research that might be perceived to discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, according to documents and an audio recording that Nature has obtained. Grants that allot funding to universities in China and those related to climate change are also under scrutiny.”
This comes after a federal court temporarily blocked the administration’s proposed cut to NIH funding for universities’ indirect costs like facilities and administration. However, as Politico points out, the administration may pivot to renegotiating the payments with individual universities.
DOD Cuts Threaten Pandemic Preparedness, WMD Proliferation Prevention, and More
DOD agencies responsible for preventing WMD proliferation and building security capacity globally are at risk of intense budget cuts or outright abolition. According to a recent draft working paper, DOD is asking all agencies and services that oversee security cooperation programs to assess potential impacts of funding realignment. The paper was prepared in response to an RFI from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that asked agencies to assess consequences of four levels of staff reduction, including 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The authors of the working paper, according to WIRED, “…warn that the cuts could hobble the fight against organized crime in South America, impair the battle against the Islamic State, increase the likelihood of a rogue state producing and using chemical weapons, and defund pandemic surveillance measures.”
CDC Staff Now Prohibited from Co-Authoring Papers with WHO Personnel
Scientists at the CDC are now prohibited from co-authoring publications with WHO staff, according to reporting from HuffPost. An interim guidance document obtained by the news agency explained that “CDC staff should not be co-authors on manuscripts/abstracts with WHO staff,” while also adding that CDC staff should not author publications related to work that is “funded by WHO.” The guidance further instructs CDC staff who are lead authors on such publications to either pause all action on those publications, or to recuse themselves as authors if the publication process cannot be paused. It also says that manuscripts not in compliance with Trump’s executive orders that were submitted prior to January 20 should be withdrawn, or CDC staff should recuse themselves as authors.
US Funding Cuts Threaten Global Fight Against TB
The WHO issued a warning on Wednesday explaining that severe funding cuts (namely, those in the United States) threaten decades of progress in the global fight against tuberculosis. The agency explained that essential prevention, testing, and treatment services are collapsing, leaving millions at risk. The regions most affected include Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where national TB programs depend on international support.
The TB Community Coordination Hub said in a statement about the funding cuts, “[We] strongly condemn this callous, abrupt and totally one-sided act that is unprecedented, and calls upon the US Administration to take immediate measures to restore funding and support projects globally that are crucial to contain and prevent a resurgence of this deadly disease.”
In a statement on Tuesday, the CDC said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of an unknown disease that has already killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to WHO, at least 1,318 people have exhibited symptoms of the disease, and 60 had died from it by February 27. A new mpox variant was also recently discovered in the country. The new variant has a mutation known as APOBEC3, which indicates it may be more easily transmissible than previously identified strains.
“WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research: Report of the Meeting, 30 October 2024”
From WHO: “The World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research (TAG-RULS DUR) was established to provide independent advice to WHO on the monitoring and mitigation of biorisks, the advances in the life sciences and related technologies, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences. This report summarizes the meeting that was virtually held on 30 October 2024. Over the course of the meeting, participants discussed and provided feedback on activities to operationalize the framework and delivered updates on activities of the TAG-RULS DUR’s four working groups.”
“A WHO Global Framework to Guide Investigations Into Origins of Potentially Epidemic and Pandemic Pathogens”
The Scientific Advisory Committee for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) and WHO SAGO Secretariat recently published this comment in Nature, writing in its introduction “In outbreak situations involving a novel pathogen timely and coordinated response is crucial. The WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens recently released a global framework to guide future scientific investigations into the origin of emerging pathogens.”
“Recent Virus Research Should Raise the Alarm”
W. Ian Lipkin and Ralph Baric recently published this opinion piece in The New York Times: “There’s a central question that many scientists face: How can scientific discoveries drive humanity’s progress without posing a dire risk to it? As virus experts, we’re committed to research that uncovers pandemic threats and helps protect people from them. But we are concerned about how some scientists are experimenting with viruses in ways that could put all of us in harm’s way.”
“From Inception to Fielding: Meeting the Challenges of Medical Countermeasure Development”
Sarah M. Wiles recently published this article in CBNW: “The U.S. Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense has a robust development process for new CBRN medical countermeasures. Sarah M. Wiles explains the process and its rationale.”
“Automated Grading for Efficiently Evaluating the Dual-Use Biological Capabilities of Large Language Models”
Bria Persaud, Ying-Chiang Jeffrey Lee, Jordan Despanie, Helin Hernandez, Henry Alexander Bradley, Sarah L. Gebauer, Greg McKelvey, Jr. recently published this RAND Corporation working paper: “The authors of this working paper developed a proof-of-concept automated grader and used it to assess large language models’ abilities to answer knowledge-based questions and generate protocols that explain how to perform common laboratory techniques that could be used in the creation of proxies for biological threats.”
“UNIDIR Empowers Emerging Leaders in Biological Disarmament and Biosecurity”
From UNIDIR: “As the world marks the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), UNIDIR alongside the DiploFoundation and the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique celebrates the successful completion of the inaugural BWC Advanced Education Course (BWCedu). This five-month advanced training programme – funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – brought together 25 emerging leaders from a diverse range of States, with a focus on participants from the Global South.”
“Seven Years Since Salisbury Was Centre of Novichok Attack”
Isabella Holliday recently authored this news article about the anniversary of the Novichok attack targeting the Skripals in Salisbury, UK. Read it in the Salisbury Journal here.
“Syria’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Addresses OPCW’s Executive Council”
From OPCW: “In a landmark visit to OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague, caretaker Foreign Minister al-Shaibani reaffirmed the commitment of the new Syrian authorities to cooperate with the OPCW to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the former Syrian regime”.
ICYMI: The Cost of Defunding PEPFAR and the Impact on the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Brown’s Pandemic Center hosted this webinar in late February. Watch the recording here. Key topics included:
“Call for Action – How policymakers, philanthropists, and institutions can mobilize to address these urgent gaps.”
“PEPFAR Changes & Uncertainty – Concerns about funding gaps, particularly affecting pediatric HIV treatment, maternal health, and job losses in healthcare.”
“Impact on South Africa & Beyond – The success of PEPFAR in South Africa and the potential consequences of its reduction, including rising HIV cases and strain on health systems.”
“Future of Global Health Funding – Exploring alternative funding sources, the role of UNICEF, private sector involvement, and the need for governments to step up.”
NEW: Building Trust in the H5N1 Response: Perspectives from the Field
From NASEM: “Since avian influenza (H5N1) was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, H5N1 has resulted in human infections, diminished livestock production, and decimated wildlife populations. Uncoordinated policies at the national, state, and local levels have challenged mitigation efforts, and mistrust has hindered the urgent response needed for the rapidly evolving threat. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats will host a public webinar on March 27 where agricultural producers and workforce health specialists will explore strategies to build greater mutual trust and a coordinated One Health response.”
This webinar will take place on March 27 at 2 pm ET. Register here.
2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit
From the Scowcroft Institute: “The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University invites you to attend the 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit examining the ongoing H5N1 outbreak across the U.S. Dairy industry. This summit will bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to review the response efforts, discuss current challenges and opportunities, and identify options for moving forward. Listen to panels of subject matter experts, explore case studies from the field, and participate in networking opportunities.”
This event will take place on March 18 in Washington, DC. Learn more and RSVP here.
Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base
“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base. This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”
This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NEW: Apply for the 2025 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship
“The global norm against biological weapons cannot be maintained without the inclusion of youth voices in the multilateral discussions taking place in the framework of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Youth perspectives are key to create innovative solutions and generate long-term engagement. There are benefits to including the perspectives of young people from developing countries, where over 90% of the world’s youth reside.”
“Organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva, in partnership with key international actors that empower youth in science diplomacy and global biosecurity, the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship provides a unique learning and networking experience in the framework of the Biological Weapons Convention.”
“Launched in 2019 as a Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop, the Youth for Biosecurity Initiative organized its first fellowship in 2023. For the third edition, the fellowship will provide the opportunity for 20 competitively selected young scientists from the Global South to join an online interactive training programme prior to a field visit during the meeting of the BWC Working Group on the Strengthening of the Convention in Geneva.”
NOFO, Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research “There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory biological risk management has gaps, and that biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence.1This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop2 or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis.1 ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the three key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
“This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.”
“This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety and agricultural biosecurity, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.”
Learn more and submit application by April 14here.
This week’s Pandora Report covers the West Texas measles outbreak, cancellation of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee’s annual flu vaccine meeting, H5N1 updates, and more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 27. Learn more and register here.
Texas Child Killed in Growing Measles Outbreak
An unvaccinated, school-age child has died from measles in Lubbock, Texas, amid the state’s worst outbreak of the disease in three decades. The child was hospitalized last week according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This is the first known US measles fatality since 2015. At least 124 cases have been reported, though thousands have potentially been exposed. Measles was considered eliminated in the US by 2000, following the introduction of a vaccine for it in 1963.
FDA Abruptly Cancels Meeting to Select Strains for Next Season’s Flu Shots
A meeting of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee that was scheduled to meet in March to select which strains will be included in next season’s flu shot was abruptly cancelled this week. Members of the committee were notified of the cancellation via email, which did not offer any explanation for the cancellation, on Wednesday afternoon. This comes during a particularly challenging flu season for the US, with 86 kids and 19,000 adults having died from flu this season so far.
RFK Jr. Says Panel Will Examine Childhood Vaccine Schedule
Just weeks after promising Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana he would not change the nation’s current vaccine schedule, RFK Jr. vowed in his first speech to HHS employees that the department he now leads will be “investigating” the childhood vaccine schedule. He delivered these remarks during a welcome ceremony at the HHS headquarters in Washington, DC, held just after thousands of employees were fired over the weekend.
Firings, Disorder Across Federal Health AgenciesContinues
Mass firings have continued on across federal health agencies in recent weeks, with several thousand probationary employees at HHS fired in the so-called “Valentine’s Day massacre.” Massive cuts were made at the NIH, including dismantling programs focused on climate change. The impact on NIH so far has been so devastating that research funding for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is lagging by around $1 billion compared to recent years. Furthermore, HHS officials have reportedly pressured NIH staff to ignore court orders to resume funding. Legislation has also been proposed that would break the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases into three separate research institutes led by directors appointed directly by the president.
Meanwhile, the CDC laid off large numbers of probationary employees. This was set to include all 50 first-years officers in the famous Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), in addition to some second-years, as bird flu fears continue to grow and a CDC flu vaccine campaign was pulled. Apparently the EIS was, for now, spared after all. CDC training programs like the Public Health Associate Program and the Laboratory Leadership Program are also at risk.
This has continued outside of HHS as well. For example, the National Science Foundation fired at least 10% of its workforce, and the dismantling of USAID has crippled the Demographic and Health Surveys. The National Nuclear Security Administration also reportedly scrambled to try and reverse firings of probationary employees last week, but struggled to do so as they did not have their new contact information.
Meanwhile, an attempt to purge anything containing language related to, or that could be interpreted as, containing “DEIA or gender ideology” led to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration trashing documents like “OSHA Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Release.” DEI is not discussed in the document. Rather, the term “diversity” is used in it in reference to varying kinds of state-specific certifications, regulations, and training, in addition to the diversity of roles within EMS.
US DOGE Service “Accidentally Canceled” USAID Ebola Program
On Wednesday, Elon Musk claimed that the US DOGE Service “accidentally cancelled” efforts by USAID to prevent the spread of Ebola, claiming that the initiative was quickly restored. Musk said in a cabinet meeting, “We will make mistakes. We won’t be perfect. But when we make a mistake, we’ll fix it very quickly…So we restored the Ebola prevention immediately. And there was no interruption.”
However, according to The Washington Post, “…current and former USAID officials said that Musk was wrong: USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts have been largely halted since Musk and his DOGE allies moved last month to gut the global-assistance agency and freeze its outgoing payments, they said. The teams and contractors that would be deployed to fight an Ebola outbreak have been dismantled, they added. While the Trump administration issued a waiver to allow USAID to respond to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda last month, partner organizations were not promptly paid for their work, and USAID’s own efforts were sharply curtailed compared to past efforts to fight Ebola outbreaks.”
On February 15, 2025 at the 61st Munich Security Conference, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), in partnership with Foreign Policy, convened emerging biosecurity leaders from the Global South. Together with top-level decision-makers, they discussed concrete next steps to accelerate the 100 Days Mission to reduce threats posed by deliberate, accidental, and naturally occurring biological threats. Strengthening biosecurity and biosafety will unleash the benefits of new technologies by minimizing risks, which will enable progress towards achieving the 100 Days Mission safely, securely and equitably. The groups issued a Biosecurity Emerging Leaders Declaration embodying these commitments and objectives.
H5N1 Updates
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
Egg Prices Plan 02.27
According to the USDA, egg prices are expected to continue rising, possibly by as much as 41%. With the possibility of a poultry vaccine created by Zoetis, hope is on the horizon. The company was given the go-ahead for a conditional license on February 18 and has plans to continue working on a similar vaccine that was started in 2022. President Trump and his team have announced their plan for the cost of eggs and response to combat the bird fu, which involves outsourcing the country’s egg needs to other countries by purchasing millions of eggs, increasing biosurveillance capabilities, and removing “unnecessary regulatory burdens on the chicken and egg industry.” Brooke Rollins, the US Secretary of Agriculture, says the administration expects egg prices to return to normal by the summer.
02.20
As the bird flu continues to devastate the American poultry market, causing millions of chicken deaths across the country, hope for a vaccine arrives. On February 17, a company announced its “conditional license” approval from the USDA. This vaccine is meant to protect chicken from the H5N2 subtype of the avian flu. Zoetis, the company responsible for this vaccine, has been working on developing a bird flu vaccine since 2022. Canada announced February 19 its human vaccine against H5N1 to give to those most at risk. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) stated it has secured 500,000 doses and will be used as part of Canada’s contingency plan. Canada joins the US and European Union who have stockpiled the avian flu vaccine in humans and plans to follow Finland, who has already begun vaccinating high risk individuals.
“WHO Global Framework to Define and Guide Studies Into the Origins of Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential”
From WHO: “The WHO global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, developed by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) has been designed as a resource for Member States. It provides, for the first time, comprehensive guidance on the studies that are needed to investigate the origins of emerging and reemerging pathogens.”
“Timely investigations into pathogens’ origins are critical for preventing and containing global health crises. Their findings provide the basis for stopping outbreaks before they begin, halting transmission chains and reducing the risk of pathogen spillover from animals to humans. They can also confirm or exclude the possibility of an unintentional breach in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.”
“The framework also offers recommendations on the capacities needed to conduct these studies and the critical importance of sharing all findings as soon as possible to guide next steps.”
“Giant-Killers: 7 Historic Deaths and the Diseases That Did It”
Maya Prabhu for Gavi: “From Alexander the Great to Mozart, some of our mightiest historical figures were felled by the tiniest of microbes. But which diseases killed them and – more importantly – how can you avoid their fate?”
“Piloting of the Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences”
From WHO: “The convergence of life sciences, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence presents a unique and powerful opportunity to address many of the world’s pressing health challenges. With rapid advancements in these fields, new possibilities emerge for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment—offering immense potential to improve global health outcomes.”
“However, alongside these benefits comes a growing recognition of the inherent risks associated with dual-use research, where scientific innovations designed for good can also be misused for malicious purposes or inadvertently result in harmful biological events.”
International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) 3rd Quarterly Newsletter
“This 3rd Quarterly Newsletter will address the achievements of the International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) during its first year and LMU BSRC’s current activities on strengthening global biosecurity education. The feature column within this Newsletter analyses the aim and structure of the Global guidance framework for the responsible use of the life sciences: Mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This review will focus on the biosecurity education elements of the report.”
“The Quarterly Newsletter also aims to share the recent activities of the International Biological Security Education Network and Biological Security Research Centre.”
“The Security Implications of Developments in Biotechnology”
From IISS: “This report analyses the security implications of the developments that have taken place in recent decades in the fields of genomics, genetic engineering and synthetic biology. The relevant international regulatory frameworks need to be enhanced to keep pace with biotechnological advances, while a whole-of-society approach appears to be the best way to deal with the pressing ethical issues that biotechnology raises.”
“WMD Nonproliferation Regimes: An Overlooked Casualty of Russia’s War on Ukraine”
Christina McAllister discusses how Russia’s war on Ukraine has been accompanied by an “assault on WMD nonproliferation regimes and nuclear security norms” in this commentary piece from the Stimson Center.
“The Biological Weapons Convention at Fifty: Codifying 100 Years of Efforts to Combat Biological Warfare”
“This publication has been developed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), with the support of the European Union, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention.”
“By bringing together different stakeholders, including, among others, experts and practitioners from the diplomatic field, academia and civil society, the publication highlights the achievements and obstacles encountered over the past fifty years, current discussions related to the strengthening of the Convention as well as future opportunities and challenges.”
“522. Drones and Biotechnological Weaponry: Emerging Risks, Strategic Threats, and Viable Readiness”
From TRADOC’s Mad Scientist Laboratory blog: “Today’s submission — co-authored by frequent contributor and proclaimed Mad Scientist Dr. James Giordano and returning contributor Dr. Diane DiEuliis — addresses the “nexus of drones and bioweapons” in Twenty-first century conflict, exploring how “drone technology, synthetic biology, and gene-editing pose a formidable challenge to global security.” This convergent challenge demands we “invest in fostering interagency and international collaboration, advanced surveillance systems, and develop robust countermeasures to mitigate the risks associated with these technologies” — Read on!]”
Eryney Marrogi and Niko McCarty for Asimov Press: “A new AI model for biology, released today by Arc Institute and NVIDIA, can predict which mutations within a gene are likely to be harmful and even design small, eukaryotic genomes.”
“‘Turn it Off’: Grok Under Fire After Providing Assassination Advice, Chemical Weapons Recipes”
Katherine Huggins for Daily Dot: “Some tech influencers are sounding the alarm over Grok—the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI—after social media users were easily able to gain potentially dangerous information about chemical weapons and more from the new edition of the AI model.”
“More than 160 Gazan Medics Held in Israeli Prisons Amid Reports of Torture”
Annie Kelly for The Guardian: “At least 160 healthcare workers from Gaza, including more than 20 doctors, are believed to still be inside Israeli detention facilities as the World Health Organisation expressed deep concern about their wellbeing and safety…Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical NGO, said it had confirmed that 162 medical staff remained in Israeli detention, including some of Gaza’s most senior physicians, and a further 24 were missing after being taken from hospitals during the conflict.”
What We’re Listening To 🎧
Osterholm Update Episode 177: We Cannot Give Up or Give In
“In “We Cannot Give Up or Give In” Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the confirmation of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary, recent layoffs at the CDC and NIH, and a new vaccine policy being adopted in Louisiana. They also discuss seasonal and H5N1 influenza activity and a measles outbreak in Texas.”
Unconfined Episode 16: Is Animal Agriculture Contributing to Bird Flu Spread?
From the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future: “In episode 16 of Unconfined, two leading experts, Meghan Davis and Erin Sorrell, discuss the current bird flu outbreak affecting poultry, dairy cattle, and farm workers—and unpack risks to food supply and public health.”
NEW: Blockchain for Monitoring and Tracking Chemicals (MATCH)
From the Stimson Center: “The future of chemical security may rely on blockchain technologies. Join the MATCH team and industry leaders to discuss how innovative Distributed Ledger Technology is revolutionizing the monitoring and reporting of dual-use chemicals.”
“Since its first kick-off meeting in September 2021, the Monitoring and Tracking Chemicals (MATCH) project has gone through several phases of research, scenario building and testing to understand the feasibility of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) as an innovation for streamlining and improving the accuracy of declarations on international transfers of dual-use chemicals. These “Scheduled Chemicals” covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) have many legitimate medical, commercial and industrial uses but also represent the small subset of the global chemical trade that also pose the highest risk of misuse for chemical weapons.”
“Join us for a discussion with the MATCH team and its stakeholders, including MATCH developers True North and DataTrails, along with Global Affairs Canada, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for insights on the successes achieved and lessons learned along the way.”
This event will take place on March 3 at 12:30 pm ET. Learn more and RSVP here.
NEW: Synthesis Screening Workshop 3, Securing Bioproduction Against an Evolving Threat Landscape
From AI for SynBio: “Advances in AI are changing the threat landscape in many fields, including in the field of biology. With AI assisted design tools, the complexity and obfuscation potential of the synthetic biological materials is expected to increase. Conversely, the same AI advances can be deployed to help screen DNA/RNA synthesis requests before they can be used for malicious purposes. This workshop seeks insight on current and future advances that will shape both the threat and countermeasure landscapes and prepare the community for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks perspectives from academia, industry, and government.”
This workshop will take place March 5-6 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
NEW: 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit
From the Scowcroft Institute: “The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University invites you to attend the 2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit examining the ongoing H5N1 outbreak across the U.S. Dairy industry. This summit will bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to review the response efforts, discuss current challenges and opportunities, and identify options for moving forward. Listen to panels of subject matter experts, explore case studies from the field, and participate in networking opportunities.”
This event will take place on March 18 in Washington, DC. Learn more and RSVP here.
Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base
“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base. This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”
This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NOFO, Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research “There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory biological risk management has gaps, and that biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence.1This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop2 or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis.1 ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the three key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
“This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.”
“This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety and agricultural biosecurity, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.”
Learn more and submit application by April 14here.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Pandora Report! This week’s edition covers a recent OPCW delegation visit to Syria, a Russian drone attack that damaged the sarcophagus over Chornobyl’s damaged reactor, RFK Jr.’s confirmation as HHS Secretary, and much more.
Biodefense MS Information Session
“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”
This sessions will take place at 12 pm EDT on March 27. Learn more and register here.
OPCW Director-General Visits Syria
Last week, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Amb. Fernando Arias, traveled to Damascus with a high-level delegation from the OPCW to meet with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and caretaker Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani. According to a statement from OPCW, “The meetings were long, productive and very open, with an in-depth exchange of information, which will serve as a basis to reach tangible results and break the stalemate that has lasted for over eleven years.”
“The visit marked a first step towards re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria, following eleven years of stagnation and lack of progress with the former authorities. In their meeting, both sides discussed Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the role and mandate of the OPCW, and the type of support the Technical Secretariat can provide to the Syrian caretaker authorities in eliminating the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this morning that a Russian drone attack hit the radiation shield that protects Chornobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor. Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have both said that radiation levels remain normal in the area. Russia has denied its role in this attack, with a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation accusing Zelensky of orchestrating the attack to coincide with the Munich Security Conference.
In February of 2022, Ukraine alerted the IAEA that Russian forces had taken control of all facilities at the nuclear power plant in Chornobyl, prompting concerns about radiation exposure. Control of the plant was eventually returned to Ukrainian personnel in late March of that year. Since January of 2023, the IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary, White House Establishes MAHA Commission
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, putting an anti-vaccine activist lawyer with no relevant experience in charge of the nation’s federal health agencies and their nearly $2 trillion combined budget. Kennedy was confirmed in a 52-48 vote, with Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate Majority and Minority Leader and childhood polio survivor, being the only Republican to break party lines and vote against his confirmation.
Following his confirmation, Kennedy appeared on Fox News to outline his priorities. While on Laura Ingraham’s show, Kennedy claimed that the US is “the sickest country in the world,” while saying that the US faces not just a health crisis but also a “spiritual crisis.” In response to a clip of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizing Kennedy’s lack of qualifications, he said “The qualifications that Senator Schumer is talking about there, are the very qualifications that got us to where we are today. We do need a break. We need somebody different who can come in and say, ‘I’m going to be a disruptor. I’m not going to let the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry run health policy anymore.’”
Shortly after the confirmation, President Trump issued yet another executive order, this time establishing the “President’s Make American Healthy Again Commission.” This commission will be chaired by the Secretary of HHS, with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy as its executive director. Members of the commission will include the Secretaries of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and Veterans Affairs, the EPA Administrator, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, the Director of the National Economic Council, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Directors of the CDC and NIH, and other members invited by the chair and executive director.
The order says in part, “To fully address the growing health crisis in America, we must re-direct our national focus, in the public and private sectors, toward understanding and drastically lowering chronic disease rates and ending childhood chronic disease. This includes fresh thinking on nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety. We must restore the integrity of the scientific process by protecting expert recommendations from inappropriate influence and increasing transparency regarding existing data. We must ensure our healthcare system promotes health rather than just managing disease.”
White House Fires USAID IG After Warning About Funding Oversight
The White House fired the inspector general for USAID on Tuesday, according to officials, after the IG warned that the administration’s dismantling of the agency made it essentially impossible to monitor $8.2 billion in unspent funds. In an advisory notice released by the IG’s office on Monday, officials wrote, “In this alert, we identify risks and challenges to the safeguarding and distribution of USAID’s $8.2 billion in obligated but undisbursed humanitarian assistance funds following (1) the Department of State’s pause on foreign assistance programs and (2) subsequent personnel actions by USAID that have substantially reduced the operational capacity of its Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).”
Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Federal Health Agencies’ Websites and Datasets
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by Doctors for America against the federal government following the abrupt takedowns of federal health agencies’ websites and data sets late last month. The judge, Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is a George W. Bush appointee who emphasized that the loss of these resources jeopardized the work of clinicians and public health. Bates wrote in his opinion, “It bears emphasizing who ultimately bears the harm of defendants’ actions: everyday Americans, and most acutely, underprivileged Americans, seeking healthcare.”
According to NPR, “The pages that are now set to be revived include information for patients about HIV testing and HIV prevention medication, guidance on contraceptives, datasets that show vulnerability to natural disasters and emergencies, and an action plan for improving enrollment of underrepresented populations in clinical trials.”
Despite this ruling and the subsequent restoration of sites and datasets, it is still unclear how much has been altered on them. However, many pages and datasets have been added to the Internet Archive, including this upload of all CDC datasets uploaded before January 28, 2025.
Federal Judge Halts Trump Cuts to NIH Research Payments in 22 States
District Court Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District of Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH funding after 22 states filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s order. The lawsuit was filed on Monday, seeking to block a change that would cut NIH payments to universities, medical centers, and researchers studying things like cancer, rare diseases, and other health issues. A hearing has been set for February 21.
The Freeze on Foreign Aid Has Officially Killed People
A 71-year-old woman named Pe Kha Lau died after her oxygen supply was cut off by the US freeze on foreign aid. She was a refugee from Myanmar living in a displacement camp in Thailand, and she is thought to be one of the first people to have died as a direct consequence of this funding freeze. She was discharged from a USAID-funded healthcare facility that was operated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) four days before her death following a stop-work order.
The Thai government is trying to make up for the loss of IRC care in its nine refugee camps near the country’s border with Myanmar, with most critical condition patients having been transferred to Thai hospitals. Locals are reported to be “self-mobilizing” to try and offer what they can to these people in the sudden absence of US-funded care.
Furthermore, the stop-work order on all USAID-funded research has left many of people participating in research studies around the world in precarious situations. Thousands have been left with experimental drugs and devices in their bodies with a sudden lack of access to monitoring or care. This includes Asanda Zondi, a woman in South Africa who was a participant in a research study evaluating a new device to prevent pregnancy and HIV infection. As a result of the stop-worker order, Zondi was left with the device inserted into her vagina that needed to be removed immediately, but staff at the clinic were not allowed to help study participants remove the devices. Fortunately, some decided to help anyway.
The stop-work order is damaging not just because of its immediate impacts, but because of the harm it will cause to trust it took many years to build with the people and communities participating in studies. This is especially true in South Africa, where years of white rule under apartheid meant medical experiments were inappropriately conducted on Black South Africans.
Louisiana Department of Health Says It Will Stop Promoting “Mass Vaccination”
An internal memo sent within Louisiana’s Department of Health yesterday explained that the organization will no longer use media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccination against preventable diseases. The memo was authored by Ralph L. Abraham, the Surgeon General of Louisiana and a former Republican member of Congress who holds both a DVM and an MD. Abraham said in the memo that his state would “encourage each patient to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their provider,” but it will “no longer promote mass vaccination.”
Abraham later wrote, “Vaccines should be treated with nuance, recognizing differences between seasonal vaccines and childhood immunizations, which are an important part of providing immunity to our children.”
New Orleans, the state’s largest city, quickly showed it will not follow the state’s lead. Jennifer Avegno, the Director of the New Orleans Health Department, said in an email “We will continue to strongly promote childhood and seasonal vaccination, and expand our efforts locally to fill any gaps left by the state’s new direction.”
Louisiana is currently experiencing a surge in influenza cases, and it borders Texas, which is currently battling a measles outbreak, and Mississippi, where multiple schools have been forced to close due to the spread of an unspecified illness.
By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor
The bird flu continues to mutate, as Americans notice the rising cost of eggs. This has led to drastic measures as police are reporting a rise in egg thieves. Last week hundreds of eggs were stolen from a café in Seattle, coming just a few days after 100,000 organic eggs were reported stolen from a Pennsylvania distribution trailer. Ohio has reported its first human case of H5N1 in a Mercer County farmer. Ohio public health officials say the farmer was exposed due to dead poultry and contracted the virus. Ohio is currently the leader in bird flu cases, with 50 flocks impacted over the last 30 days. Human cases have risen as well, now reporting 68 across 11 states. Public Health officials assure the public the human-human risk is low, however experts at Johns Hopkins are saying the bird flu is steps away from mutating to affect humans. The combination of rising egg prices, mutating strains and communication freeze from authorities are causing many Americans to scramble and wonder if this is the next rising pandemic.
“Tulsi Gabbard as US Intelligence Chief Would Undermine Efforts Against the Spread of Chemical and Biological Weapons”
Gregory D. Koblentz, Director of George Mason’s Biodefense Graduate Program, published this article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ahead of Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation to be the Director of National Intelligence. In it, he discusses Gabbard’s longstanding history of parroting Russian propaganda talking points, unfounded claims about Syria’s use of chemical weapons, and conspiracy theories all in efforts to undermine the quality of the community she now leads. He writes at the end of the article, “During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard committed to “checking my own views at the door” and providing intelligence “that is collected, analyzed, and reported without bias, prejudice, or political influence.” Gabbard, however, has demonstrated a clear pattern of denying chemical threats posed by hostile states and inventing biological threats from our allies. Her bias in favor of the regimes of Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as her prejudice against the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the US intelligence community are clear. Her judgment on the risks presented by chemical and biological weapons cannot be trusted. This is particularly concerning since the annual threat assessment released by the current director of national intelligence in February 2024 highlighted the growing threat posed by these weapons.”
“Based on this track record, it is difficult to see how Gabbard can be relied upon to provide the quality of intelligence and national security advice needed by the commander in chief during these perilous times. For the Senate to confirm Gabbard would be national security malpractice.”
“Is There a Biological Weapons Taboo, and Does It Matter?”
Glenn A. Cross, an alumnus of the Biodefense PhD Program, recently published this review of Michelle Bentley’s book, The Biological Weapons Taboo, in The Nonproliferation Review.
“Biosafety Approaches: Applying the LOPA Method to High Containment Facilities”
Andrian Harsono, Ryan Waters, Jason Tearle, and Graeme Harkess recently published this article in Nature: “The Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) method is a semi-quantitative risk assessment tool that is used to determine the ability of safeguards to protect against unplanned hazardous scenarios. One possible outcome of a LOPA is that existing and proposed safeguards are deemed sufficient to reduce the risk associated with the hazardous scenario to a level that can be deemed as acceptable. Alternatively, the LOPA may also show that the safeguards are insufficient and therefore additional Safety Instrumented Function(s) (SIF) would be required to reduce risk to an acceptable level. In the latter case, the LOPA method will inform the end user as to the reliability requirements of the safety function in question. The LOPA method has been used extensively in the process industries (e.g., oil and gas) as a useful tool to manage and understand risk and to demonstrate if the facility is ‘safe’ to operate, but much less so in the biosafety sector. This paper describes the LOPA method and provides some practical examples of how it may be applied in microbiological high Containment Level (CL) facilities.”
“Global Epidemiology of Outbreaks of Unknown Cause Identified by Open-Source Intelligence, 2020–2022”
Honeyman et al. recently published this article in Emerging Infectious Diseases: “Epidemic surveillance using traditional approaches is dependent on case ascertainment and is delayed. Open-source intelligence (OSINT)–based syndromic surveillance can overcome limitations of delayed surveillance and poor case ascertainment, providing early warnings to guide outbreak response. It can identify outbreaks of unknown cause for which no other global surveillance exists. Using the artificial intelligence–based OSINT early warning system EPIWATCH, we describe the global epidemiology of 310 outbreaks of unknown cause that occurred December 31, 2019–January 1, 2023. The outbreaks were associated with 75,968 reported human cases and 4,235 deaths. We identified where OSINT signaled outbreaks earlier than official sources and before diagnoses were made. We identified possible signals of known disease outbreaks with poor case ascertainment. A cause was subsequently reported for only 14% of outbreaks analyzed; the percentage was substantially lower in lower/upper-middle–income economies than high-income economies, highlighting the utility of OSINT-based syndromic surveillance for early warnings, particularly in resource-poor settings.”
“Exploring Blood-Based Biosurveillance, Part 3: The Blood Virome”
Harmon Bhasin, Michael McLaren, and Lennart Justen recently published this post with the Nucleic Acid Observatory: “This is the third post in a series of blogs exploring blood-based biosurveillance for novel pathogen detection as part of the NAO’s effort to evaluate different biosurveillance approaches. We once again thank our colleagues at the NAO, particularly Jeff Kaufman and Will Bradshaw, for their valuable feedback.”
“The Private Sector’s Role in Advancing Global Health Security”
Sara Kaufman recently authored this blog post for NTI’s Risky Business blog, writing in part “Emerging biological risks have the potential to significantly impact business opportunities locally and globally. The private sector can play an important role in strengthening global health security and mitigating biological risks.”
“The continued spread of H5N1 flu virus is raising significant concerns within the public health community. This growing public health threat also poses considerable risks to supply chains, agricultural production, business operations, and food prices. And this is just one example. Biological risks – whether natural, intentional, or accidental in origin – are capable of grinding private enterprise to a halt.”
“In the years ahead, there are key opportunities that the private sector can take to prevent, prepare for, and reduce biological threats.”
Introducing INTERFACE
From the Harvard Sussex Program: “Welcome to the first issue of INTERFACE, a newsletter focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and chemical and biological weapons (CBW). This initiative was inspired by discussions with colleagues and insights gathered at various events, reflecting a shared desire for a clearer perspective on the growing discourse around AI in our field.”
“If you would like to to receive future updates of INTERFACE, you can sign up here.”
This article from The Wall Street Journal discusses the popular Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, and some of the more disturbing answers it shares with users: “Instructions to modify bird flu. A manifesto in defense of Hitler. A social-media campaign to promote cutting and self-harm among teens. ..Those are some of the potentially hazardous things it’s easier to get the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek to talk about compared with its leading American competitors, according to testing by AI safety experts and The Wall Street Journal.”
What We’re Listening To 🎧
With public health agencies and the information they provide now being restricted in the United States, here are some resources that create new content very frequently on relevant topics:
Public Health On Call
“The Public Health On Call podcast makes important public health topics accessible to all through quick, informative conversations. Hosts tackle complex topics through engaging interviews and real-world perspectives.”
“Our ever-growing list of guests have included researchers, public health commissioners, elected leaders, patients, clergy, ethicists, front line clinicians, and even former health officials who were fired for doing their jobs.”
“Since launching in March 2020 with the purpose of sharing credible expertise and debunking misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health On Call has covered a range of topics, including other viral outbreaks, reproductive health, gun violence prevention, international humanitarian crises, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, health equity, racial and environmental justice, the opioid crisis, and so much more. In 2023, the show’s success was chronicled in The Journal of Health Security.“
The American Medical Association YouTube Channel
The American Medical Association also provides frequent updates and presentations on its YouTube channel. Recent videos have focused on IPC in different clinical settings, updates on tuberculosis, Ebola, and H5N9, H5N1, and the role of stigmatizing language in credentialing applications.
NEW: How North Korea Managed the Covid-19 Pandemic
From 38 North: “Join NCNK, the Council of Korean Americans, 38 North, the United States Institute of Peace, the Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, and Children of Korea for the second installment of a four-part webinar series on health in North Korea.”
This event will take place on February 18 at 9 amET. Register here.
NEW: UKHSA Presents: mSCAPE Genomics
From UKHSA: “UKHSA Presents is a webinar series which will give our stakeholders an insight into the organisation’s work on how the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases and environmental hazards to keep all our communities safe.”
“On Wednesday 19th February 2025, 11am-12pm, we will be hosting our third UKHSA Presents webinar which will explore UKHSA’s groundbreaking work in the use of pathogen genomics to improve health security. ”
“In January, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launched a world-first metagenomics initiative to aid in the rapid detection of infectious diseases that could threaten the UK. The metagenomics Surveillance Collaboration and Analysis Programme (mSCAPE), which has been in development over the last year, is piloting the use of metagenomic data for public health surveillance and pathogen analysis. The programme will allow for assessment of the ability to significantly improve identification of new outbreaks as well as enabling the source of an outbreak to be better understood, predictions to be made about the effectiveness of potential treatments, and any concerning mutations can be identified. ”
“The programme is a collaborative initiative, led by UKHSA and involving a consortium of NHS and academic partners including the University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, and the NHS Clinical Respiratory Metagenomics Network led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.”
“At this webinar, attendees will hear from Professor Susan Hopkins (Chief Medical Adviser, UKHSA), Dr Meera Chand (Deputy Director, TB, Acute Respiratory Infections, Zoonoses, Emerging Infections and Travel Health, UKHSA) and Professor Nicholas Loman (Professor of Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of Birmingham). The speakers will talk more about the development of the programme, its application and the positive impact it will have on preventing, diagnosing and treating illness.”
Hubs of Illicit Trade in the Global EconomyBook Discussion
From the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC): “This book, authored by a global team of researchers and experts, the Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) team, examines how centers of illicit trade pose myriad threats to global security and sustainable development.”
“The exponential growth of illicit trade, resulting in annual losses amounting to trillions of dollars for the global economy, is increasingly concentrated within specific geographic areas. These locales serve as safe havens for smugglers and their accomplices, fostering a criminal ecosystem that facilitates the convergence of various criminal activities. The book underscores the detrimental impact of these hubs, characterized by opaque governance and lax regulatory oversight. It explores the spectrum of illicit trade present in notorious hubs such as the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay Tri-Border Area, Dubai, Panama, Belize, Guatemala, and Ukraine. Emphasizing the phenomenon of crime convergence associated with these hubs, the book offers actionable recommendations for disrupting their interconnected illicit supply chains, infrastructures, and networks.”
This hybrid event will take place on February 19 from 12-2 pm EST at George Mason’s Arlington campus. Learn more and RSVP here.
From Johns Hopkins APL and Bio-ISAC: “Advancements in biomanufacturing and biotechnology drive the science we need to thrive, everything from apples to vaccines. The Cyberbiosecurity Summit 2025 convenes leading experts in biotechnology, biosecurity, and cybersecurity to explore the intersection of these fields and discuss the strategies to create a safe, secure future for us all.” This event will take place February 25-26 in Laurel, MD. Register here and review the call for sessions here (closes 12/12).
Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base
“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base. This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”
This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.
Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice
From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”
“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used. The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”
This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.
NEW: NOFO, Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research “There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory biological risk management has gaps, and that biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence.1This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop2 or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis.1 ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the three key focus areas and at least one component under that area.”
“This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.”
“This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety and agricultural biosecurity, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.”
Learn more and submit application by April 14here.
Research Opportunity, The Gene Synthesis Regulatory Landscape in Asia: Towards Enhanced Biosecurity
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “DNA synthesis technology is revolutionising our ability to engineer biological systems, offering transformative benefits in areas like vaccine development and sustainable energy. However, it also presents significant risks, particularly the potential misuse of synthetic DNA to create harmful pathogens, raising concerns within the biosecurity community.”
“To minimise biosecurity concerns related to DNA synthesis, some governments and industry groups have adopted policies requiring or encouraging providers to screen DNA synthesis orders. However, there seems to be less comprehensive regulation and oversight of DNA synthesis activities across many Asian countries”
“The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) is leading a study to map the policy and regulatory landscape of DNA synthesis screening across the region. Our research aims to identify gaps and opportunities in existing frameworks and provide actionable recommendations to support the revision of existing laws and policies and/or or the development of new policies for regulating DNA synthesis screening in Asia.”
“Case Study Researchers for a Research Project on DNA Synthesis Screening in Asia”
“We are seeking experienced researchers to contribute to this research project by developing country-specific case studies on the regulation of DNA synthesis screening across Asia. Learn more about the opportunity here.”
The Pandora Report 