This week’s issue covers the death of Aleksei Navalny, OSTP’s recently released updated Critical and Emerging Technologies List, and the recent death of a Kenai Peninsula man who contracted Alaskapox in September. As always, new publications and upcoming events are included.
Russian Authorities Report Aleksei Navalny Dies in Prison
Aleksei Navalny, a prominent political opponent of Vladimir Putin who was poisoned by a Novichok agent in 2020, was reported dead today by authorities with Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service. Navalny, 47, reportedly lost consciousness on Friday morning after going on a walk. Navalny was serving multiple prison sentences in a penal colony 40 miles north of the Arctic Circle at the time of his death. The charges included a nine-year sentence for embezzlement and fraud and a 19-year sentence for “extremism.” Critics and Navalny’s supporters argue that the charges were politically motivated.
The New York Times explained in its announcement that “Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s longtime chief of staff, said he was not yet ready to accept the news that Mr. Navalny was dead. “We have no reason to believe state propaganda,” Volkov wrote on the social platform X. “If this is true, then it’s not ‘Navalny died,’ but ‘Putin killed Navalny,’ and only that. But I don’t trust them one penny.”’
President Biden said in a statement at the White House “We don’t know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.” Biden also “warned there could be consequences, saying he was “not surprised” but “outraged” by the opposition leader’s passing.”
White House OSTP Releases Updated Critical and Emerging Technologies List
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released this week an updated list of critical and emerging technologies (CETs) that it deems potentially significant to US national security. This year’s updated list includes biotechnologies. ‘“This list supports our ongoing efforts to grow and strengthen U.S. technological leadership,” said OSTP Deputy Director for National Security Stephen Welby. “It will also be a useful resource as we continue to engage allies and partners to ensure that CETs yield tangible benefits for society and are aligned with our democratic values.”’
As the White House’s press release explains, “The National Security Strategy notes that technology is central to today’s geopolitical competition and to the future of our national security, economy and democracy. United States and allied leadership in technology and innovation has long underpinned our economic prosperity and military strength. In the next decade, critical and emerging technologies are poised to retool economies, transform militaries, and reshape the world. The United States is committed to a future where these technologies increase the security, prosperity, and values of the American people and like-minded democracies. Today’s update to the CET list builds upon earlier lists and may inform government-wide and agency-specific efforts supporting U.S. technological competitiveness and national security. More information and the full update can be found here.”
Alaskapox: First Death Reported
Health officials in Alaska recently reported that a man died in January after contracting Alaskapox virus (AKPV). “Alaskapox is a type of orthopoxvirus that infects mammals, including humans, and causes skin lesions. Other orthopoxviruses include the now-eradicated smallpox virus as well as mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox and experienced an outbreak of thousands of cases worldwide in 2022,” NPR explains.
Authorities have warned that immunocompromised people may be at higher risk for becoming severely ill from the virus, but so far the only known cases have been confined to Alaska. The same NPR article explains further that “…officials believe that last month’s case is the first fatality from the newly discovered virus — as well as the first known case outside the state’s interior — and authorities are now urging doctors across the state to be on the lookout for signs of the disease.”
According to Prevention, “The Alaskapox virus was first identified in a patient in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2015, and since then, six additional cases have been reported in the area. While the disease has a small number of documented cases so far, after news broke of the first reported death from the virus, it’s understandable to be concerned.”
The virus is thought to spread through contact with infected animals and there have been no documented cases of it spreading from person to person. However, because of the transmission modes of other viruses in the same family, officials are advising those with Alaskapox lesions to cover them with bandages.
“Emerging Technology and Risk Analysis”
From the RAND Corporation: “RAND researchers working in the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), an FFRDC operated by RAND on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, examined the effects of emerging technologies on DHS missions and capabilities. This series of reports considers how increases in the pace of technological innovation and adoption will affect components across the Department’s mission areas.”
“The first works in this series include a volume on risk factors from additive manufacturing. While the risks posed by 3D printed firearms are a common feature of news stories, the authors describe other malign uses, such as producing illicit materials and manufacturing counterfeit goods. Additional volumes in the series describe the potential risks of synthetic pandemics, and the increasing threat of intelligent drone swarms. New reports will be added to this page in the coming months.”
This effort is led by Daniel M. Gerstein, a Senior Policy Researcher at RAND and an alumnus of the Biodefense PhD Program.
“COLUMN: Is Pakistan a New Safe Haven for ISIS and Al Qaeda?”
Schar School associate professor Mahmut Cengiz recently authored this column for Homeland Security Today. In it, he writes in part, “Ongoing debates revolve around whether ISIS and Al Qaeda have lost their operational capacity and strength in the Middle East and intensified their attacks in the Sahel region, confirmed by increasing terror attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Still, both groups have grown their attacks in Pakistan as well, which has recorded exponentially rising terror attacks since the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government in August 2021. The Taliban’s takeover has dramatically impacted terrorism trends in the region. ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), an ISIS affiliate based in Afghanistan, has received greater attention and filled the vacuums left by the Taliban that deployed terrorist tactics and got a victory in its two-decade-long clashes against the US-backed Afghan governments. Taliban’s weak performance in the government has caused growing grievances that have generated a favorable environment for ISIS-K to flourish in the region and spread its influence in all provinces of Afghanistan.”
“Mind the Gap: America Needs an Office of Technology Net Assessment”
Vivek Chilukuri recently authored this piece for Lawfare arguing that recent misses on technologies like semiconductors and 5G point to a need for the US to create an Office of Technology Net Assessment to help better understand long-term technology trends. They write in part, “Today, there is a grave and growing gap in Washington’s long-term analysis: technology competition. Although the ONA has done laudable analyses of key technology trends, its focus on how those trends specifically affect the U.S. military misses the ever-expanding role technology plays in national and economic security. And within the ONA, technology competes with many other analytic priorities, even as technology leadership becomes more central to national power and the U.S.-China strategic competition in particular.”
Disease X – The 100 Days Mission to End Pandemics
“An important new book on pandemic control, DISEASE X – The 100 Days Mission to End Pandemics, will be published in the UK on 2nd February. This compelling narrative by Kate Kelland, Chief Scientific Writer at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), draws on her unique access to key players and their experiences at the frontlines of pandemic planning and response and takes the reader inside global efforts to prevent future outbreaks from exploding into deadly crises.”
“Distilling insights from health security experts, examining epidemics and pandemics of the past and present, and analysing what governments, societies and their people got right and wrong in the response to COVID-19 and other devastating disease outbreaks, Kelland explores why and how viruses—tiny as they are—can wreak enormous havoc on our way of life. But she also tells a story of hope, giving readers a glimpse of a future where the threat of pandemics has been neutralised by a prepared and collaborative world.”
Learn more here and purchase here.
“New Biosecurity Groups Aims to Prevent Biotech Disasters”
Robert Service covers the recently launched International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) in this news piece for Science: “Biosecurity experts today launched a new international nonprofit designed to prevent modern biotechnology from causing harm. Known as the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), the group aims to develop technological and policy guardrails to reduce the risk that biotech tools, such as the ability to synthesize and edit DNA, are accidentally or deliberately used to create deadly toxins and pathogens.”
“New Report to Offer a Responsible Path Forward for Research With Pandemic Risks”
Sarah Starkey recently published this piece discussing the upcoming publication of the final report from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists‘ Independent Task Force on Research with Pathogen Risk. It explains “On February 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET. the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists will release the final report of its Independent Task Force on Research with Pathogen Risk at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The report will offer recommendations on how to make research with pandemic risks more safe, secure, and responsible. The task force is composed of members with expertise in biosafety, biosecurity, epidemiology, ethics, governance virology, and other related areas.”
“WHO Member States Are Negotiating a Pandemic Treaty. But Will Countries Follow the New Rules?”
Elliot Hannon, Nina Schwalbe, and Susanna Lehtimaki recently authored this piece for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They explain in their piece: “When the negotiations first began, the world was still mired in the pandemic, creating a sense of urgency and optimism that stronger commitments, greater authority, increased accountability, and dedicated resources could be had. The aim was to create a new set of state commitments, improving a number of key areas: building resilient national health systems as a first line of defense, strengthening surveillance measures to quickly detect outbreaks, and enhancing equitable access to pandemic countermeasures such as vaccines, among other issues.”
“The negotiations have revolved around these issues, but remarkably little attention has been paid to state compliance and implementation of the accord. No matter how these larger differences get resolved, other existing international treaties have shown that without greater accountability to generate compliance with the agreement, the best intentions of the pact won’t matter. The response to COVID-19 laid bare that reality: Signing an accord, even one that is legally binding, does not mean that countries will implement it.”
“CDC’s Labs Are Making a Comeback. Now They Need Support”
Jill Taylor, Ewa King, and Scott Becker recently published this opinion piece in Scientific American covering CDC’s failures in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its release of a flawed diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2. They explain in part, “Several published reports have documented in significant detail the events and decision points at CDC that led to its test’s failure. Ultimately, it originated in the fact that testing laboratories at CDC have historically not had adequate levels of staff and resources consistent with the agency’s responsibility as the nation’s premier public health laboratory. Its laboratories have also not had appropriate organizational standing or fiscal authority to drive policy and process for test development and deployment in biological emergencies. Few CDC scientists have the federal qualifications required of a diagnostic laboratory director, and most of CDC’s laboratory leaders report to senior health professionals who lack the specific education and training needed to oversee essential laboratory quality and performance standards. We think that CDC should rely more on special federal pay authorities for health care professionals and scientists to address the urgent need for clinically qualified staff for these laboratory oversight roles, similar to how the NIH and the Veterans Administration handle positions needing specialized expertise.”
“Investment Map: Funding in Your State”
From CDC: “The Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Investment Map showcases CDC activities in the U.S. and abroad to combat antimicrobial resistance. Users can get printable global-, state-, and city-specific fact sheets that describe how CDC is investing directly in the response to antimicrobial resistance at each level.”
“The map currently shows fiscal year 2023 extramural funds that support CDC’s antimicrobial resistance activities. CDC distributed the largest extramural portion of funding to support all 50 state health departments, several local health departments, and Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The map also includes fact sheets highlighting CDC’s innovation work with partners to combat antimicrobial resistance. The information is updated yearly.”
Learn more here.
“Creating Support Systems for Employees and Researchers Receiving Public Harassment”
Tara Kirk Sell and Beth Resnick describe the FlagIt report and response system and the development of similar systems in this piece for JPHMP Direct, writing in their introduction “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many members of the public health community have been subject to pushback against public health measures and harassment from members of the public. This harassment can take many forms, including harmful or vulgar emails, social media posts, or phone calls; doxxing (making private identifying information public); and other intimidation or bullying against the recipient. After Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Bloomberg School) faculty and staff reported receiving such harassment related to their public health work, the School established the FlagIt report and response system to support any individuals (faculty, staff, or students) within the Bloomberg School community facing such harassment. Development of this system is described in our JPHMP article entitled, “Development of the FlagIt Report and Response System for Concerning or Harassing Messages Related to Public Health Work.”‘
“Practical Playbook for Addressing Health Information”
New from Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, this playbook “…guides users in preparing for and responding to health misinformation, which is a growing public health challenge.”
“The playbook takes a hands-on approach to help public health practitioners, medical professionals, and health communicators recognize and respond to health-related rumors and misinformation. It provides detailed tools, checklists, templates, and examples written in plain language to support users in:
- preparing for health-related rumors
- deciding when to act to address rumors
- determining which actions to take to address misinformation
- developing relevant and timely messaging, and
- gathering feedback about those messages.”
“UV Light Kills Viruses. Why Isn’t It Everywhere?”
Vox covers the pros and cons of using UV light to help disinfect spaces: “Ultraviolet light is an incredibly powerful disinfectant. Study after study has proven that it can obliterate viruses and bacteria, and yet it’s not often thought about as a defense against germs. In fact, when most people think of UV, they think of the harmful rays from the sun that cause cancer — not the PR you want when advertising, obviously. Luckily, a few years after the pandemic lockdowns, researchers have found a type of UV that isn’t strong enough to penetrate human skin but still effectively stops the germs. Could it be our next defense?”
“Chemical Plants, Terrorism and Regulations May Be Back on the Agenda”
Jeff Johnson discusses the expirations of CFATS in this piece for the Society of Environmental Journalists, focusing in large part how executives at multiple chemical industry associations are pushing for renewal of the regulations: “Last month, the manufacturers announced at a briefing their intention to refire efforts to get a federal bill and regulations into a law that would make DHS the enforcer with oversight, inspection and auditing authority.”
“The novelty of industrial chemical makers pushing for greater government regulations and inspections was not lost on speakers at the Jan. 16 briefing.”
‘“I spend a good portion of my day job pushing back against federal regulatory overreach,” said Chris Jahn, CEO of the American Chemistry Council, a trade association of chemical makers. “But this is a unique situation in which regulators and industry are aligned. Our companies should not be forced to go it alone; we need a partner that can provide threat information and security expertise.”’
What We’re Listening To 🎧
Science Diction Podcast | Synthetic Biology
“MRIGlobal’s Science Diction podcast dives in with research scientists to offer insight into synthetic biology—how it works like circuitry, the diseases it may help defeat, and how it is changing the landscape of diagnostics, biosecurity, and even food security.”
Listen here.
New: Disarmament Courses Series in French
From UNIDIR: “Les progrès de la biotechnologie génèrent de nouvelles opportunités, mais engendrent également certains risques en matière de double usage des agents biologiques et à toxines et vis-a-vis du respect de la Convention sur l’interdiction des armes biologiques (CIABT) de 1972.”
“Ce premier évènement en 2024 d’une série de rencontres francophones sur le désarmement présentera la CIABT et fournira une analyse plus approfondie des risques biologiques contemporains y compris en lien avec l’intelligence artificielle et le cyber. L’événement offrira également un éclairage sur les perspectives des travaux en cours du groupe de travail de la CIABT institué par la 9ème Conférence d’examen en novembre 2022.”
This event will take place on February 20 at 9 am CET in the Palais des Nations. It will take place in French with no interpretation into other UN official languages provided. Learn more and register here.
New: Regulating Risky Research: The Science and Governance of Pathogens of Pandemic Potential
From AEI: “The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed public interest in gain-of-function (GOF) research of concern on pathogens of pandemic potential. Are laboratory experiments to make pathogens more transmissible or virulent necessary for scientific progress? Do such experiments pose unacceptable risk? As Congress and the executive branch consider regulatory reforms, we sorely need constructive, evidence-based discussions of the benefits and drawbacks of GOF research of concern, including which policy changes best serve the public interest.”
“Please join AEI and distinguished guests for a two-part conversation examining the science and policy of GOF research of concern. Panelists will grapple with issues related to biosecurity and risk, pandemic preparedness, oversight and the role of Congress, scientific freedom and ethical responsibility, and possible avenues for reform.”
This hybrid event will take place on February 21 at 2:45 pm. Learn more and RSVP here.
New: Launch of the 2024 National Blueprint on Biodefense
From the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense: “On the 10th anniversary of its inception, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense will release its 2024 National Blueprint on Biodefense: Immediate Action Needed to Defend Against Biological Threats.”
“Please join us for this momentous event at the Congressional Auditorium, Capitol Visitor Center, on April 17th at 4:30pm.”
“The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense (formerly the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense) was established in 2014 to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state of United States biodefense efforts and to issue recommendations that foster change. Subsequently, the Commission has briefed White House Administrations (including then Vice President Biden); testified before Congress; convened numerous meetings with experts; released 12 reports; produced the graphic novel Germ Warfare; and mobilized biodefense conversations and actions in the private and public sectors.”
Learn more and register here.
ICYMI-“Event Summary: Kazakhstan’s Actions to Address Nuclear and Biological Risks”
This summary from the Council on Strategic Risks covers a discussion panel hosted by the Council and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focused on Kazakhstan’s leadership in the reduction of nuclear and biological weapons risks. The “summary highlights key themes from the discussion and builds upon the publication of a new report from the Council on Strategic Risks written by Christine Parthemore and Andy Weber titled “Lessons From Kazakhstan: On the Front Lines on Nuclear and Biological Risks.” The discussion centered around the complexities faced by Kazakhstan in those early years of independence from the Soviet Union, including the brave decision to relinquish its nuclear arsenal and its biological weapons program. The discussion turned to the current security environment and Kazakhstan’s vision for advancing nonproliferation and biosecurity through its role as chair of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Preparatory Committee and its proposal for an International Agency for Biological Security.”
ICYMI-February 8, 2024: The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security
From Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security: “Policy Frontiers: Realizing the Benefits, Managing the Risks of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Biotechnology”
“The in-person panel discussion delved into the impact and implementation of the President’s AI Executive Order related to the convergence of AI and biotechnology, challenges and opportunities that still need to be addressed, and Congress’ role in governance of these rapidly evolving technologies.”
Watch here.
Enhancing the Global Food System’s Resilience to Biological Threats
“This virtual event, hosted by the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M, will take place on February 20, 1:00-2:30 PM [EST].”
“A year after the Biden Administration’s National Security Memorandum on Strengthening the Security and Resilience of United States Food and Agriculture (NSM-16), Scowcroft is convening stakeholders from across industry, academia, and government to identify the policies and technologies needed to safeguard the world’s food system against biological threats. Planned topics include microbial food production, AI-enabled crop disease surveillance, and genomic engineering to improve plant disease resistance, among others.”
“For more details, find a draft agenda here.
Speakers include:
- David Stiefel, National Security Policy Analyst, National Security Division, USDA and former Director for Biodefense on the National Security Council
- Nils Justen, Policy Analyst, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)
- Shannon Nangle, CEO and Co-Founder, Circe Biosciences
- Seth Murray, Professor Butler Chair, Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University
- Yiping Qi, Professor, Plant Sciences and Landscaping, University of Maryland”
Register here.
The Advancing Threat Agnostic Biodefense Webinar Series
From PNNL: “Join us as we welcome Dr. Tony Goldberg, professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His talk, titled “Assessing the Zoonotic Risk of Pre-emergent Viruses” will be Tuesday, February 20, at noon PT.“
“Exploration of the “virosphere” is in its golden age. The sheer number of new viruses discovered daily, and the fact that most cannot be cultured, creates enormous uncertainty about where to allocate attention and resources. It is not an intractable problem, however, to distinguish those few viruses that are likely to emerge as zoonoses from the many others that are not. This talk describes two diametric approaches to addressing this problem.”
Learn more and register here.
Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Public Meeting
“The 24th PACCARB public meeting will be held virtually on February 22, 2024. This will be the second of two meetings to address the task provided to the PACCARB by the Secretary of HHS to address antimicrobial resistance globally. The focus of the meeting will be on international implementers and the gaps, challenges, and opportunities they see to combat AMR globally – specifically focusing on low- and middle-income countries. Current times are tentative and subject to change.”
This event will take place on February 22, at 9 am. Submit public comments and register to attend here.
GP Nonproliferation and Strategic Trade Hub Virtual Launch & Demo
“The Strategic Trade Research Institute (STRI) invites you to participate in the Global Partnership Nonproliferation and Strategic Trade Hub Virtual Launch and Demo event taking place on February 27, 2024, from 9:00-10:00 am EST.”
“Please join us to learn about the main features of the Hub, how to use it, and how it can be useful and impactful for nonproliferation and export control professionals. The event will feature Andrea Viski, Director of STRI, as well as introductory remarks from the Hub’s sponsor, the United Kingdom’s Counter-proliferation and Arms Control Center (CPACC).”
Learn more and register here.
International Conference, CBRNE Research & Innovation
“The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks.”
“Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges.”
“Building on the success of the first 5 International Conferences « CBRNE Research and Innovation » which took place in Antibes (2015), Lyon (2017), Nantes (2019), on line (2021) and Lille (2022), we want to give you a new opportunity to build up or strengthen collaborative networks in Strabourg (March 19th – 21rst 2024).”
“The CBRNE R&I Conference is specifically devoted to scientific updates, responders’ feedbacks and expression of needs. It also includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: DETECTION – IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION – DECONTAMINATION, MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES, RISKS & CRISIS MANAGEMENT.”
“Looking forward to your proposals for communication and to welcoming you at Strasbourg in March 2024!”
Learn more here.
Artificial Intelligence and Automated Laboratories for Biotechnology: Leveraging Opportunities and Mitigating Risks
From the National Academies’ Board on Life Sciences: “Please join us April 3-4, 2024 for a hybrid workshop on the opportunities and mitigation of risks of the use of artificial intelligence and automated laboratories (i.e., self-driving labs) for biotechnology.”
“The workshop will consider opportunities to leverage AI and laboratory automation capabilities for discovery and development, explore methods and approaches to identify, track, and forecast the domestic and international development of such technologies, and convene experts across sectors to highlight recent advances and explore implications for the development and use of these technologies.”
Learn more and register here.
Registration for GHS 2024 Now Open
Registration is now open for the Global Health Security 2024 conference in Sydney, Australia. This iteration will take place 18-21 June, 2024. The call for abstracts is also still open. “The mission of the Global Health Security conference is to provide a forum where leaders, researchers, policy-makers, and representatives from government, international organisations, civil society, and private industry from around the world can engage with each other, review the latest research and policy innovations, and agree solutions for making the world safer and healthier. To that end, our mission is to help foster a genuinely multidisciplinary community of practice that is committed to working collaboratively to enhance global health security and eliminate disease, irrespective of its origin or source.”
SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology, and Biosecurity Conference in Africa
“Join us for the SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa, a groundbreaking event that brings together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts in the field of synthetic biology. This in-person conference will take place at the Laico Regency Hotel from Wed, Jul 17, 2024 to Friday, Jul 19, 2024.”
“Get ready to dive into the exciting world of synthetic biology and explore its potential applications in Africa. From cutting-edge research to innovative solutions, this conference offers a unique opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with like-minded individuals.”
“Discover the latest advancements, trends, and challenges in synthetic biology through engaging keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking panel discussions. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere where ideas flow freely and new connections are made.”
“Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in synthetic biology, this conference provides a platform to expand your knowledge, exchange ideas, and contribute to the growth of the field in Africa.”
“Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event that promises to shape the future of synthetic biology and biosecurity in Africa. Mark your calendars and join us at the SBA.3 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa!”
Learn more and register here.
The Pandora Report 