Tag: usaid

Pandora Report 3.7.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

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.”

Further Reading:

CDC Monitoring Mysterious Disease in DRC

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.”

Read here.

“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”.

Read here.

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.”

Learn more and apply by April 7 here.

NASEM Has Questions 

The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is hosting a workshop on Navigating the Benefits and Risks of Publishing Studies of In Silico Modeling and Computational Approaches of Biological Agents and Organisms on April 3-4 in Washington, DC. In preparation for the workshop, NASEM is soliciting input on how publishing computational models can support biological research while minimizing potential DURC/PEPP risks. The purpose of the questionnaire is to ascertain if organizations that publish or disseminate scientific knowledge have considered or created guidelines or policies to review, host or interact with in silico and computational models and tools, studies, datasets, etc. research that constitutes dual use, dual use research of concern (DURC) or pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP). Have answers? Then fill out the In Silico Research Publications Pre-event Questionnaire. 

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.1 This 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 14 here.

Pandora Report 3.1.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

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.

Further Reading:

Trump Administration Updates

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 Agencies Continues

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.”

Further Reading:

Munich Security Conference

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?”

Read here.

“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.”

Read the report here.

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.”

Read the newsletter here.

“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!]”

Read here.

“Evo 2 Can Design Entire Genomes”

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.”

Read here.

“‘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.”

Read here.

“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.”

Listen here.

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.”

Listen here.

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.

NEW: NASEM Has Questions 

The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is hosting a workshop on Navigating the Benefits and Risks of Publishing Studies of In Silico Modeling and Computational Approaches of Biological Agents and Organisms on April 3-4 in Washington, DC. In preparation for the workshop, NASEM is soliciting input on how publishing computational models can support biological research while minimizing potential DURC/PEPP risks. The purpose of the questionnaire is to ascertain if organizations that publish or disseminate scientific knowledge have considered or created guidelines or policies to review, host or interact with in silico and computational models and tools, studies, datasets, etc. research that constitutes dual use, dual use research of concern (DURC) or pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP). Have answers? Then fill out the In Silico Research Publications Pre-event Questionnaire. 

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.1 This 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 14 here.

Pandora Report 2.14.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

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.”

Russian Drone Attack Damages Chornobyl Sarcophagus

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.”

Further Reading:

Chaos Continues Across the Federal Government

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.

Further Reading:

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.

Further Reading:

Bird Flu: 02.13 Egg Knapper

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.”

“DeepSeek Offers Bioweapon, Self-Harm Information”

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 am ET. 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.”

Learn more and register here.

Hubs of Illicit Trade in the Global Economy Book 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.

Hubs of Illicit Trade Book TalkDownload

Cyberbiosecurity Summit

From Johns Hopkins APL and Bio-ISAC: “Advancements in biomanufacturing and biotechnology drive the science we need to thrive, everything from apples to vaccines. The Cyberbiosecurity Summit 2025 convenes leading experts in biotechnology, biosecurity, and cybersecurity to explore the intersection of these fields and discuss the strategies to create a safe, secure future for us all.”
This event will take place February 25-26 in Laurel, MD. Register here and review the call for sessions here (closes 12/12).

Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base

“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base.  This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”

This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.

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.1 This 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 14 here.

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.”

Pandora Report 2.07.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report discusses the 9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators, updates on the situation with USAID and from across the Trump administration, and more.

Biodefense MS Information Session

“Prospective students are invited to attend a information session to hear more about the Biodefense M.S. program offered at the Schar School. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. This session admissions will be led by the Graduate Admissions team.”

This sessions will take place at 12 pm EST on February 13. Learn more and register here.

9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators

The 9th Meeting of the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators (IEGBBR) was held on February 3-5, 2025, in Pari, France. Since 2007, the biennial meeting has provided a crucial platform for experts from 11 member countries, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), to collaborate on enhancing global biosafety and biosecurity oversight mechanisms. This year, the meeting agenda includes: High Risk Biocontainment Facilities in Urban Areas; Global Biosafety and Biosecurity Challenges; and Biosafety and Biosecurity Concerns related to Emerging Issues. The IEGBBR was formed under the leadership of the Public Health Agency of Canada and comprises of biosafety and/or biosecurity regulatory authorities from 11 member countries. The purpose of the IEGBBR is to provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge and experience with regard to current human and zoonotic pathogen biosafety and biosecurity oversight issues.

Gerald Parker Reportedly Tapped to Lead White House Office of Pandemic Response

The White House has reportedly selected Gerald Parker, DVM, PhD, to lead the White House Office of Pandemic Response, according to CBS News. Parker is the Associate Dean for Global One Health at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He is also on the faculty of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, serving as the Director of the Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program at the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs. Among Parker’s many accomplishments are previous stints as the Commander and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, as well as time serving in the senior executive level as a federal civilian in DHS, HHS, and DOD, including serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense at DOD. He is also the former chairperson of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, and he currently serves on the Defense Science Board Permanent Subcommittee for Threat Reduction.

Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Biden, said in a statement to CBS News, “I’ve not been a fan of every choice that Donald Trump has made. And I’ve been very critical of many of them. This one is a very good choice,” describing Parker as “deeply knowledgeable, serious, not particularly partisan, but really just very focused on important issues.”

Shock and Awe as Trump Administration Dismantles USAID

If last week at USAID was chaotic, this week has proven to be a complete disaster. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a letter to lawmakers that he is the acting administrator of USAID, confirming his department’s de-facto takeover of the agency. Rubio explained in the letter that he has delegated authority to Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee who served at USAID under the first Trump administration and has been criticized by aid group and officials for, allegedly, intentionally dismantling the organization. Notably, Marocco is the one who drafted the initial order to freeze virtually all foreign aid.

On Tuesday, USAID’s previously-down website was updated with a simple announcement indicating all direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, February 7. It does indicate there is an exception for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs, and that people in those roles would be notified of the expectation they continue working by 3 pm EST on February 6. The administration also ordered all overseas missions for USAID to shut down, and for all staff to be recalled by Friday. More than 6,000 USAID employees are currently overseas. According to CBS, just 294 are considered essential out of roughly 14,000 employees. Furthermore, it is unclear what will happen to foreign nationals who are employed by USAID at overseas missions.

The agency’s announcement explains in part that, “For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.”

One official told The Washington Post, “You find yourself in a foreign country, in all likelihood a place you moved to despite the terrorism or security risks, and you’re being treated as if you’re somehow an enemy of the state.  That’s not even the worst of it. You know that your career matters far less than the lives of those you were trying to help, and … a lot of them are going to die without American aid.”

USAID-provided ultra-low temperature freezer in a biomedical laboratory in Nanyuki, Kenya, sticker text: “USAID, From the American People”|Photo Credit: Danyale C. Kellogg

As the destruction unfolded at USAID, the White House released a fact sheet entitled “At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep,” that claims USAID “has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.”

The statement then lists 12 examples of this alleged waste and abuse, linking to questionable news sites like the Daily Caller and Breitbart. Several of them link to the Daily Mail, a British tabloid. One of the bulleted examples reads, “Millions to EcoHealth Alliance – which was involved in research at the Wuhan Lab”. Most of these claims were found to be false or misleading when fact checked. The statement then concludes with, “The list literally goes on and on — and it has all been happening for decades.”

In addition to the bizarre tone of this official White House statement, the cited examples are problematic. For starters, some of them are State Department grants, not USAID grants, while one of them actually comes from the first Trump administration. Some of them are so low that The Washington Post reports they were made at the ambassador level, without input from Washington. The White House has also incorrectly claimed USAID gave Politico over $8 million in funding. In reality, between 2023 and 2024, USAID paid Politico $44,000 for subscriptions to Politico publications. This is not an uncommon thing to do across the US government.

The claims made by the White House are part of a broader narrative that a large portion of the federal budget “goes to other countries.” In reality, as we discussed last week, it really only accounts for around 1% of the budget. Furthermore, much of this money does not ever leave the US, and the portion that does largely goes to NGOs, not host governments. Furthermore, much of this is obligated to go to US-based entities. An example of this is food aid, which has to be purchased in the US and must be shipped by US carriers. As a result, this attack on USAID and foreign aid in general is actually threatening to US farmers.

In a statement this week, President Trump said of the agency “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision.” Irreversible decisions have already been made that will have far-reaching, long-lasting implications not just for USAID and the federal workforce, but for those receiving foreign aid through USAID and the organizations that facilitated that. PII and classified information has been accessed by the supposed Department of Government Efficiency, and lives have been upended, seemingly at the whim of Elon Musk.

Former Administrators React

A group of former USAID administrators issued a sharp rebuke of the administration’s attacks on the agency this week, including J. Brian Atwood, Peter McPherson, Andrew Natsios, Gayle Smith, and Samantha Power. In a statement signed by the former administrators, they explain “While we don’t agree on all issues, we wholeheartedly agree that USAID and America’s foreign assistance programs are vital to our interests, that the career men and women of USAID have served each of us well, and that it is the duty of the Administration and Congress to swiftly protect the Agency’s statutory role.”

They write later in the statement, “Failure to maintain the global engagement that foreign aid enables, to honor the men and women of our civilian service as we do those in the military, or weaken and even destroy the Agency is to the benefit of neither political party and the detriment of all Americans.”

Further Reading:

Further Trump Administration Updates

RFK Jr., Gabbard Advance Past Senate Committees

Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. both cleared key hurdles on Tuesday in their efforts to be confirmed by the Senate. Both of their committee votes came down to the wire, with Republicans ultimately making the decision to back them after pressure from members of the administration. Both are thought to likely be confirmed by the full Senate.

CDC Restores Some Purged Files and Pages

Intense backlash following the purge of files on the CDC’s website seems to have prompted the reinstatement of some online resources. Last Friday, the agency suddenly removed thousands of pages from its site that included terms like “transgender,” “LGBT,” and “pregnant person,” rushing to meet a deadline to remove such terms from its website. While many pages have since been restored, many databases and pages on topics like contraception guidelines have not been restored. The site now has a banner explaining it is being modified to comply with President Trump’s executive orders.

Beyond ideological arguments, this has massive implications for public health. For example, the now gone pages on contraception provided lists of drug interactions for providers to consider when prescribing newer forms of birth control. Similarly, pages with vaccine information have yet to be restored, despite not being targeted by the executive order.

Note: All CDC datasets that were uploaded before January 28, 2025, have been uploaded to the Internet Archive and are available here.

NSF Flagging Research Grant Proposals for Reviews Based on DEI-Related Keywords

While the National Science Foundation has unfrozen its grant funding, a list of keywords that will flag proposals has reportedly been introduced at the organization. The list of keywords is extensive, according to an internal document that has been reviewed by media outlets and multiple NSF employees with knowledge of the review process who spoke under the condition on anonymity. Terms on the list allegedly include basic ones like biases, diversity, ethnicity, excluded, female, gender, historically, inequities, institutional, minority, racially, socioeconomic, systemic, trauma, underserved, victims, and women. While the list is concerning in general, many of these terms have multiple meanings, some of which would not fall under DEI.

This comes after a notice was given at the organization last week warning about activities that do not comply with the administration’s DEI executive order. A message to investigators said in part, “In particular, this may include, but is not limited to conferences, trainings, workshops, considerations for staffing and participant selection, and any other grant activity that uses or promotes the use of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) principles and frameworks or violates federal anti-discrimination laws.”

Further Reading:

Argentina Announces Exit from WHO

Argentinian President Javier Milei announced his intention to withdraw his country from the WHO this week. Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who has sought to mirror Donald Trump, attributed this decision to the WHO’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said consisted of a “caveman quarantine that involved…one of the most outlandish crimes against humanity in history.”

This prompted immediate criticism from the Argentinian opposition as well as health organizations who are concerned this move will limit the country’s access to needed funding. Critics also say Milei is not able to do this unilaterally, requiring instead congressional approval. Milei’s administration refused to sign the WHO-supported Pandemic Treaty last year, citing concerns about national sovereignty.

H5N1 – “In Your Feeders” 02.07.25

By Meredith Fletcher, Pandora Report Associate Editor

As H5N1 spreads across the bird community, many people raise the question, “should I stop feeding the birds in my backyard?” The simple answer is…well it depends.  If the bird flu is prevalent in your area, it may be best to stop.  It also depends on what type of birds you feed. Right now, those known to be carriers of H5N1 are waterfowl such as ducks/geese, shorebirds (storks/plovers), raptors (hawks/owls) and songbirds such as robins and sparrows. Due to this, it is also spreading to domestic turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and quail. It is important to note that domestic songbirds only have about a 3% chance of infection, so unless you also keep poultry, there is little risk. The virus is spread from these birds in their saliva, mucus and feces, which can be dropped on the ground and can contaminate areas if you have your own flock. In other H5N1 news, there was a new strain identified in Nevada cows on Wednesday, which led Louise Moncla (an evolutionary biologist specializing in bird flu) to say, “We need to now consider the possibility that cows are more broadly susceptible to these viruses than we initially thought.” While the virus is actively mutating, officials still say the person-to-person transmission risk is low, and little to be concerned about for the average person.

Strengthening a Safe and Secure Nucleic Acid Synthesis Ecosystem: Outcomes of EBRC Stakeholder Engagement

From EBRC: “The report describes central issues and perspectives on nucleic acid synthesis screening, including screening for sequences of concern, customer screening, follow-up screening, and law enforcement reporting. It describes best practices that providers, tool developers, customers, and other stakeholders can implement to further strengthen nucleic acid synthesis screening. It also recommends policies, capabilities, and infrastructure to support the adoption and improvement of screening practices.”

“EBRC developed this report based on information and expertise shared by stakeholders across industry, government, academia, and civil society in six virtual workshops (April–August 2024) and an in-person workshop (September 2024). We thank the 200+ stakeholders who engaged with this effort for their collaborative spirit and dedication to advancing nucleic acid synthesis screening.”

Read the report here.

“Bolstering US Biodefense: Recommendations for the New Administration”

This briefer from the Council on Strategic Risks’ Nolan Center offers recommendations for the Trump administration’s first year in office aimed at improving US biodefense. It explains in part, “In recent years, the US has shown both leadership and progress in establishing and implementing the most advanced policies yet for biodefense and biosecurity. Significant strategic advancements have included the strengthening of the US National Biodefense Strategy in 2018 and 2022, and the Department of Defense (DoD) completing its first-ever Biodefense Posture Review in 2023. Efforts to implement these ambitious strategies have included establishing DoD’s Generative Unconstrained Intelligent Drug Engineering (GUIDE) program to harness the Department of Energy’s supercomputing capabilities to design and evaluate medical countermeasures years faster than standard methodologies, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA). Still, given the scale and urgency of the risks the nation faces, the new administration must continue to pursue ever-more ambitious approaches to addressing significant biological risks.”

Transmission Interrupted, “Behind the Scenes: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hollywood”

“In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo as they continue their Pathogens in Pop Culture series with a dive into the fascinating intersection of infectious diseases and the entertainment industry with esteemed guest, Dr. Saskia Popescu. Dr. Popescu, an internationally recognized infectious disease epidemiologist and global health security expert, shares her unique experiences providing epidemiological guidance and infection prevention strategies on film sets during the COVID-19 pandemic. From creative risk assessments and navigating ever-changing guidelines to the challenges of implementing health measures in diverse climate settings all around the world, Dr. Popescu provides a candid look behind the scenes of Hollywood’s pandemic response. Get a glimpse into how science intersects with Hollywood magic, revealing an industry more receptive and complex than meets the eye. Tune in as we uncover the balance between safety and storytelling, and explore the uncharted territory of infectious diseases in pop culture.”

Listen here.

“Engineering Tomorrow: DARPA’s Push into the Frontier of Synthetic Biology”

Jeff Buguliskis discusses the work of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office in this piece from Synbiobeta: “For years, synthetic biology has offered tantalizing glimpses of what might be possible—personalized disease treatments, materials grown by microbes instead of extracted from petroleum, and sensors capable of detecting everything from emerging pathogens to chemical toxins. The allure has attracted investors and entrepreneurs, pushing startups to scale up with fermentation bioreactors and gene-editing technologies. But beyond the hype, we hit a sobering truth: biology is messy. Scale-ups that work beautifully on a lab bench often break down in a 10,000-liter tank. Promising genetic designs fail unpredictably because real-world conditions differ from the pristine order of the lab.”

“That’s precisely why now is the right time for deeper, broader investment in SynBio—and why the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is making its move. The mission at DARPA, known more widely for stealth planes and the internet, is to foresee threats, catalyze big ideas, and then supercharge them until they’re world-changing or prove unworkable. Mike Koeris, Director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO), envisions synthetic biology as the next great frontier in that legacy of breakthroughs. And he’s looking for new frontiers, people of science, a.k.a. Program Managers—“PMs,” as DARPA calls them—to push that frontier beyond what anyone could think possible, merging the digital realm of bits with the living realm of atoms.”

“The Value of a Biorisk Management System: Enabling Infectious Disease Laboratory Excellence on all Levels”

Patty Olinger and Stefan Wagener discuss the need for comprehensive biorisk management systems in this piece from Infection Control.tips: “Biosafety and biosecurity are essential components of modern laboratory operations, ensuring that safety and security are seamlessly integrated into daily practices. Far from being burdensome, a well-implemented biorisk management system empowers laboratories through a top management-driven approach to continual improvement, based on clear internal and external stakeholder-based policies and objectives that are monitored and assessed through key performance indicators.  When possible, these measures should be embedded into workflows so effectively that they become part of day-to-day activities or culture. Such a system ensures that resources are directed toward addressing gaps, continually improving biosafety and biosecurity and fostering the integrity of research. This results in scientists taking ownership of biorisk management and focusing better on their core mission—innovative science. Moreover, a comprehensive biorisk management system extends benefits beyond the facility, safeguarding communities and the environment and rebuilding public trust with transparency and external stakeholder input.”

“Monitoring Snapshot 7”

From GP WMD Counter Disinfo: “DFRLab conducts a bimonthly analysis of data based on a search query including Ukrainian, Russian and English languages to identify when spikes of CBRN disinformation narratives are spreading. This report (10 December 2024 – 6 January 2025) saw an emergence of claims of Ukraine biolab origin of H5N1 (avian flu); an influx of unfounded allegations about alleged Ukrainian plans to attack various nuclear power plants (NPPs); and unfounded speculations around the possibility of Western involvement in the assassination of General Igor Kirillov, head of the Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Defense Troops of the Russian Armed Forces.”

“Russia Consumer Watchdog Falsely Accuses US of Mishandling Pathogens in DR Congo”

Purity Mwambia debunks a claim from the Russia State Consumer Watchdog that the US and France are irresponsibly handling dangerous pathogens in the DRC in this piece for VOA. The claim states, “The activities of this laboratory are financed by the US Agency for International Development and the French Merieux Foundation. This circumstance once again confirms the irresponsible approach of Western countries when working with dangerous infections in the territory of third countries, when biological facilities are created without the proper infrastructure and samples of pathogens of dangerous diseases are accumulated without control.”

“HSToday Threat Forecast 2025: Global Terrorism”

Mahmut Cengiz, an Associate Professor and Research Faculty with Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, recently published this article in Homeland Security Today. He writes in part, “The effectiveness of terrorism as a strategic approach has been widely debated. While many scholars argue that terrorism can be a useful tactic for non-state actors, they often believe it ultimately fails to produce lasting, long-term results. However, the Taliban’s use of terror tactics and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) recent expansion in Syria challenge this view, suggesting that, in some cases, terrorism can effectively achieve its strategic goals. As a result, both the Taliban and HTS may serve as models for other jihadist groups with similar objectives in 2025. Consequently, shifting priorities within Western governments have contributed to HTS’s rise. The U.S. has focused more on the strategic threat posed by China, while the European Union has been preoccupied with the refugee crisis. In this context, Turkiye has played a central role in facilitating HTS’s growth in Syria, and its actions appear to have been tacitly supported by Western governments. Despite these developments, Syria’s future remains uncertain. There are ongoing concerns about whether an authoritarian and often corrupt Turkish government can help guide Syria toward a stable and representative political system. Moreover, ISIS continues to be the most active and powerful actor in Syria, responsible for about one-third of the country’s terrorist attacks in 2024. There also are concerns over whether Kurdish forces in northern Syria will continue to receive U.S. support in their fight against ISIS. As such, Syria is likely to remain a key issue on the global agenda for counterterrorism in 2025.”

“Feature Article: Organ-on-a-Chip—3D Printed Tissue Allows Researchers to Study Effects of Toxic Vapors”

This article is from the Department of Homeland Security: “The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and its Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) have partnered with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) to 3D print human lung cells and tissue onto microchips for state-of-the-art analysis of the hazards posed by toxic chemicals. S&T’s other partner, the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI), is serving as the program’s evaluator.”

NEW: 2025’s National Security Challenges: A Hayden Center Open Forum

From the Hayden Center: Join the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 7:00 pm ET as we host our third annual open forum examining the year’s national security challenges. At this event, YOU get to drive the discussion with your questions!

Our panel includes:

General (retired) Michael Hayden: former Director of both the Central Intelligence Agency & National Security Agency; the nation’s first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence; and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University;

Jennifer Victor: Associate Professor of Political Science at the Schar School; Director of Schar School’s Democracy Lab Academic Community; author, researcher, and commentator; and recipient of the National Capitol Area Political Science Association Pi Sigma Alpha Award for undergraduate student mentoring in 2024 and of  the George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award in 2019;

Andrew McCabe: Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Schar School; former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; CNN senior law enforcement analyst; and co-host of  UnJustified, the successor to Jack: A Special Counsel Podcast; 

Greg Koblentz: Associate Professor and Director of Biodefense Graduate Programs and Associate Faculty at the Center for Security Policy Studies at the Schar School; Editor-in-Chief of The Pandora Report; Co-Director of the Global Labs Initiative; member of the Scientist Working Group on Biological and Chemical Security at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, DC, and the Security Working Group of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC); and author and researcher; 

Larry Pfeiffer, Director of the Hayden Center, former Senior Director of the White House Situation Room, and former Chief of Staff at the CIA, will moderate the conversation.

Whether you join us in person or via livestream, we look forward to your incisive questions!

Learn more and register here.

NEW: Hubs of Illicit Trade in the Global Economy Book 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.

Hubs of Illicit Trade Book TalkDownload

Cyberbiosecurity Summit

From Johns Hopkins APL and Bio-ISAC: “Advancements in biomanufacturing and biotechnology drive the science we need to thrive, everything from apples to vaccines. The Cyberbiosecurity Summit 2025 convenes leading experts in biotechnology, biosecurity, and cybersecurity to explore the intersection of these fields and discuss the strategies to create a safe, secure future for us all.”
This event will take place February 25-26 in Laurel, MD. Register here and review the call for sessions here (closes 12/12).

Sustainable Manufacturing: Building and Preserving a Resilient Medical Industrial Base

“Join industry and government partners for our second annual industry summit! During this event, leaders from IBMSC will share our strategic vision and organizational priorities. Speakers will also share potential opportunities for building and preserving the medical industrial base.  This event will be in-person only and space is limited!”

This event will take place March 11-12 in Washington, DC. Learn more and register here.

Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction Course – From Policy to Practice

From MORS: “Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.”

“No prior experience is required for this course, though a basic familiarity with various agents and their effects would be helpful, as would a basic understanding of professional gaming and how it is used.  The instructors will adapt in real time to class requirements (e.g., if the class is interested in animal and plant targets, the instructors have extensive experience in designing games on those subjects as well).”

This course will take place March 18-20 on Zoom. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Call for Experts-Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings: A Workshop

“The National Academies is seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new workshop on personal protective equipment (PPE) needs and best practices to protect workers in high-risk U.S. farm settings and control Influenza A (H5N1) transmission between livestock and humans. The workshop will examine the current state of knowledge on H5N1 transmission to humans and implications for PPE use in high-risk farm settings; approaches to overcoming barriers to implementation of PPE recommendations and best practices; the potential for novel technologies to enhance protection provided by PPE in farm settings; and health communication, education, training, and research needs.”

Learn more and submit nominations by February 14 at 5 pm ET here.

NEW: Research Opportunity, The Gene Synthesis Regulatory Landscape in Asia: Towards Enhanced Biosecurity

From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “DNA synthesis technology is revolutionising our ability to engineer biological systems, offering transformative benefits in areas like vaccine development and sustainable energy. However, it also presents significant risks, particularly the potential misuse of synthetic DNA to create harmful pathogens, raising concerns within the biosecurity community.”

“To minimise biosecurity concerns related to DNA synthesis, some governments and industry groups have adopted policies requiring or encouraging providers to screen DNA synthesis orders. However, there seems to be less comprehensive regulation and oversight of DNA synthesis activities across many Asian countries”

“The Asia Centre for Health Security (ACHS) is leading a study to map the policy and regulatory landscape of DNA synthesis screening across the region. Our research aims to identify gaps and opportunities in existing frameworks and provide actionable recommendations to support the revision of existing laws and policies and/or or the development of new policies for regulating DNA synthesis screening in Asia.”

“Case Study Researchers for a Research Project on DNA Synthesis Screening in Asia”

“We are seeking experienced researchers to contribute to this research project by developing country-specific case studies on the regulation of DNA synthesis screening across Asia. Learn more about the opportunity here.”