Preparing for Bioterrorism: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Leadership in Biosecurity

Preparing for Bioterrorism: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Leadership in Biosecurity PDF Author: Gronvall, Gigi Kwik
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780615706825
Category : Biosecurity
Languages : en
Pages : 296

Get Book Here

Book Description
With the 2001 anthrax attacks, the threat of bioterrorism became real to the nation. Before that, biological weapons were a known threat to warfighters, but after, the vulnerability of US civilians was clear.It was also clear that the US government was not organized to address the national security and civilian threat of bioweapons. Only a handful of civilian experts were involved, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation was the only US philanthropy willing to commit resources to confront the challenges of preparing for bioterrorism.When Sloan got involved in 2000, the professional field of biosecurity did not exist. There was little science or scholarship. There were no guidelines or planning tools and few policies or officials to direct civilian preparedness, planning, and response.Over ten years, the Sloan Foundation awarded more than $44 million in biosecurity grants and was instrumental in establishing the field and many of its most prominent leaders. That was money well-invested. The nation is now vastly better prepared for bioterrorism and other catastrophic threats to the public's health and national security.Author Gigi Kwik Gronvall chronicles the foundation's leadership in the field and the innovations that followed to show how the Sloan Foundation help to build the foundation on which US civilian biosecurity now stands.

Preparing for Bioterrorism: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Leadership in Biosecurity

Preparing for Bioterrorism: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Leadership in Biosecurity PDF Author: Gronvall, Gigi Kwik
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780615706825
Category : Biosecurity
Languages : en
Pages : 296

Get Book Here

Book Description
With the 2001 anthrax attacks, the threat of bioterrorism became real to the nation. Before that, biological weapons were a known threat to warfighters, but after, the vulnerability of US civilians was clear.It was also clear that the US government was not organized to address the national security and civilian threat of bioweapons. Only a handful of civilian experts were involved, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation was the only US philanthropy willing to commit resources to confront the challenges of preparing for bioterrorism.When Sloan got involved in 2000, the professional field of biosecurity did not exist. There was little science or scholarship. There were no guidelines or planning tools and few policies or officials to direct civilian preparedness, planning, and response.Over ten years, the Sloan Foundation awarded more than $44 million in biosecurity grants and was instrumental in establishing the field and many of its most prominent leaders. That was money well-invested. The nation is now vastly better prepared for bioterrorism and other catastrophic threats to the public's health and national security.Author Gigi Kwik Gronvall chronicles the foundation's leadership in the field and the innovations that followed to show how the Sloan Foundation help to build the foundation on which US civilian biosecurity now stands.

Essentials of Biological Security

Essentials of Biological Security PDF Author: Lijun Shang
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 139418901X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Get Book Here

Book Description
This is a fundamental resource for life and associated scientists to raise awareness and understanding of biological security with regards to malign manipulation of scientific findings. The book is written by experts who have been engaged in biological security issues for decades, but in a systematically organized manner so that it is accessible to the wide range of different life and associated specialists who are creating the revolution in the sciences and technologies converging around the life sciences and thus radically changing our capabilities for the manipulation of living organisms for good purposes, but also opening up many more dangerous opportunities for malign manipulation in what has been termed dual-use applications such as novel biological and toxin weapons.

Insecurity and Emerging Biotechnology

Insecurity and Emerging Biotechnology PDF Author: Brett Edwards
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030021882
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 97

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book examines how emergent trends in innovation and its governance are raising new and old questions about how to control technology. It develops a new framework for understanding how emergent fields of science and technology emerge as security concerns; and the key challenges these fields pose from a global security perspective. The study focuses on the politics which have surrounded the emergent field of Synthetic Biology, a field which has become emblematic of both the potentials and limits of more preemptive approaches to governance. This highly accessible work will be of interest to both scholars and practitioners working on the ethical responsibilities of innovators and the assessment of emergent technology as well as the global governance of weapons.

Biological Threats In The 21st Century: The Politics, People, Science And Historical Roots

Biological Threats In The 21st Century: The Politics, People, Science And Historical Roots PDF Author: Filippa Lentzos
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 1783269499
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 500

Get Book Here

Book Description
Biological Threats in the 21st Century offers a fresh understanding of contemporary biological threats to national security. Readers are introduced to the politics, people, science and historical roots of contemporary biological threats through up-to-date, rigorous and accessible chapters written by leading academics and supplemented by expert point-of-view contributions and interviews.The book provides inspiration and resources for students and researchers, as well as policy makers in government, the public policy sector and the wider community. It is particularly pertinent for those interested in biological disarmament, non-proliferation, counterterrorism and health security.

What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

What’s the Worst That Could Happen? PDF Author: Andrew Leigh
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262548518
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 241

Get Book Here

Book Description
Why catastrophic risks are more dangerous than you think, and how populism makes them worse. Did you know that you’re more likely to die from a catastrophe than in a car crash? The odds that a typical US resident will die from a catastrophic event—for example, nuclear war, bioterrorism, or out-of-control artificial intelligence—have been estimated at 1 in 6. That’s fifteen times more likely than a fatal car crash and thirty-one times more likely than being murdered. In What’s the Worst That Could Happen?, Andrew Leigh looks at catastrophic risks and how to mitigate them, arguing provocatively that the rise of populist politics makes catastrophe more likely. Leigh explains that pervasive short-term thinking leaves us unprepared for long-term risks. Politicians sweat the small stuff—granular policy details of legislation and regulation—but rarely devote much attention to reducing long-term risks. Populist movements thrive on short-termism because they focus on their followers’ immediate grievances. Leigh argues that we should be long-termers: broaden our thinking and give big threats the attention and resources they need. Leigh outlines the biggest existential risks facing humanity and suggests remedies for them. He discusses pandemics, considering the possibility that the next virus will be more deadly than COVID-19; warns that unchecked climate change could render large swaths of the earth uninhabitable; describes the metamorphosis of the arms race from a fight into a chaotic brawl; and examines the dangers of runaway superintelligence. Moreover, Leigh points out, populism (and its crony, totalitarianism) not only exacerbates other dangers but is also a risk factor in itself, undermining the institutions of democracy as we watch.

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology PDF Author: Gigi Gronvall
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781539336839
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 198

Get Book Here

Book Description
Synthetic biology aims to make biology easier to engineer and to program. Thanks to advances in computing power, the ability to make long tracts of DNA, new tools like CRISPR that can be used to edit genomes, and the enthusiasm of young scientists and even amateurs who want to enter the field, synthetic biology is poised to change the future of medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing. Yet, while this new field promises vast opportunities and benefits, there are also risks. There are biosecurity risks that these technologies will be deliberately used for harm; safety risks to people and the environment; ethical and social considerations for how to apply these technologies; and there are risks to the competitiveness of nations that do not invest in these technologies that are likely to spur economic growth. This volume is dedicated to a discussion of what can be done to minimize risks and maximize the benefits of synthetic biology. Praise for Synthetic Biology: Safety, Security, and Promise "There can be no doubt that advances in the life sciences, including new insights and tools provided by synthetic biology, place us in a position to create exciting and novel products and approaches for patients in need. Gigi Gronvall describes that promise but also lays forth critical policy concerns that need to be addressed so that we don't risk safety, security, or the competitiveness of US science." - Margaret Hamburg, MD, Former FDA Commissioner and Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Medicine "Synthetic biology gives us tools that can help tackle global problems that affect humanity-but for that to happen, the risks of bioterror or bio-error need to be dealt with and managed, as well. Gronvall clearly describes the policy challenges that must be addressed and concludes with steps to enhance US leadership and competitiveness in the global bio-economy." - J. Craig Venter, PhD, founder, chairman, and CEO of the J. Craig Venter Institute and co-founder, executive chairman and co-chief scientist of Synthetic Genomics, Inc. "For those of us working in the lab, it is important to embrace conversations with those who aren't - including strategies for biological security, to create new synthetic biology products - with respect for facts about GMO risk/benefit balances, creating a culture of safe lab practices and norms worldwide. Gigi Gronvall dissects such issues at stake in synthetic biology and presents a pragmatic and scientifically responsive path forward for anyone in a position to influence, regulate, decide upon, or benefit from the science to follow." - George Church, PhD, Professor of Genetics Harvard Medical School and Director of PersonalGenomes.org "Synthetic biology presents some of the greatest challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. Gigi Gronvall navigates a path to follow, to make sure risks are addressed and opportunities are not squandered. It should be read by all concerned about national security." - The Honorable Andrew Weber, head of global partnerships for Metabiota and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs

Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism

Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309089778
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 164

Get Book Here

Book Description
In recent years much has happened to justify an examination of biological research in light of national security concerns. The destructive application of biotechnology research includes activities such as spreading common pathogens or transforming them into even more lethal forms. Policymakers and the scientific community at large must put forth a vigorous and immediate response to this challenge. This new book by the National Research Council recommends that the government expand existing regulations and rely on self-governance by scientists rather than adopt intrusive new policies. One key recommendation of the report is that the government should not attempt to regulate scientific publishing but should trust scientists and journals to screen their papers for security risks, a task some journals have already taken up. With biological information and tools widely distributed, regulating only U.S. researchers would have little effect. A new International Forum on Biosecurity should encourage the adoption of similar measures around the world. Seven types of risky studies would require approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committees that already oversee recombinant DNA research at some 400 U.S. institutions. These "experiments of concern" include making an infectious agent more lethal and rendering vaccines powerless.

Gene Drives on the Horizon

Gene Drives on the Horizon PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309437873
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 231

Get Book Here

Book Description
Research on gene drive systems is rapidly advancing. Many proposed applications of gene drive research aim to solve environmental and public health challenges, including the reduction of poverty and the burden of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, which disproportionately impact low and middle income countries. However, due to their intrinsic qualities of rapid spread and irreversibility, gene drive systems raise many questions with respect to their safety relative to public and environmental health. Because gene drive systems are designed to alter the environments we share in ways that will be hard to anticipate and impossible to completely roll back, questions about the ethics surrounding use of this research are complex and will require very careful exploration. Gene Drives on the Horizon outlines the state of knowledge relative to the science, ethics, public engagement, and risk assessment as they pertain to research directions of gene drive systems and governance of the research process. This report offers principles for responsible practices of gene drive research and related applications for use by investigators, their institutions, the research funders, and regulators.

Global Health Risk Framework

Global Health Risk Framework PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309381045
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 201

Get Book Here

Book Description
Since the 2014 Ebola outbreak many public- and private-sector leaders have seen a need for improved management of global public health emergencies. The effects of the Ebola epidemic go well beyond the three hardest-hit countries and beyond the health sector. Education, child protection, commerce, transportation, and human rights have all suffered. The consequences and lethality of Ebola have increased interest in coordinated global response to infectious threats, many of which could disrupt global health and commerce far more than the recent outbreak. In order to explore the potential for improving international management and response to outbreaks the National Academy of Medicine agreed to manage an international, independent, evidence-based, authoritative, multistakeholder expert commission. As part of this effort, the Institute of Medicine convened four workshops in summer of 2015 to inform the commission report. The presentations and discussions from the Governance for Global Health Workshop are summarized in this report.

Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309670381
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 501

Get Book Here

Book Description
When communities face complex public health emergencies, state local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies must make difficult decisions regarding how to effectively respond. The public health emergency preparedness and response (PHEPR) system, with its multifaceted mission to prevent, protect against, quickly respond to, and recover from public health emergencies, is inherently complex and encompasses policies, organizations, and programs. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the United States has invested billions of dollars and immeasurable amounts of human capital to develop and enhance public health emergency preparedness and infrastructure to respond to a wide range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events. Despite the investments in research and the growing body of empirical literature on a range of preparedness and response capabilities and functions, there has been no national-level, comprehensive review and grading of evidence for public health emergency preparedness and response practices comparable to those utilized in medicine and other public health fields. Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response reviews the state of the evidence on PHEPR practices and the improvements necessary to move the field forward and to strengthen the PHEPR system. This publication evaluates PHEPR evidence to understand the balance of benefits and harms of PHEPR practices, with a focus on four main areas of PHEPR: engagement with and training of community-based partners to improve the outcomes of at-risk populations after public health emergencies; activation of a public health emergency operations center; communication of public health alerts and guidance to technical audiences during a public health emergency; and implementation of quarantine to reduce the spread of contagious illness.