Biodefense

Coverage of some of the key sessions from the Biosecurity Conference at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2011, which occurred in Washington DC on June 29-30, can be found in the FAS Biosecurity Blog.

A View from the Hill: A Conversation on Global Biodefense and Biosecurity

Jim Greenwood, the President of BIO, opened the first biosecurity discussion, which focused on congressional views on domestic biodefense initiatives, international efforts to improve biosecurity, and the implementation of policies to respond to these challenges.

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), emphasized the need for better cooperation between the private sector and the U.S. Government in view of the recent threat from H1N1 avian influenza. He called for better knowledge and definition of the threat and stated that the challenge is to nurture better cooperation between both sides.

Photo credit: stock.xchng

Who is in charge of carrying out our nation’s biodefense policy?  This question was raised repeatedly in Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Labor-Health and Human Services subcommittee.  The hearing focused on bioterrorism, biosecurity, and medical countermeasures in contrast to last week’s senate hearing on terrorism during which the topic was barely mentioned.

The hearing was divided into two parts, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testifying first about the department’s recent review of the entire medical countermeasure enterprise.

Reuters is reporting that the US Strategic National Stockpile will begin acquisition of a new smallpox vaccine.  The new product, Imvamune, promises reduced side-effects and potentially improved protection for patients who are treated after exposure to the virus.  These traits could make the vaccine much more effective as a countermeasure against a biological attack using smallpox.

Though the story of Imvamune ultimately demonstrates that improved countermeasures to biological threats can be developed, the story also illustrates some of the challenges involved in the process.

Our complete coverage of the Biotechnology Industry Organization(BIO)’s 2010 Biosecurity Conference, which occurred in Chicago on May 5-6th, can be found in the FAS Biosecurity Blog archives at: http://fas.org/blog/bio/tag/bio2010

Several recurring themes emerged in the presentations by the world’s experts in fields like public health, national security, food defense, biological weapons, and new advances in research.  Here is our analysis of some of the trends observed at the conference.

Representatives from industry, NGO’s and the government gathered to discuss ways to manage biological threats at the second day of the 2010 Biosecurity convention.  The session focused on the coordination that would be required to respond to biological incidents.