Biosurveillance And Biosecurity

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the International Workshop on Biosurveillance and Biosecurity, BioSecure 2008, held in Raleigh, NC, USA, in December 2008. The 18 revised full papers presented together with one invited paper were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on informatics infrastructure and policy considerations; network-based data analytics; biosurveillance models and outbreak detection; model assessment and case studies; environmental biosurveillance and case studies.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the International Workshop on Biosurveillance and Biosecurity, BioSecure 2008, held in Raleigh, NC, USA, in December 2008. The 18 revised full papers presented together with one invited paper were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on informatics infrastructure and policy considerations; network-based data analytics; biosurveillance models and outbreak detection; model assessment and case studies; environmental biosurveillance and case studies.

Biological engagement programs are a set of projects or activities between partner countries that strengthen global health security to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Engagement programs are an effective way to work collaboratively towards a common threat reduction goal, usually with a strong focus on strengthening health systems and making the world a safer place. Cooperative programs are built upon trust and sharing of information and resources to increase the capacity and capabilities of partner countries. Biological engagement programs reduce the threat of infectious disease with a focus on pathogens of security concern, such as those pathogens identified by the U.S. Government as Biological Select Agent and Toxins. These programs seek to develop technical or scientific relationships between countries to combat infectious diseases both in humans and animals. Through laboratory biorisk management, diagnostics, pathogen detection, biosurveillance and countermeasure development for infectious diseases, deep relationships are fostered between countries. Biological engagement programs are designed to address dual-use issues in pathogen research by promoting responsible science methodologies and cultures. Scientific collaboration is a core mechanism for engagement programs are designed to strengthen global health security, including prevention of avoidable epidemics; detection of threats as early as possible; and rapid and effective outbreak response. This Research Topic discusses Biological Engagement Programs, highlighting the successes and challenges of these cooperative programs. Articles in this topic outlined established engagement programs as well as described what has been learned from historical cooperative engagement programs not focused on infectious diseases. Articles in this topic highlighted selected research, trainings, and programs in Biological Engagement Programs from around the world. This Topic eBook first delves into Policies and Lessons Learned; then describes Initiatives in Biosafety & Biosecurity; the core of this work documents Cooperative Research Results from the field; then lastly the Topic lays out potential Future Directions to the continued success of the World’s cooperative science in reducing the threat of infectious diseases.

Environmental biodetection (BD) and human biosurveillance (BSV) are part of the foundation of national biodefense. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) chemical and biological defense (CBD) research and development (R&D) portfolio improves technologies and operations in both of these areas. In the context of evolving technologies, greater adversary capabilities, and unpredictable federal budgets, this report examines S&T's CBD R&D portfolio to identify priorities for future investments. The policy context includes multiple national strategies addressing biodefense, biosurveillance, health security, and national security; multiple federal agencies have missions and programming in this space. The R&D outputs of most CBD projects and most projects in illustrative inventories of non-S&T CBD R&D are not ready for deployment. S&T's CBD R&D has focused more on environmental BD than on human BSV. While S&T has supported some projects to develop tests for environmental or human samples, other federal agencies have supported more studies in this area. There is less R&D-supported by S&T or other sources-that targets system configuration or concept of operations (CONOPS). The recommendations are to (1) develop a DHS strategic plan for environmental BD and human BSV R (2) prioritize environmental BD over human BSV for future DHS R&D investments, given the department's unique role in this area; (3) prioritize R&D addressing CONOPS; (4) actively monitor R&D supported by other agencies, and adapt relevant outputs to meet DHS needs; (5) shorten the timeline for real-world application by prioritizing midstage and later stage R&D over early stage research.

What is bioterrorism and how can the United States prepare and defend itself from this threat? Readers will learn about the history of biological warfare and terrorism—from ancient to medieval to modern times. Stories of a salmonella cult attack, a smallpox outbreak war game to test the nation’s readiness for a biological attack, and biosecurity breaches in Tokyo describe some of the nation’s experiences with biological warfare. Through informative text, full-color photos, and fact boxes, this book details US Army training against bioweapons, the future of biosecurity, and the prevention of bioweapon proliferation in the global community.

"A biological event, such as a naturally occurring pandemic or a terrorist attack with a weapon of mass destruction, could have catastrophic consequences for the nation. This potential threat underscores the importance of a national biosurveillance capability -- that is, the ability to detect biological events of national significance to provide early warning and information to guide public health and emergency response. The 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 addresses this capability, in part, by creating National Biosurveillance Integration Center within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); it was tasked with integrating information from human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental monitoring systems across the federal government, to improve the likelihood of identifying a biological event at an earlier stage. In recent years, NBIC's budget has ranged from $10 million to $13 million annually. GAO was asked to evaluate NBIC. This report discusses the (1) extent to which NBIC is implementing its roles as a biosurveillance integrator, and (2) options for improving such integration. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed NBIC products and activities; conducted interviews and surveyed 19 federal partners, 11 of which have key roles in biosurveillance; interviewed NBIC officials; and analyzed the 9/11 Commission Act, NBIC Strategic Plan, and National Strategy for Biosurveillance"--Preliminary page.

"Achievement of comprehensive, effective domestic and international biosurveillance is compromised by jurisdictional complexity and inefficiencies. Federal biosurveillance policy oversight should be established in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) with the National Security Staff (NSS) as the lead entity identified to coordinate investments, interagency collaboration, and program implementation including those activities in support of the President's Global Health Initiative. An outside representative advisory group should be established to facilitate key stakeholders' interface with White House policy and technology coordinating groups. Methods and metrics used in acquiring biosurveillance data are highly variable. This impedes data sharing and analysis, and recognition and response to health threats. Efficient, comprehensive aggregation and analysis of actionable biosurveillance data should be promoted through support for implementation of IHR 2005; integration of human, animal, food, vector, and environmental surveillance systems into a national biosurveillance strategy; and expansion of biosurveillance to include environmental aspects that are the greatest threat to human health, including water, food, animals, and vectors. The current biosurveillance workforce is inadequate to address existing challenges to biosecurity let alone those that are anticipated to arise with increasing data, globalization, and synthetic biology. The federal government should promote and ensure a sustainable interdisciplinary workforce with investments in expertise, especially in public health informatics; social and behavioral epidemiology; environmental, human and animal health; vector biology; and disaster response. The federal government should continue to invest in a new generation of research to develop and build on innovative technologies in molecular and cellular sciences, engineering, chemistry, physics, information technology, mathematics, and communications that will enhance the efficiency and sensitivity of regional, national and global biosurveillance. Understanding the baseline and variance of human and animal health using these emerging technologies with clear processes to select the best approaches and scale them will allow for the creation of the functional equivalent of a national and international immune system that can protect the public in real time."--Page ii.