Commission Announces New Position to Lead Biodefense Policy and Research Efforts.
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is seeking a Director of Policy and Research to develop and supervise the Commission’s biodefense policy and research agendas. The Commission, established in 2014, assesses the state of U.S. biodefense efforts and recommends changes to U.S. policy and law to strengthen national biodefense while optimizing resource investments. The Commissioners, all former high-ranking government officials, and the staff of four have conducted more than 20 public meetings and produced six reports, including the seminal A National Blueprint for Biodefense: Leadership and Major Reform Needed to Optimize Efforts. The pandemic of 2020 has shined a spotlight on the Commission’s work and this new Director of Policy and Research joins at an exciting time of high-intensity focus and rapid-growth. If you are interested, please send your resume to admin@biodefensecommission.org
News HighlightThe U.S. Can End Pandemics Within A Decade
Today, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense released a timely report containing specific recommendations to Congress and the Administration. If leaders act on these recommendations, the Nation could put an end to pandemics within a decade. The Athena Agenda: Advancing The Apollo Program for Biodefense, provides recommendations to implement the 15 technology priorities described by the Commission in its 2021 report, The Apollo Program for Biodefense also identifies the US government organizations responsible for leadership, accountability, and engagement in public-private partnerships necessary for success.
More12 April, 2022
At this November 2020 meeting, the Commission assessed the national response to COVID-19 as those activities relate to the recommendations of the Blueprint. More details on this meeting can be found here.
Commission
Senator Joe Lieberman
All of us at the Commission are in shock and are heartbroken at news that Senator Lieberman has died suddenly and unexpectedly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Hadassah, their children, and extended family.
We all were the beneficiaries of Joe’s many years of selfless public service, his kindness, and civility. Joe was the definition of a Mensch – a person of great integrity and honor. He always put others first and always worked to better our nation, to which he tirelessly devoted so much of his energy. He had an indefatigable spirit that always pushed our work forward.
For nearly ten years, Joe was my co-chair here at the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. He cared deeply about the mission, for sure. Even more, he cared about each of our fellow Commissioners and the staff, all of whom I know are personally grieving at this tremendous loss. May his memory be a blessing.
Tom Ridge
March 27, 2024
July 19, 2024
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense Takes on Hollywood
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 19, 2024) - Podcasts evolve. So do viruses and other biological threats. In response, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense has taken its examination of scenarios involving biological weapons, accidents, and naturally occurring pandemics to the next level and created The Biollywood Podcast.
July 10, 2024
New Interactive Tool from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense Maps the Nation’s Biodefense Enterprise
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 10, 2024) – Today, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is releasing B-SPAN, a first of its kind interactive tool that shows what parts of the executive and legislative branches of government address biodefense.
May 14, 2024
Report: Congress must take immediate action to defend US against biological threats
A group of researchers and former lawmakers urged Congress to update the government’s strategy against deadly outbreaks and biological attacks. The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense released its report, The National Blueprint for Biodefense, outlining 36 recommendations and 185 action items to defend against biological threats. “We’ve got to be prepared, no matter who’s the president, no matter who the administration is, or the Congress,” former congressman Fred Upton said. “We have to be prepared, ready for the next case.”
May 13, 2024
State public health advocates rally against $300M in proposed budget cuts
The groups warn that the proposed cuts to public health services would turn back the clock on the state’s readiness to fight disease, repeating the very mistakes that cost lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The warning comes amid threats of other infectious diseases as well as possible bio-terror attacks. The federal Bipartisan Commission on Bio-Defense has revealed that the next pandemic could be worse and yet the U.S. is poorly prepared, unorganized and not well funded, according to its report released in April.
May 7, 2024
Upton heads to Washington for report on biothreats
Upton was joined by Dr. Raj Panjabi, a former White House Senior Director for Global Health Security. He said the new report recommends funding research into cleaning air indoors. “By ensuring that our buildings are — like we do with fireproofing them and earthquake proofing them and flood proofing them — we need to pandemic proof them,” Panjabi said. “So, we’ve called for a new research and development plan with the goal of ensuring we’re using the latest technologies to clean the air from the inside out.”
