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All Center for Biosecurity Events

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2011

U.S. Preparedness for a Nuclear Detonation

October 17, 2011: The second in the Center's Congressional Seminar Series, this meeting featured the panel discussion, "U.S. Preparedness for a Nuclear Detonation," which was moderated by Dr. Thomas V. Inglesby, Director and CEO of the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC. Conference site

Charting the Future of Biosecurity: Ten Years After the Anthrax Attacks

October 4, 2011: The Center for Biosecurity convened this meeting to provide a forum for leaders in the biosecurity community to reflect on progress made since 2001 and to consider priorities for the biosecurity policy agenda in the years ahead. Conference website | Videos | Report

Launch of Rad Resilient City Initiative

September 27, 2011: The Center released this new initiative and Preparedness Checklist at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. The checklist converts the latest federal guidance and technical reports into 7 clear, actionable steps for communities to take to protect their residents from radioactive fallout. The website includes an implementation plan for cities and their neighbors, guidance for using buildings as shelters, a community preparedness education plan, and strategies for developing effective public messages that could save lives. Rad Resilient City website | Checklist workbook | Event site with videos

Advancing U.S. Resilience to a Nuclear Catastrophe

May 19, 2011: This meeting was convened to examine  policies, practices, and new proposals to strengthen the capacity of major U.S. cities, and the nation as a whole, to withstand a nuclear catastrophe. Discussion focused in particular on response to a terrorist detonation of a nuclear weapon. Conference website | Videos | Report

Considerations for 2011 Reauthorization of PAHPA

March 25, 2011: The first of a Congressional seminar series on biological and nuclear security sponsored by the Center, with the Senate Caucus on WMD Terrorism as honorary co-host. The panel discussed the reauthorization of PAHPA. Event website | Speakers | Priorities for PAHPA reauthorization

Preserving National Security: The Growing Role of the Life Sciences

March 3, 2011: This conference focused on the increasingly important and transformative role that the life sciences will play in the 21st century and the expanding and evolving connections between advances in the life sciences and U.S. national security. Conference website | Videos | Report

2010

Improving Global Health, Strengthening Global Security

November 22, 2010: This conference focused on improving global health security, and examined topics such as the BWC, global health capacity and U.S. national security, disease surveillance networks, the International Health Regulations, and destruction of the smallpox virus. Conference website | Videos | Report

The State of Biopreparedness: Lessons for Leaders, Proposals for Progress

September 23, 2010: The Center convened this national meeting in Washington, DC, to provide a forum for thought leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss ongoing challenges and priorities in biopreparedness and identify opportunities for improvement. Conference website | Videos | Report

Preparing to Save Lives and Recover After a Nuclear Detonation: Implications for U.S. Policy

April 29, 2010: The Center for Biosecurity of UPMC convened an invitational conference in Washington, DC, to examine critical issues associated with response to and recovery from a nuclear detonation and to consider the policy implications of those issues. Conference website | Videos | Report

The 2009 H1N1 Experience: Policy Implications for Future Infectious Disease Emergencies

March 5, 2010: The Center convened this meeting for review of the most significant lessons learned from the response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and to consider policy implications for future infectious disease emergencies. Conference website | Videos | Report

            
2009

Resilient American Communities: Progress in Practice and Policy

December 10, 2009: The purpose of this invitational conference was to apply state-of-the-art knowledge of resilience to the design of federal policies that will strengthen local communities and their environments to withstand disasters, epidemics, and terrorism. The meeting was convened by the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and the Natural Hazards Center of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Conference website | Videos | Report

Prevention of Biothreats: A Look Ahead

October 6, 2009: This conference, hosted by the Center for Biosecurity in collaboration with the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and Terrorism, convened thought leaders from government, the technical and policy communities, and academia to exchange views on preventing the development and use of biological weapons. Conference website | Videos | Report

          
Events Archive

Disease, Disaster, and Democracy: The Public's Stake in Health Emergency Planning

May 23, 2006: This summit was designed to advise leaders in government, public health, and disaster management on the feasibility and benefits of actively engaging citizens in planning for large-scale health emergencies, in anticipation of (1) the ethical dilemmas posed by scarce life-saving medical resources and (2) the logistical difficulties of protecting the well and caring for the sick in large numbers. Conference website

Bulls, Bears, and Birds: Preparing the Financial Industry for a Pandemic

September 23, 2005: During this half-day symposium on avian influenza, world experts briefed leaders from the business and financial sector on actions they could take to mitigate the effects of an avian influenza pandemic. Conference website

International Conference on Biosafety and Biorisks

March 2-3, 2005: Organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR) Office in Lyon, France, this meeting convened 150 scientists, health leaders and practitioners to discuss biosafety and biosecurity challenges presented by SARS, influenza and other major epidemic threats, as well as efforts needed to improve international cooperation prior to and during future epidemics. Conference website

Atlantic Storm

January 14, 2005: Atlantic Storm simulated a bioterrorist attack on the nations of the transatlantic community. During this "table-top" exercise, former prime ministers and other senior government officials from the transatlantic community played the roles of the heads of government of their respective nations. Event website & Atlantic Storm Interactive

The Public as an Asset, Not a Problem: A Summit on Leadership During Bioterrorism

February 3-4, 2003: The purpose of this event was to synthesize for government and public health authorities the essential principles of leadership, based on frontline experiences with recent terrorism events and other relevant crises, that encourage the public's constructive collaboration in confronting a bioterrorist attack. Conference website

Dark Winter

June 22-23, 2001: The Dark Winter exercise portrayed a fictional scenario depicting a covert smallpox attack on U.S. citizens. The scenario is set in 3 successive National Security Council (NSC) meetings which take place over 2 weeks. Former senior government officials played the roles of NSC members; media representatives were among the observers and played journalists during the mock press conferences. The exercise was held at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, DC. Event website

2nd National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism

November 28-29, 2000: After introducing the subject of bioterrorism at the first symposium, the second symposium was convened to consider actions that might be taken by national leaders to diminish the risk of bioterrorism and/or to lessen the suffering such weapons would inflict upon civilian populations. Senator Edward M. Kennedy delivered the closing address. Conference website      

National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism

February 16-17, 1999: The National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism was the watershed event in raising awareness among medical and public health practitioners about their critical roles in bioterrorism response. Conference website