David Stiefel
Director, Global Biological Policy and Programs
Biosecurity Dialogues
Reducing the risks of biological misuse and enhancing global security
Challenge
Despite rising risks, many countries do not adequately prioritize biosecurity – policies and practices that protect against the deliberate misuse of biology to cause harm.
Action
Foster cross-sectoral dialogues to identify and promote actions that advance biosecurity in key countries and regions.
Results
Biosecurity elevated as a global priority working to fill persistent capacity gaps to reduce risks of deliberate misuse of biology.
Biosecurity is under-represented as a policy and funding priority among countries and multilateral institutions, including those focused on strengthening global health security and countering weapons of mass destruction risks. In light of growing biosecurity threats, these limitations pose a serious international security vulnerability.
To address these gaps, NTI | bio convenes a range of biosecurity dialogues that bring together senior officials from ministries of foreign affairs, health, defense, agriculture and other relevant sectors, alongside industry, civil society, and academia partners. These dialogues aim to identify and promote impactful actions to reduce the risk that biology will be misused to cause harm.
Through these efforts, NTI | bio seeks to:
- Build strategic cross-border collaboration to strengthen biosecurity in countries and regions where progress can have the greatest impact in reducing global biological risks
- Promote new actions and investments by senior officials to reduce emerging biological risks including those associated with rapid technology advances
- Build political will among national governments and financial support for strengthening biosecurity
Through several lines of effort, NTI’s is working to advance inclusive, action-oriented dialogue that strengthens biosecurity norms and capacities in key countries and regions:
- Global Biosecurity Dialogue (GBD): A flagship initiative launched in 2018 that convenes senior officials and experts from around the world to advance concrete actions to strengthen biosecurity. The GBD focuses on biosecurity capability development, policy frameworks, and emerging biological risks.
- Regional engagements: NTI has been actively engaged in biosecurity and biosafety efforts across key regions including Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East by supporting locally led initiatives, fostering regional cooperation, and advancing strategic frameworks to reduce biological risks. In Africa, NTI partnered with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to regional workshops and strategic development efforts which formed the basis of Africa CDC’s Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative, a continent-wide effort to strengthen biosecurity and biosafety systems of African Union Member States.
- Bilaterial dialogues: NTI facilitates bilateral dialogues to build trust and promote cooperative approaches to reducing biological risks through candid exchanges on biosafety and biosecurity, governance of dual-use life science research, and emerging threats from rapid technological advances. One such engagement is a Track II dialogue co-convened with the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA), bringing together U.S. and Chinese experts to explore shared concerns and opportunities for collaboration on biosafety and biosecurity risks, governance of dual-use research, and joint efforts to mitigate emerging biological threats.
2025
Executive Order on Safety and Security in Biological Research Holds Promise But Leaves Crucial Gaps
Executive Order 14292 on “Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research" suggests some promising actions toward protecting modern bioscience and biotechnology against misuse. However, the order threatens to undermine U.S. capabilities to protect the American public from biological threats by requiring a pause in gain-of-function research.
2023
NTI | bio Hosts 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue Workstream Meetings
NTI | bio hosted more than 50 high-level biosecurity experts and professionals from governments, civil society, and regional and international organizations for the 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue Workstream meetings.
2022
Global Biosecurity Dialogue Convenes in Cape Town to Improve Biosecurity and Address Emerging Risks
NTI | bio convened experts from around the world from governments, industry, and civil society in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss emerging biological risks and offer actions to address them.
Fourth Annual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Identifies Steps to Improve Biosecurity in 2022 and Beyond
2021
NTI | bio convenes global experts to assess progress on Global Biosecurity Dialogue actions
NTI | bio brought together 100 biosecurity experts from around the world for virtual discussions about actions taken since the 2021 Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue, the future of biosafety and biosecurity, and lessons learned from COVID-19.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Work to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Northern Africa
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Work to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Northern Africa
First Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Yields Important Pledges to Strengthen Biosecurity
First Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Yields Important Pledges to Strengthen Biosecurity
2020
NTI | bio Partners with Africa CDC to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Eastern Africa
The NTI Global Biological Policy and Programs team partnered with ACDC to sponsor a training for experts across the Eastern African region to reduce biological risks.
2019
NTI | bio Hosts Dialogue on Biosecurity and Emerging Risks at the 2019 BWC Meeting of States Parties
NTI | bio hosted two events designed to discuss steps to fill global gaps in capability to prevent biological events and to reduce biological risks.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Convene Biosecurity and Biosafety Experts from Central Africa
NTI'S biosecurity program partnered with ACDC to sponsor the second event in a series of workshops to advance ACDC's initiative to stregthen biosecurity and biosafety.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Convene Biosecurity and Biosafety Experts from Southern Africa
The workshop sought to develop strategies for addressing biosecurity and biosafety capacity gaps at both the national and regional levels.
NTI | bio presents ongoing biosecurity work at Global Health Security Conference in Australia
NTI bio participated in the first annual Global Health Security (GHS) Conference
NTI Convenes Global Biosecurity Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Partners with African Union to Launch Africa CDC Initiative to Strengthen Biosecurity and Biosafety
Participants developed four new proposals to advance biosecurity policies, develop country capability, and create capacity to identify and reduce emerging biological risks.
Past Event
Tabletop Exercise for Senior Global Leaders on International Response to Deliberate Biological Events
Munich, Germany
2018
Past Event
Taking Action to Advance Biosecurity and Biosafety Globally
Bali, Indonesia
NTI | bio Announces Winners of Next Generation Competition, Advances Biosecurity Capability during Global Health Security Agenda Ministerial
NTI | bio will join senior officials and experts from around the world to advance global biosecurity capability during the 5th Global Health Security Agenda.
NTI Experts Emphasize Preparedness and Response to Deliberate Bio Events at the Biological Weapons Convention 2018 MX4
NTI's Hayley Severence and Michelle Nalabandian participate in the 2018 BWC Meeting of Experts on Assistance, Response, and Preparedness (MX4)
NTI | bio Hosts Inaugural Global Biosecurity Dialogue in London
NTI | bio held its inaugural Global Biosecurity Dialogue this week in London...
2017
NTI and World Economic Forum Partner to Discuss Biological Risks Posed by Advances in Technology
The event explored the current state of international biological risk and next steps to catalyze additional efforts toward biological risk reduction.
NTI Urges Enhanced Focus on Biosecurity at Gathering of Synthetic Biology Experts
NTI's Beth Cameron was invited to participate in a security-centered dialogue that will focus on assessing and reducing risks from emerging technologies.
NTI Highlights Health-Security Partnerships, Emphasizes Urgency, and Presses for Measurable Progress in Countering Biological Threats at WHA
NTI joins hundreds of international government officials and experts during the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland to highlight health and security partnerships.
2016
November BWC Review Conference Tackles Major Biosecurity Developments like Gene Drives
A new analysis from Gabrielle Tarini and Raymond Zilinskas of CNS examines gene drive systems and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
2014
Sam Nunn: Fighting Infectious Disease is a Health & Security Imperative, International Action Needed
NTI Co-Chairman Sam Nunn released this statement on the eve of two important global health meetings in Washington, D.C.