From June 9 – 12, the Nuclear Threat Initiative Global Biological Policy and Programs (NTI | bio) will join global leaders and policymakers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the fourth Global Health Security Conference (GHS 2026).
At a time of growing biological risks, ongoing outbreaks, and shrinking public health resources, GHS 2026 presents an important opportunity to advance practical, collaborative approaches that strengthen health security worldwide.
NTI | bio experts will host, moderate, and participate in a number of sessions. Among the highlights, NTI | bio and our partners will preview findings from the forthcoming Africa Health Security (AHS) Index. Our team will also convene a timely discussion on the need for stronger health-security partnerships amid dwindling resources. NTI | bio has worked with partners to develop multiple conference sessions:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
1:00pm-2:00pm
Preventing, preparing for, and responding to biological incidents is inherently multi‑sectoral, requiring coordinated action across health, security, defense, and law enforcement. Yet, these efforts have often been siloed, with sectors working in parallel rather than in partnership. This session aims to close that gap by advancing integrated policy and practice across these communities —at a time when health outcomes increasingly depend on defense-sector engagement and funding, and security outcomes rely more than ever on health system resilience.
Featuring:
Session moderated by NTI | bio Director David Stiefel.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
10:45am- 11:45am
Discussion will address how initiatives such as the International BioFunders Compact and Forum can help to align global life science funders around a shared commitment to embed biosafety and biosecurity into funding decisions, sharing best practices, and reducing support for high-risk research.
Featuring:
Session moderated by Courtney Carson, Resilience Action Network International (Rani).
The session will highlight the “three-legged stool” approach to biosecurity, which frames global readiness as dependent on strong norms and governance, robust technical capabilities, and clear incentives and accountability mechanisms.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
11:45am-12:45pm
Featuring:
Session moderated by Peter Babigumira Ahabwe, Ministry of Health, Uganda
Friday, June 12, 2026
2:30pm-3:30pm
The session will preview the 2026 Africa Health Security (AHS) Index, set for release in July 2026. The forthcoming Index will enable African leaders to measure, finance, and advance improvements in health security and create an evidence-based accountability framework to track progress toward better health security on the continent. The AHS Index offers transparent, comparable metrics designed to support leaders and policymakers, and drive action.
Featuring:
Session moderated by NTI | bio Senior Director Rachel Staley Grant
In addition to the above, NTI | bio Director David Stiefel will also moderate multiple GHS Conference-organized panels, guiding discussions across biothreat reduction, health security, and dual-use technology.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
11:45am-12:45pm
Featuring:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
10:45am-11:45am
Featuring:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
2:15pm-3:15pm
Featuring:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
3:45pm-4:45pm
Featuring:
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Amid rapid advances in bioscience and as artificial intelligence reshapes global technological capabilities, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) are jointly calling for action to strengthen biosecurity and oversight and engage in responsible practices to prevent accidents or misuse.
New NTI | bio paper calls on tool developers and other AIxBio stakeholders to implement a managed access approach—allowing only validated users to access those biological AI models that contribute to biosecurity risks—to help reduce the risk that such tools will be deliberately misused to cause harm.
NTI’s Global Biological Policy and Programs team will host two side events at the Sixth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
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