Bio-Risk

In a Washington Post article that delves into China's extensive efforts to collect genetic data from around the world, using innovative technology, CSET's Anna Puglisi provided her expert insights.

CSET's Anna Puglisi was featured in a Nature article along with a report she co-authored. The article discusses the challenges faced by US policymakers in regulating research involving potentially harmful pathogens. The focal point of the discussion is the CSET report titled “Understanding the Global Gain-of-Function Research Landscape.”

Understanding the Global Gain-of-Function Research Landscape

Caroline Schuerger Steph Batalis Katherine Quinn Ronnie Kinoshita Owen Daniels Anna Puglisi
| August 2023

Gain- and loss-of-function research have contributed to breakthroughs in vaccine development, genetic research, and gene therapy. At the same time, a subset of gain- and loss-of-function studies involve high-risk, highly virulent pathogens that could spread widely among humans if deliberately or unintentionally released. In this report, we map the gain- and loss-of-function global research landscape using a quantitative approach that combines machine learning with subject-matter expert review.

CSET's Anna Puglisi was cited in an article by CNN that delves into China's efforts to become a global leader in the biosciences by investing billions of dollars and collecting vast amounts of genetic data from its 1.4 billion population.

Large Language Models in Biology

Steph Batalis Caroline Schuerger Vikram Venkatram
| June 16, 2023

Steph Batalis, Caroline Schuerger and Vikram Venkatram explore three notable areas in the life sciences where LLMs are catalyzing meaningful advances: drug discovery, genetics, and precision medicine.

A Shot of Resilience

Steph Batalis Anna Puglisi
| May 2023

Vaccines keep the U.S. public healthy while safeguarding economic stability and biosecurity. This report assesses the domestic vaccine manufacturing landscape and identifies two major vulnerabilities: a reliance on foreign manufacturers and a lack of manufacturing redundancy. Maintaining a resilient vaccine supply will require the U.S. government to take steps to protect the existing supply, identify and monitor manufacturing vulnerabilities, and create a stronger domestic production base.

Viral Families and Disease X: A Framework for U.S. Pandemic Preparedness Policy

Caroline Schuerger Steph Batalis Katherine Quinn Amesh Adalja Anna Puglisi
| April 2023

Pandemic threats are increasing as globalization, urbanization, and encroachment on animal habitats cause infectious outbreaks to become more frequent and severe. It is imperative that the United States build a pipeline of medical countermeasure development, beginning with basic scientific research and culminating in approved therapies. This report assesses preparedness for families of viral pathogens of pandemic potential and offers recommendations for steps the U.S. government can take to prepare for future pandemics.

Dashing for the Double Helix

Politico
| March 9, 2023

CSET Director of Biotechnology Programs and Senior Fellow Anna Puglisi provided insights into China's illicit efforts to acquire genetic data from the United States in Politico's Morning Cybersecurity. She pointed out that such data will serve a wide variety of interests, from health care to agriculture. “It’s enablers like sequencing and other tools of discovery that are going to drive the bioeconomy, that are going to drive precision medicine,” she said. “The more data you have, the more you can start to understand what genes do.”

Comment to the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative

Caroline Schuerger Steph Batalis Vikram Venkatram
| January 20, 2023

CSET's Dr. Caroline Schuerger, Dr. Steph Batalis, and Vikram Venkatram submitted this comment with recommendations for the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative.

CSET's Anna Puglisi and Andrew Imbrie discuss actions democracies can take to shape the development of biotechnology.