Pandemic Center

Participate with our Next Gen Fellows

Participate with our Next Gen Fellows

Explore the work of our Biosecurity Game Changers fellows. From recorded seminars and podcasts to an ongoing Journal Club and news highlights from the Pandemic Center.

This showcase features insights from the next generation of biosecurity leaders tackling the world’s most pressing biosecurity and biosafety challenges.

Game Changers Seminar Series

Game Changers Seminar Series

Convened and moderated by and intended for early-to-mid-career professionals, the Game Changers Seminar Series shines a spotlight on major challenges that will confront the next generation of biosecurity leaders. This also highlights impactful next steps that can be taken to lean forward faster to prevent biological crises. 

The moderator seat for this series rotates among the Biosecurity Game Changers Fellows and each seminar is conducted on a every-other-month-basis. Our next seminar is slated for June 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Erip2w6c20Y

Game Changers Seminar

 

Regional policies on dual-use research and research involving pathogens of pandemic potential

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTKbqiknLlI

Game Changers Seminar

 

Biosecurity Game Changers Seminar: Biosecurity, Biosafety, and the 100-Days Mission

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xfCdFrCSTms

Game Changers Seminar

 

Early Warning Systems, Disease Detection and Wastewater Biosurveillance

Podcast| Biosecurity: Changing the Game

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game

Your go-to podcast for all things biosecurity and the science, politics and institutional norms that shape the discourse, policies and strategies around global biological threats. Hosted by Game Changer Fellow Dinah Nasike 

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 9

In this episode of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, "A Rising Tide: The Escalating Wave of Global Infectious Disease Outbreaks," Dr. Dinah Nasike is joined by biosecurity experts Beth Cameron and Wilmot James, both Senior Advisors to Brown University's Pandemic Center and Peter Babigumira, a Senior Technical Advisor at Makerere University’s Infectious Diseases Institute and an Epidemic Intelligence Analyst at the Uganda Ministry of Health.

Listen Here

Left to Right: Dinah Nasike, Peter Babigumira, Beth Cameron and Wilmot James



Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 8

Host Dinah (Left) episode guest Darlington Akogo (Right)

In this follow up to the previous episode of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guest, Darlington Akogo (Founder and CEO, minoHealth AI Labs; AI4Radiology Chair, United Nations ITU & WHO Focus Group on AI For Health) continue their discussion on the use of AI in the field of biomedical research in Africa.

Listen here



Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 7

In this edition of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guest, Darlington Akogo (Founder and CEO, minoHealth AI Labs; AI4Radiology Chair, United Nations ITU & WHO Focus Group on AI For Health) discuss the use of AI in the field of biomedical research in Africa.

Listen Here

Host Dinah (Left) episode guest Darlington Akogo (Right)

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 6

The larger group of the 2025 MSC participants focused on discussions around The 100 Days Mission including guests Yorgo El Moubayed, Kirsten Angeles, and Yuhan Bao

This episode is the second half of Dr. Dinah Nasike's discussion with a group of next generation leaders who have decided to get involved in taking biological threats off the table by pitching a powerful proposal to the world on the 100 Days Mission: The Biosecurity Emerging Leaders Declaration at the 61st Munich Security Conference.

Guests: 

  • Yorgo El Moubayed: Program Coordinator, International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation; Technical Consultant, IBBIS
  • Kirsten Angeles: Independent Biosecurity Governance Researcher; NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023, Southeast Asia Biosecurity
  • Thokozani Liwewe: Lilongwe District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Malawi
  • José Garza Martínez: Researcher/Lecturer, Tecnologico de Monterrey; Instructor, Center of AI Safety; NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023
  • Yuhan Bao, Liaison Officer, International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation

Listen here

 

 


Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 5

In this episode, Dr. Dinah Nasike brings together a group of next generation leaders who have decided to get involved in taking biological threats off the table by pitching a powerful proposal to the world on the 100 Days Mission: The Biosecurity Emerging Leaders Declaration at the 61st Munich Security Conference.

Guests: 

  • Yorgo El Moubayed: Program Coordinator, International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation; Technical Consultant, IBBIS
  • Kirsten Angeles: Independent Biosecurity Governance Researcher; NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023, Southeast Asia Biosecurity
  • Thokozani Liwewe: Lilongwe District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Malawi
  • José Garza Martínez: Researcher/Lecturer, Tecnologico de Monterrey; Instructor, Center of AI Safety; NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023
  • Yuhan Bao, Liaison Officer, International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation

Listen here

The larger group of the 2025 MSC participants focused on discussions around The 100 Days Mission including guests Yorgo El Moubayed, Kirsten Angeles, and Yuhan Bao

 

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 4

 

In the second part of this edition of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guests discuss the 100 Days Mission - an ambitious initiative developed after the Covid-19 pandemic meant to ensure that vaccines, diagnostics and treatments are developed, produced and distributed within 100 days of a major disease outbreak.

Guests: 

  • Thokozani Liwewe, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and Clinical Lead for the District Health Office under the Ministry of Health in Malawi
  • Yorgo El Moubayed, Program Coordinator at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation and Technical Consultant at the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS).
  • Edyth Parker, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and Team Lead for Bioinformatics at the Institute of Genomics and Global Health
  • Kirsten Angeles, Biosecurity Policy Researcher and NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023, Southeast Asia Biosecurity
  • Jon Arizti Sanz, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow at the Pandemic Center and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Listen Here

Dinah Nasike with Jon Arizti Sanz, Thokozani Liwewe and other Biosecurity Game Changers Fellows

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 3

Dinah Nasike with Jon Arizti Sanz, Thokozani Liwewe and other Biosecurity Game Changers Fellows

In this edition of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guests discuss the 100 Days Mission - an ambitious initiative developed after the Covid-19 pandemic meant to ensure that vaccines, diagnostics and treatments are developed, produced and distributed within 100 days of a major disease outbreak.

Guests: 

  • Thokozani Liwewe, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and Clinical Lead for the District Health Office under the Ministry of Health in Malawi
  • Yorgo El Moubayed, Program Coordinator at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Foundation and Technical Consultant at the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS).
  • Edyth Parker, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and Team Lead for Bioinformatics at the Institute of Genomics and Global Health
  • Kirsten Angeles, Biosecurity Policy Researcher and NTI | bio BWC delegate 2023, Southeast Asia Biosecurity
  • Jon Arizti Sanz, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow at the Pandemic Center and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Listen Here

 

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 2

In this continuation and conclusion of the conversation that began last episode, Dr. Dinah Nasike dives into the history and evolution of biosecurity: what biosecurity is; how it started; how it has evolved to become what we know as biosecurity today; and the events in the historical timeline that acted as tipping points and caused major shifts in global discourse around biosecurity.

Dr. Nasike’s guests are biosecurity experts Beth Cameron and Wilmot James, both Senior Advisors to Brown University's Pandemic Center and Peter Babigumira, a Senior Technical Advisor at Makerere University’s Infectious Diseases Institute and an Epidemic Intelligence Analyst at the Uganda Ministry of Health.

Listen Here

Left to Right: Dinah Nasike, Wilmot James and Beth Cameron

 

Biosecurity: Changing the Game Ep 1

In the inaugural episode of the podcast, Dr. Dinah Nasike dives into the history and evolution of biosecurity. This conversation explores: what biosecurity is; how it started; how it has evolved to become what we know as biosecurity today; and the events in the historical timeline that acted as tipping points and caused major shifts in global discourse around biosecurity.

Dr. Nasike’s guests are biosecurity experts Beth Cameron and Wilmot James, both Senior Advisors to Brown University's Pandemic Center and Peter Babigumira, a Senior Technical Advisor at Makerere University’s Infectious Diseases Institute and an Epidemic Intelligence Analyst at the Uganda Ministry of Health.

Listen Here

Left to Right: Dinah Nasike, Wilmot James and Beth Cameron

 

Decoding Biosecurity Journal Club

Decoding Biosecurity Journal Club

The Decoding Biosecurity Journal Club is a monthly forum dedicated to early-career professionals who share an interest in biosecurity, biosafety, and global health security. Its goal is to build a dynamic community where members can engage in critical discussions, share knowledge, and support each other’s professional growth.

Interested in joining the Journal Club?

Click on the link below to submit an interest form.

Submit an Interest Form

Upcoming Journal Club Dates
 

June 2025:

Just a quick note to invite you to the next Decoding Biosecurity journal club! We'll be meeting on Friday, June 27 at 9 AM EST / 3 PM CET / 5 PM EAT.

Under the guidance of Sandra Matinyi, his time we’re reading, : Limiting open science? Three approaches to bottom-up governance of dual-use research of concern

It’s an interesting look at how scientists themselves might shape governance around dual-use risks.

Questions, or if there’s anyone you’d like to invite to the session? Reach out to Edyth (eparker@scripps.edu) or Jon (jariztis@broadinstitute.org).

Best,
Edyth and Jon, Biosecurity Game Changers Fellows

Previous Journal Club Dates

April 2025:

The futility of the pandemic treaty: caught between globalism and statism

Clare Wenham, Mark Eccleston-Turner, Maike Voss

International Affairs, Volume 98, Issue 3, May 2022, Pages 837–852,

 

 

 

March 2025:

Establishing the value of regional cooperation and a critical role for regional organisations in managing future health emergencies

Rahman-Shepherd, Afifah et al.

The Lancet Global Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, e585 - e592

 

January 2025: 

Global wastewater surveillance for pathogens with pandemic potential: opportunities and challenges

Grassly, Nicholas C et al.

The Lancet Microbe, Volume 6, Issue 1, 100939

 

November 2024: 

Information hazards in biotechnology

Lewis G, Millett P, Sandberg A, Snyder-Beattie A, Gronvall G.

Risk Analysis, Volume 39, Issue 5:975-981

 

News Articles

Recent News Items

News from SPH

Safeguarding the Future: How One Biosecurity Game Changer is Building a Safer Bioeconomy in Africa

Through a pioneering fellowship with Brown’s Pandemic Center, genomic epidemiologist Edyth Parker is working to prevent man-made biological threats and foster responsible innovation by mapping DNA synthesis practices and helping to shape biosecurity policies across Africa.
Read Article
NTI

Young Voices in International Security: Thokozani Nyasulu-Liwewe

NTI’s “Young Voices” series highlights early-career professionals making their mark as part of the community of experts tackling today’s existential threats. This series reflects NTI’s commitment to uplift a range of voices and ideas, help break down stereotypes that contribute to generational divides on security and give a platform to young people to share creative ideas that address the evolving threats imperiling humanity.

Sara Kaufman, Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator for NTI’s Global Biological Policy and Programs team (NTI | bio) had the chance to speak with Thokozani Nyasulu-Liwewe, a medical doctor and global health professional with a remarkable career path dedicated to improving health outcomes and strengthening health systems. Currently, Thokozani serves as the Clinical Lead for the District Health Office under the Ministry of Health in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. She is also a 2024 Game Changers Fellow with the Brown University Pandemic Center and Pandemic Action Network. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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