PROVIDENCE, RI - Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health a $900,000 grant focused on biosecurity. This significant investment will support a groundbreaking three-year initiative that will catalyze a sustainable biological threat reduction policy program for rising African decision-makers and develop a pipeline of experts in Africa to lead and implement it.

Addressing a Growing Global Risk

Biological risks are on the rise globally, including those posed by deliberate and accidental events. Emerging technologies are essential for countering biological threats but simultaneously increase the likelihood and impact of biological misuse. As new tools that can enable the development of designer pathogens become more accessible and the future of threat reduction programs becomes more uncertain, the need for robust threat reduction safeguards and policies has never been more urgent. Across the African continent a sustainable, locally-led approach to biological threat reduction is essential for long-term peace and security.

Building a Pipeline of Future African Leaders in Bio Threat Reduction

Through this program, the Brown Pandemic Center will work with international partners to catalyze a sustainable pipeline of rising African leaders in biosecurity policy and practice, as well as visible support for biological threat reduction policies, practices, and innovations in partnership with African institutions to reduce the threat of deliberate and accidental biological events. Key components include:

1. Launching a biological threat reduction training policy program for rising African biosecurity leaders. Through an annual course, participating rising leaders will receive training in biological threat reduction policies and decision-making.
2. Supporting operational placements, deeper education, and training fellowships. These will support 3-5 fellows per year to develop and implement bio threat reduction policies and/or protocols in Africa in working collaboration with host organizations like Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science, BWC Implementation Support Unit, the Africa CDC through its Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative, and potentially others.
3. Deepening threat reduction policies and protocols in Africa to prevent and deter the acquisition, development, and use of biological weapons. Fellows will focus their work on enhancing compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and incentivizing confidence-building measures , and catalyzing the development and execution of policies aimed at reducing risks from emerging technologies like AI-assisted biotechnology, mirror life, and more.

Partners for a Future Safe and Secure from Bio Threats

Enabled by Carnegie Corporation of New York’s significant grant, this initiative will build on the strong working relationship the Pandemic Center has established with organizations like the Africa CDC, Science for Africa Foundation, the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS).

Working with African institutions and rising leaders, we aim to catalyze a sustainable biological threat reduction policy program and policy research base for rising African decision-makers, which becomes deeply rooted within African institutions, such as the Africa CDC and African academies of science. Through Carnegie Corporation of New York’s grant, this project will bolster and build a deeper bench of experts in biosecurity, ensuring a safer future for the African continent and the world.

For updates on the program and its activities, visit the Brown Pandemic Center website.