ICHS
International Conference on Health and Security (ICHS)
Building Partnerships for Biological Threat Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
The Westin, Georgetown, September 5-6, 2012
Washington, D.C.
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On September 5-6, the U.S. Government hosted representatives from foreign, public health and law enforcement ministries of 30 countries at the “International Conference on Health and Security: Building Partnerships for Biological Threat Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” in Washington, D.C. Participating countries included Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. The conference is part of the U.S. Bio-Transparency and Openness Initiative announced by Secretary Clinton on December 7, 2011 at the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference (RevCon) in Geneva.
- Welcome Letter by John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, and Ambassador Laura Kennedy, U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention Issues
AGENDA
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
09:00-09:10 – Welcome and Overview
U.S. Department of State (U.S. Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament and U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Issues, Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy)
09:10-09:25 – Keynote Address
09:25-09:40 – United States Bio-Transparency and Openness Initiative
U.S. Department of State (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Mr. Greg Delawie)
09:40-09:55 – International Biosecurity and Prevention Forum U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Assistant Director, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Mr. John Perren)
10:10-11:30 – Plenary Session 1:
The Evolving Biological Threat: The U.S. Government Response: General overview of the global biological threat. Historical review of offensive uses of biological agents and the emergence of global biological threats. Recent examples of biological incidents and the importance of establishing preventative measures to identify, characterize, respond to, and prevent the next biological incident. Overview of U.S. bio-defense program, evolving to meet changing risks.
(Speakers to be introduced by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Supervisory Special Agent, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Mr. John Julien)
10:10-10:30 – U.S. Department of Homeland Security Presentation to International Conference on Health and Security
(Deputy Under Secretary for Science & Technology, Dr. Daniel Gerstein)
10:30-10:50 – U.S. Department of Defense
10:50-11:10 – The FBI’s Efforts to Address the Biological Threat
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Supervisory Special Agent, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Nathan Head, Ph.D.)
11:30-12:20 – Rolling IBPF Web Portal demonstration and Q&A – International Biosecurity and Prevention Forum (IBPF) Overview and Web Portal Demonstration: Continuous rolling 20 minute demonstrations of the Web Portal, features and benefits of IBPF membership, and how to become a member.
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Supervisory Special Agent, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Nathan Head, Ph.D.)
12:30-12:45 – Intersection of Health and Security
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Assistant Secretary, Preparedness and Response, Rear Admiral Dr. Nicole Lurie)
12:45-14:10 – Plenary Session 2
Global Health Security: Evolving disease threats and their impact on security, “whole of government”/”whole of society” approaches to global health security, building capabilities to combat human and animal disease, whether caused naturally or deliberately.
(Speakers to be introduced by the U.S. National Security Staff, Director for Countering Biological Threats, Ms. Kristine Beardsley)
12:45-13:00 – The Health/Security Interface: Leveraging Synergies and Managing Sensitivities
Canada’s Global Partnership Program (Program Officer, Non-Proliferation and Security Threat Reduction Bureau, Mr. John Griffin – Part 1) (Part 2)
13:00-13:15 – Response to Bioterrorism and other Health Crisis
Pan American Health Organization (Regional Advisor, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief, Dr. Ciro Ugarte)
13:15-13:30 – Global Disease Detection – Beyond Public Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Director, Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, Dr. Scott Dowell – Part 1) (Part 2)
13:30-13:45 – Strong Animal Health Systems to Reduce Biothreats
World Organisation for Animal Health (Scientific and Technical Department, Dr. Keith Hamilton)
13:45-14:00 – Advancing the Microbiological Sciences Globally
American Society for Microbiology (Director, International Affairs, Dr. Jason Rao)
14:20-15:40 – Plenary Session 3
International/Multinational Tools to Counter Biological Threats: Tools used to counter biological threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate.
(Speakers to be introduced by U.S. Department of State, Director, Biological Policy Staff, Mr. Christopher Park)
14:20-14:35 – Evolution of U.S. Biological Weapons Convention Policy
U.S. Department of State (U.S. Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament and U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Issues, Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy)
14:35-14:50 – The Biological Weapons Convention’s Role in Countering Biological Threats
(Head, Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, Mr. Richard Lennane)
14:50-15:05 – The Global Partnership and Biological Security Work Plan
U.S. Department of State (Coordinator, Threat Reduction Programs, International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins)
15:05-15:20 – World Health Organization
(Assistant Director-General, Health Security and Environment, Dr. Keiji Fukuda)
15:55-17:00 – Plenary Session 4
Applications of Science and Technology: Use of science and emerging technology to advance biosurveillance, investigation, forensic attribution, and bio-defense efforts.
(Speakers to be introduced by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy, Senior Policy Analyst, Chemical and Biological Countermeasures, Dr. Franca Jones)
15:55-16:10 – Using Science for Prevention
Ecohealth Alliance (President, Dr. Peter Daszak – Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
16:10-16:25 – Emerging Technology and Forensic Microbiology
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Senior Biological Science Programs Advisor for Operational Response Section, FBI Laboratory, Dr. Jason Bannan)
16:25-16:40 – Science, Technology, and Biosurveillance
U.S. Department of Defense/Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Director, Chemical and Biological Technologies, Dr. Alan Rudolph)
17:00-17:15
Wrap-up – (Ambassador Laura Kennedy)
17:30-19:00
Reception and Networking Event: Allows U.S. Government Department and Agency representatives to highlight their bio-defense efforts and conduct outreach with other attendees.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
07:30-08:30 – Registration of participants
08:30-08:40 Welcome and Outline of Day 2 Activities – (Ambassador Laura Kennedy)
08:40-10:25 – PlenarySession 5
Addressing Biological Threats and Risks – Development of Multisectoral Responses: This session will address multisectoral responses, partnerships (i.e., public health-law enforcement, civilian-military, industry-academia, etc.) and international best practices in countering intentional biological threats.
(Speakers to be introduced by the U.S. National Security Staff, Director for Biological and Chemical Threat Reduction, Dr. Carolyn Floyd)
08:40-09:00 – Joint Public Health and Law Enforcement Investigations: Enhancing Relationships to Improve Readiness
09:00-09:20 – Inhalational Anthrax Case Study
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator, Federal Bureau of Investigation Albany Field Division, Mr. Geoffrey Kent) and Pennsylvania Department of Health (Epidemiology Research Associate, Ms. Elizabeth Hunt) (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
09:20-09:40 – International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Bioterrorism Prevention Program
09:40-10:10 – United Kingdom Heroin/Anthrax Case Study
NHS NSS Health Protection Scotland (Consultant Epidemiologist, Dr. Colin Ramsay)
INTERPOL (Radiological and Nuclear Coordinator, CBRNE Terrorism Prevention Programme, Mr. Alan King)
National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (Senior Principal Investigator, National Bioforensic Analysis Center, Dr. Nicholas Bergman)
10:40-12:15 – Panel Session – Dual Use Research of Concern: Discussion of dual-use research of concern, emerging technologies, and approaches for risk management.
(Speakers to be introduced by U.S. Department of State, Director, Biological Policy Staff, Mr. Christopher Park)
10:40-10:55 – Considerations Surrounding Dual-Use Research of Concern
U.S. Department of State (Director, Biological Policy Staff, Mr. Christopher Park)
10:55-11:55 – Dual-Use Panel Discussion/ Security and Emerging Technology
- Royal Society of the United Kingdom (Dr. Malcolm Dando)
- Association of American Universities (Associate Vice President for Federal Relations, Dr. Carrie Wolinetz)
- U.S. National Academy of Sciences (Scholar/Senior Project Director, Dr. Jo Husbands)
- Biodesic (Principal, Dr. Rob Carlson)
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence (Senior Advisor to the Director, National Counterproliferation Center, Dr. Larry D. Kerr)
- Biotechnology Industry Organization (Senior Director Policy, Dr. Rina Singh)
12:15-13:05 – Rolling IBPF Web Portal demonstration and Q&A – International Biosecurity and Prevention Forum (IBPF) Overview and Web Portal Demonstration: Continuous rolling 20 minute demonstrations of the Web Portal, features and benefits of IBPF membership, and how to become a member.
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Supervisory Special Agent, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Nathan Head, Ph.D.)
13:15-15:45 – Tabletop Exercise Breakout Sessions
Tabletop Exercise/Facilitated Discussion of a Notional Intentional Biological Incident Scenario
(Groups to be facilitated by law enforcement and public health representatives)
Objectives:
1) To understand the roles and responsibilities of various national stakeholders and international organizations in addressing an emerging outbreak;
2) To consider the necessary points of coordination among the health, law enforcement, and policy communities when responding to a disease outbreak of unknown origin;
3) To demonstrate the value of domestic and international information sharing;
4) To discuss how the mandated implementation measures required under the Biological Weapons Convention, UNSCR 1540 and the International Health Regulations contribute to effective prevention, deterrence, and response to biological threats.
Tabletop Exercise Group – Scott
13:15-13:35 – Scenario Introduction – Facilitators
13:35-14:35 – Move 1 (to be described by the facilitators). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
14:45-15:45 – Move 2 (to be described by the facilitator). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
Tabletop Exercise Group – Dupont
13:15-13:35 – Scenario Introduction – Facilitators
13:35-14:35 – Move 1 (to be described by the facilitators). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
14:45-15:45 – Move 2 (to be described by the facilitator). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
Tabletop Exercise Group – Thomas
13:15-13:35 – Scenario Introduction – Facilitators
13:35-14:35 – Move 1 (to be described by the facilitators). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
14:45-15:45 – Move 2 (to be described by the facilitator). Participants will discuss specific actions in response to questions from facilitator.
16:00-16:40 – Summary of Table Top Exercise lessons/gaps/way forward (Federal Bureau of Investigation): Conduct short briefings to highlight strengths and weaknesses of TTX responses and discuss any other lessons learned from the exercise.
16:00-16:10 – Group – Scott
16:10-16:20 – Group – Dupont
16:20-16:30 – Group – Thomas
16:30-16:40 Q&A Session
16:40-17:00 – Closing Speaker U.S. Department of Justice (Director of Preparedness and Response, National Security Division, Mr. Jordan Strauss)
17:00-17:10 – Event Wrap-Up U.S. Department of State (Ambassador Laura Kennedy)
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