Health Security Partners

09/11/2026

Health Security Partners (HSP) brought together 20 researchers and government stakeholders from Bulgaria and Serbia for a 3-day Workshop on Strengthening Science Security in Bulgaria and Serbia from August 25-27, 2026 in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Through expert-led discussions and practical exercises, participants explored the intersection of research security and cyberbiosecurity with a focus on protecting sensitive research, data, systems, and collaborations. Sessions included information hazards, cyber hygiene, data classification and protection, Know Your Collaborator (KYC) and due diligence, research security governance, and emerging frameworks. Participants applied these concepts through workflow mapping, cyber hygiene and data classification exercises, and a scenario-based tabletop exercise. The workshop concluded with participants developing institutional action plans identifying concrete priorities for strengthening research security and cyberbiosecurity within their organizations.

The workshop also provided an important opportunity to strengthen connections between Bulgarian and Serbian stakeholders across academia and government, facilitating the exchange of experiences, challenges, and approaches to strengthening research security and cyberbiosecurity across the region.

09/11/2026

The future of AI and biotechnology brings enormous potential—but also serious security considerations. Understanding and preparing for emerging biological risks is critical. 🧬🤖🌎

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In a new report, the A.I. start-up added that it could not determine whether the research was legitimate or nefarious, leading the company to shut down the work.

08/27/2026

Ebola Outbreak in the DRC Is Escalating

The response to Congo’s raging Ebola epidemic has been hampered by a severe lack of funding and pervasive misinformation, according to people on the front lines.

08/26/2026

We’re excited to celebrate a new publication from our Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN) team!
The study, published in Microbiology Spectrum, examines healthcare-facility-based SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in two tertiary-care hospitals in Brazil. Analyzing nearly 1,000 samples, the team identified 113 distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages and demonstrated how healthcare-based surveillance can provide valuable insight into viral evolution and circulating lineages even in settings with limited sequencing capacity.
This work highlights the importance of strengthening genomic surveillance within healthcare settings as a complement to community-based approaches.
Congratulations to all the authors and partners who contributed to this important work! https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02390-25?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 remains essential for identifying emerging variants with increased transmissibility, immune escape, or pathogenicity. While most genomic surveillance efforts focus on community-based sampling, a healthcare-facility-based strategy may offer a complementary approach....

08/19/2026

Health Security Partners (HSP), in partnership with the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), conducted a three-day workshop on Securing Biotechnology Research and Innovation Pipelines in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from August 10–12, 2026. The workshop brought together 36 participants from academic and industry institutions across the three countries.

Through interactive discussions and exercises led by national and international subject matter experts, participants explored practical approaches to identifying and protecting critical research assets, strengthening Know Your Collaborator (KYC) and due diligence practices, managing risks in international research collaborations, and improving institutional data-sharing processes. Participants also began developing institution-specific SOPs that they will continue to refine following the workshop. The workshop taught participants to identify and mitigate risks across the biotechnology research and innovation lifecycle while supporting secure, responsible, and sustainable biotechnology research and collaboration across the region. title for this article

08/11/2026

What a fantastic few days at the 12th International Congress of the Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC 2026) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
HSP, alongside our CDC colleagues, had a great time diving into the latest infection prevention and control research and hearing project outcomes from across the region. Beyond the sessions, some of the best moments came from reconnecting and building new relationships with colleagues doing this important work throughout Asia-Pacific.
Conferences like this are a great reminder that strengthening health security is a team effort that spans borders. Grateful for the conversations, the shared learning, and the reminder that this work is stronger when we do it together.

08/07/2026

The Next Frontier for AI: Fighting Viruses

Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.

08/03/2026

Health Security Partners (HSP) conducted a three-day workshop on Improving Oversight of Dual-use Research, Data, and Expertise in Research Communities in Türkiye from July 13-15, 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, with participants from academic and research institutions across Türkiye. The workshop brought together 38 researchers to enhance risk mitigation practices and strengthen institutional governance and oversight for institutions conducting dual-use research. Through lectures led by local and international subject matter experts, group discussions, and practical exercises, including a red-teaming exercise, participants increased their practical skills for evaluating collaborators, recognizing insider threats, and promoting responsible research conduct.

07/31/2026

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the second-largest ever recorded. Staying informed is just as important as staying prepared. Read more here

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has quickly grown into the second-largest on record, with cases taking just weeks to reach levels that had taken years in previous outbreaks.

07/08/2026

From May 18–22, 2026, Health Security Partners (HSP), in collaboration with U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, and AFENET, hosted a One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP) Africa Multi-Regional Facilitator Training in Nairobi, Kenya.

Over the course of the training, government partners representing Ministries of Health,
Agriculture, Wildlife, and Environment from 12 African countries U.S. CDC country offices across Africa, AFENET, Africa CDC, ECOWAS, FAO, and WOAH came together to build capacity in facilitating the OHZDP process.

Participants gained the skills and tools needed to lead their own national OHZDP workshops, helping countries prioritize zoonotic diseases of greatest concern and develop next steps and action plans through a collaborative One Health approach.

This training marks an important step toward strengthening country ownership, One Health collaboration, and regional preparedness for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic disease threats.

Congratulations to all participants on completing the training and becoming the next generation of OHZDP facilitators across Africa!