Background:
This interdisciplinary conference begins with the assumption that bioterrorism and infectious diseases present threats that require a paradigm shift in the approach to national security. The challenge is all the greater since that nation must prepare for something it has not experienced on a major scale.
The dual topics of this conference illustrate the problem. Traditionally, response to a health crisis has differed from response to a military attack. Yet, in the case of bioterrorism or an epidemic outbreak, the nature of the crisis would likely be unclear for days or weeks or months. Given this ambiguity, does the nation prepare for a health crisis or an act of aggression, or both? Given the traditional separation between Health and Human Services and the components of Homeland Security (such as defense, intelligence, investigative authority, visa authority), how does the nation construct cohesive and effective preparedness and response strategies? Fundamental questions the conference will ask are: 1) how to equip and prepare the health care infrastructure as the principle respondent to an act of aggression or an epidemic outbreak? 2) How to engage the private sector effectively in the necessary research and development?
The conference will critically assess capacity to respond to a realistic bioterrorism/outbreak scenario, and will suggest strategies and concrete steps to increase preparedness. The panel will consider the full range of biopreparedness issues, from how to achieve synergies between health care reform and biopreparedness, to how to communicate effectively in a crisis situation, to how to improve research and development, to how to decide how to allocate limited supplies of vaccines or antidotes.
The discussion will begin with a critical assessment of “where we are”, including a review of accomplishments since 9/11, an analysis of the organization of the biodefense infrastructure (creation of and spending on the Department of Homeland Security; division of responsibilities between DHS and HHS; and the state of the public health system). The panel will be asked to critically measure current preparedness in light of a likely outbreak or attack scenario in order to articulate “where we need to be”. Then considering the full range of challenges from crisis response, to the readiness of health care infrastructure, to ethical and legal issues involving restriction of movement, the panel will be asked to provide concrete responses to the question, “how do we get there?”
Follow up:
- Highlights of the conference to be featured on PBS television special on bioterrorism and infectious disease to be aired in July, “The War on Bugs: Infectious Disease Risk in the Twenty First Century”, produced by BioVision "The World Life Sciences Forum" and Energy & Company;
- Articles in peer-reviewed journals;
Collaboration with Congressional staffs, and legislative initiatives
