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Biosecurity & International Security

Introduction

The Biosecurity and International Security focus area examines biosecurity threats and potential risks associated with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, advances in life sciences and biotechnology, including the proliferation of laboratories in the Asia-Pacific, dual-use research of concern, and deliberate misuse of biological materials. It explores implications of both the conventional biological threats and the fast-evolving biotechnological landscape in the region on regional and international security. It also identifies, through baseline studies, common challenges, capacity gaps, as well as good practices in the context of crafting policies, institutionalising norms and developing technical expertise in mitigating and responding to emerging biological threats and biological incidents whether natural, accidental, or deliberate in origin.

Research areas

Examines the susceptibility of the Southeast Asian region to the emergence of infectious diseases due to climate-induced movement of animals, unregulated storage practices in supply chain (post-capture, within wet markets, within restaurants), and cross-border activities (risk of entry of imported viruses, pests, and diseases) which amplifies conventional biological threats in the Asia-Pacific.

Analyses the emerging concerns arising from development in biotechnology, driven by the need for improved biomedical products, public health initiatives and industrial applications as well as raises concerns as the biotech industry expands while national biosecurity regulatory and ethical policies have yet to be updated. Governments face the challenge of balancing the “promises and pitfalls” of dual-use biotechnology (e.g. CRISPR Gene Editing tool) which have implications for national and international security.

Assesses the biosecurity implications of the proliferation of laboratories and containment facilities, including BSL3 and BSL4 labs, as well as good practices in and challenges to biorisk management. This project also identifies policy, regulatory and security frameworks, gaps and initiatives related to the prevention of and response to intentional misuse of biological materials by malicious actors.

Research projects