Securing Bioproduction against an Evolving Threat Landscape
March 5-6, 2025
Hopkins Bloomberg Center
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC
⚠️ Meeting will operate under Chatham House Rules (no attribution without prior consent). ⚠️
Zoom link will be provided to everyone who registers as a virtual attendee
Advances in AI are changing the threat landscape in many fields, including in the field of biology. With AI assisted design tools, the complexity and obfuscation potential of the synthetic biological materials is expected to increase. Conversely, the same AI advances can be deployed to help screen DNA/RNA synthesis requests before they can be used for malicious purposes. This workshop seeks insight on current and future advances that will shape both the threat and countermeasure landscapes and prepare the community for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks perspectives from academia, industry, and government.
The Spring Workshop will focus on the evolving landscape in the years beyond 2026 with an eye towards 2030. Specifically, we would like to suggest the following broad topics:
- AI resilience,
- Beyond the 2024 Framework,
- Biodesign Tool Capabilities,
- Biological Mechanisms,
- Cloud Labs,
- Customer Screening,
- Cyberbiosecurity,
- Desktop Synthesis,
- International Efforts and Harmonization,
- Order Streams,
- Screening Tool Advancements, and
- Security (non-cyber) Considerations.
As in the 2024 fall and spring sessions, we will have round table discussions. We would encourage you to submit your ideas or if you feel like the above topics would be better as a round table, please let us know. We will conduct a poll the week prior to the event and identify chairs/moderators for these discussions. Here is our working short list:
New advances in tool design – Bio design tools are evolving quickly, and this group will seek to list and prioritize advances that the synthesis security community needs to be following.
Establishing cyberbiosecurity frameworks – Cyberbiosecurity cannot be an afterthought. What are the principles and practices that will work uniquely for bio in light of new advances in technology?
Securing against misuse of AI design tools – Securing against misuse doesn’t just mean preventing people from doing harm, but also promoting proper use. What are best practices to advance common goals of global health while minimizing risk of harm.
Building international consensus – Activities and actions to help broaden the tent beyond the US and partner nations. This topic explicitly acknowledges that cooperation will be necessary to prevent harms.
Discussion Topics
- AI designed organism and Sequences of Concern
- Bio-design tools
- Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Implications
- International Harmonization
- Synthesis Advances (Desktop Synthesizers)
Preliminary Schedule
| March 5th (In-Person and Virtual, Open to Public) | |
| Date / Time (EDT) | Activity / Title |
| 0830 – 0930 | In-Person Registration and Networking |
| 0915 | Zoom room opens |
| 0930 – 0945 | Introductory Remarks (Organizers, JHU, and Gov’t Partners) |
| 0945 – 1000 | Policy Talk about Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) |
| 1000 – 1015 | Technical Talk: MRI Global Case Study |
| 1015 – 1030 | Technical Talk: From Sequence of Concern to Properties of Concern |
| 1030 – 1045 | Networking Break |
| 1045 – 1100 | Technical Talk: Trustworthy AI for Bio |
| 1100 – 1115 | Technical Talk: Building an Evidence-Based Community Process to Define Sequences of Concern |
| 1115 – 1200 | Panel Session on Synthesis Methods and Security moderated by Kenny Yeh |
| 1200 – 1300 | Lunch break and networking |
| 1300 – 1315 | Technical Talk: Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology |
| 1315 – 1330 | Technical Talk: Gene Ontology Terms for Biothreat Assessment and Infectious Diseases Data Science |
| 1330 – 1430 | Working Session Breakouts |
| 1430 – 1500 | Group Discussion |
| 1500 – 1515 | Break |
| 1515 – 1615 | Working Session Breakouts |
| 1615 – 1645 | Group Discussion |
| 1645 – 1700 | Closing Remarks |
| 1830 | No Host Social (Location TBD) |
| March 6th (In-Person, US Persons only) | |
| Date / Time (EDT) | Activity / Title |
| 0830 – 0915 | In-Person Registration and Networking |
| 0915 – 0930 | Introductory Remarks |
| 0930 – 0945 | Technical Talk: Air-Gapped Anomaly Detection: A Cyberbiosecurity Defense for Biomanufacturing |
| 0945 – 1000 | Technical Talk: Actionable Biosurveillance and Threat Characterization |
| 1000 – 1045 | Panel on AI Designed Sequences of Concern |
| 1045 – 1100 | Technical Talk: Biological Risks from AI Design Tools |
| 1100 – 1145 | Working Session |
| 1145 – 1200 | Closing Remarks |
Abstract Submissions
We will select short talks based on 1-2 page abstracts (format of your choice). Abstracts will be compiled and distributed as a product of the meeting.
Submission site: Google Form
Deadline: February 12, 2025
Registration
There is no cost to attend the workshop. Register here.
Organizers
Joel Bader (JHU), Aaron Adler (BBN), Kemper Talley (BBN), Fusun Yaman (BBN), Kenny Yeh (MRI Global)