Biosecurity

How can we prevent future pandemics and accelerate progress in the life sciences?

COVID-19 has revealed both strengths and weaknesses in our biosecurity response. On the one hand, the pandemic exposed how weak and ineffectual our public health systems are at controlling highly contagious airborne respiratory diseases. On the other hand, the urgency of the moment — combined with decades of previous investment — enabled us to deliver mRNA vaccines in less than nine months. The life sciences contain much more low-hanging fruit that is ripe to be picked — if only we can implement the right public policies.