Events

Speakers shared how they’re working together with their colleagues on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) to ensure the U.S. maintains its global leadership and strong national security posture as rapid advancements in biotech pose new opportunities and risks.

The discussion was moderated by our director, Dr. Tom Inglesby.

Speakers:

• Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

• Sen Todd Young (R-Ind.)

• Dr. Tom Inglesby  

The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security, together with distinguished public health leaders - Rep Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), John Knox, Julie Gerberding, Phyllis Arthur, Andy Pickett and our Director Tom Inglesby - convened an in-person panel discussion, “PAHPA Turns 20: Reauthorizing Readiness for Domestic Health Security Threats,” bringing together leaders from across government, industry, and academia.

The conversation sparked thoughtful, energetic dialogue on what it will take to strengthen readiness for future health security threats and finding the right balance between federal and state stockpiling of medical countermeasures and other emergency supplies.

Speakers:

• Rep Andy Harris, MD (R-MD)
• John Knox
• Julie Gerberding
• Phyllis Arthur
• Andy Pickett
• Tom Inglesby
   

Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security met with more than a dozen Congressional offices on October 22, 2025. They had bipartisan, bicameral meetings on health security issues and discussed how to strengthen prevention and preparedness efforts to protect the country. Many serious challenges lie ahead and there will be hard work to do in and out of government to meet them, but were encouraged by the level of engagement and interest in strengthening U.S. health security to take them on.

Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The panel of experts discussed the current mpox emergency and the US government’s response, in cooperation with industry and academic partners. 

Panelists: 

• Phyllis Arthur, Executive Vice President & Head of Healthcare Policy & Programs, BIO 
• Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services 
• Dr. Athalia Christie, Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, US CDC 
• Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Senior Scholar and Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Director, Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) 
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (Panel moderator) 

Watch the September 18 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Tom Inglesby, discussed how the US government views and prepares for deliberate biological threats. Panelists shared how each of their agencies contributes to US biodefense and how they work across government to advance this mission.

Panelists:

• Dr. Gary Disbrow, Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
• Natalie de Graaf, Director, Biodefense and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation, National Security Council (NSC)
• Dr. Henry Walke, Director, Office of Readiness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Ian Watson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense, Department of Defense ((DOD)
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director,Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (Moderator)

Watch the May 15 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The panel discussion, moderated by Anita Cicero, discussed highlights from the finalized FY 2024 funding bills and looked ahead to appropriations for FY 2025 and beyond. It considered the priorities laid out in the recently released President’s Budget Request and discussed how sustainable investments in preparedness can lead to tangible improvements in our nation’s health security.

Opening Remarks:

• Representative Richard Hudson, Capitol Hill Steering Committee Honorary Co-Chair

Panelists:

• Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
• Dr. Cartier Esham, Chief Science Officer, BIO
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security 
• Anita Cicero, Deputy Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (Moderator)

Watch the April 10 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

To take stock of the research gaps needed to understand how airborne transmission occurs and how it may be interrupted, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security convened a multidisciplinary group consisting of 24 experts in their respective fields for a 2-day not-for-attribution meeting on April 4-5, 2024, in Baltimore, MD.

Learn more about this event

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a 1-day not-for-attribution meeting on February 27, 2024, in Washington, DC, to convene 54 experts from academia, government, and industry to discuss current research about the effectiveness and use of Far-UV; how Far-UV compares to other technologies including GUV at 254nm; and any outstanding questions about safety efficacy, and feasibility for implementation.

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The in-person panel discussion delved into the impact and implementation of the President’s AI Executive Order related to the convergence of AI and biotechnology, challenges and opportunities that still need to be addressed, and Congress’ role in governance of these rapidly evolving technologies.

Panelists:

• Dr. Michelle Rozo, Vice Chair, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB); Vice President of Technology, In-Q-Tel
• Dr. Shankar Sundaram, Special Assistant to the President, Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense, National Security Council (NSC)
• Helena Fu, Director, Office of Critical and Emerging Technology, Department of Energy (DOE)
• Tejal Patwardhan, Technical Staff, OpenAI
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (Moderator)

Watch the February 8 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

In an in-person fireside chat with Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Director Dr. Tom Inglesby, Hon. Deborah Rosenblum offered her insights into important priorities for biosecurity in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), progress on implementing the Biosecurity Posture Review, and other biosecurity topics that are particularly relevant for the nation’s security.

Fireside Chat between:

• The Honorable Deborah G. Rosenblum, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, Department of Defense (DOD)
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Watch the December 7 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Director Dr. Tom Inglesby and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen discussed strategies for effectively evaluating lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, ways of strengthening the CDC and restoring political and public trust in the institution, and key near- and long-term priorities for CDC.

• Watch the October 24 recording

In this in-person fireside chat with Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Director Dr. Tom Inglesby, Major General Paul Friedrichs discussed his role as the Inaugural Director of the new Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, shared his thoughts on key near-term priorities based on the current threat environment, and discussed challenges and opportunities ahead for pandemic preparedness.

Opening Remarks: :

• Senator Richard Burr, Principal Policy Advisor and Chair of Health Policy Strategic Consulting at DLA Piper

Fireside Chat between:

• Major General Paul Friedrichs, USAF, Ret., Inaugural Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OSPPR)
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Watch the September 26 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, with input from partners and a national expert advisory panel, developed the Model Clean Indoor Air Act as a legal framework for states and localities to implement legislation to allow for indoor air quality (IAQ) inspections and publicly posted monitoring results, actions that will lead to improved IAQ in public buildings. The webinar reviewed the harms of unhealthy indoor air and the costs of inaction, discussed the current state of indoor air law and regulation and why new laws are needed, and described the Model Clean Indoor Air Act and how states can adapt and adopt the model law to improve public health.

• Watch the August 17 webinar
• Read the full transcript from August 17 (PDF)

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted an in-person panel and reception, The Future of Pandemic Preparedness: Why PAHPA Reauthorization is the Keystone. Through this session, policy leaders shared their views and identified suggested priorities for the upcoming reauthorization of PAHPA—the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panelists:

• Senator Bill Cassidy, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
• Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
• The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Former Governor of Kansas, Former Secretary of the  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
• Jennifer Alton, President, Pathway Policy Group; (served as senior staffer to former Senator Richard Burr during 2006 passage of PAHPA) (Moderator)

Watch the March 30 live recording
Learn more about The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

We heard from local community leaders and their CommuniHealth research partners about:

• How this human-centered, community health infrastructure continues to exercise unmatched skills during the pandemic response,
• What further advances in health and wellbeing can be had if these local champions receive sustained support going forward, and
• Why walking away from a still fragile community health sector and declaring “mission accomplished” could cause health disparities to resurge and hard-won trust to fade.

Also, panelists addressed the types of resources needed to achieve community health sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

• Watch the November 17 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from November 17 (PDF).

This session featured an intimate fireside chat and audience Q&A with Dr. Raj Panjabi who serves in the White House National Security Council as the Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense.

• Watch the November 17 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from November 17 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

A Virtual Cross-Sector Symposium

During this online symposium, we engaged a broad community of practitioners in discussions about operationalizing a holistic process of post-pandemic recovery: What systems can local jurisdictions set up and strengthen that sustain the long view on getting through and past the pandemic, reverse the social determinants of uneven impacts, and develop resilience to future public health emergencies?

Learn more about this symposium

This session dove into the unique health needs of rural communities in the United States and how the Federal Government can aid these communities to be better prepared for a future pandemic.

• Watch the September 29 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from September 29 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a meeting, “National Strategy for Improving Indoor Air Quality,” in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2022. The meeting featured a keynote speaker and four expert panels focused on the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ), challenges to providing healthy indoor air across the United States, international perspectives and strategies for healthy air improvements, and catalyzing needed science and technology innovation in the IAQ field. Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, opened the meeting by reiterating the importance of IAQ to the Biden-Harris Administration.

Learn more about this event

This session highlighted the key components of what is necessary to incentivize, facilitate, and sustain effective PPPs for innovation to bolster pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; what Congress can do to support and leverage such partnerships, the role of the appropriations process; and how the US can be better positioned in the global economy through increased investments in PPPs in the areas of health security and advanced life science.

• Watch the July 20 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from July 20 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

This webinar focused on COVID-19 testing strategies and best practices for large sporting events. The panelists, Dr. Brian McCloskey and Ms. Lucia Mullen, served on WHO’s COVID-19 Mass Gatherings Expert Group. They advised Olympic organizers on COVID-19 countermeasures for the Tokyo 2020 Summer and the Beijing 2022 Winter games. They discussed developing and implementing masking, testing, and vaccination strategies for the world’s oldest – and largest – international sporting celebration.

• Watch the June 1 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from June 1 (PDF).

This session explored the outlook for this budget request and the options for future of pandemic preparedness and health security funding. Speakers expanded on the need for bi-partisan collaboration to secure preparedness funding and possible budget mechanisms that would lead us to become a more resilient nation.

• Watch the May 25 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from May 25 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

Panelists discussed how Johns Hopkins University developed and implemented its COVID-19 testing strategies for faculty, staff, and students.

• Watch the May 3 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from May 3 (PDF).

With new COVID-19 variants, waning immunity, and low booster vaccination numbers, holding large personal events, like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and anniversary parties, can be complicated. Dr. Manoj Jain discussed the four-pronged approach (communication, vaccination, masking, and testing) that helped his family safely plan and host a wedding during the pandemic.

• Watch the April 19 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from April 19 (PDF).

This session explored how policy makers can work to sustain technological gains made in diagnostic testing during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they can expand applications of this technology to other health security threats.

• Watch the March 30 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from March 30 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

This session focused on the current status of mask and respirator stockpiling, the scientific advances that could lead to more effective and accessible masks, and policies that the U.S. government could support to build this capacity in anticipation of future public health threats.

• Watch the February 24 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from February 24 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

Hosted by the CommuniVax Coalition and the Vaccine Equity Cooperative, this webinar will demonstrate how building socially valued and sustainably resourced community health systems will help advance national health equity.

• Watch the February 10 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from February 10 (PDF).

This session explored the current state, successes, and remaining challenges of global vaccine development, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery. It highlighted actionable steps the U.S. Government can take to bring an end to the acute crisis of this pandemic and meet the scale of future infectious disease threats.

• Watch the January 27 webinar.
• Read the full transcript from January 27 (PDF).
• The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security