University Policy Centers are playing a role similar to non-governmental organizations in biosecurity, arms control, and strategic security. By exploring policy options, evaluating current policy and providing accurate information to the public, these centers play a vital role in forming sound domestic and international policy. In addition, many of these centers offer degrees where students can choose to focus on biosecurity and biodefense.
Research, clinical care, and public health interventions related to emerging infections and biodefense raise critically important ethical, legal, and social issues. The Policy, Ethics and Law (PEL) Core is part of the Southeast Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infections (SERCEB), one of 10 regional centers established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to develop new vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics for emerging infections and biodefense threats.
Durham, NC 27705
The Center for Public Health Preparedness and Research (CPHPR) at Emory University endeavors to advance the art and science of public health practice and identify policies and tools that enable communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emerging infectious diseases, terrorism, and other public health threats.
Emory University 1518 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30322 | Telephone: (404) 712-8340
The Center's mission is to provide leadership in advancing policy-relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect." A component of the Belfer Center, "the International Security Program...has a vigorous research program that focuses on important contemporary security issues as well as their historical and conceptual foundations. In recent years, ISP has engaged in major research projects on topics such as reducing the threat from 'loose nukes' in the former Soviet nuclear arsenal [and] controlling chemical and biological weapons.
John F. Kennedy School of Government 79 JFK St. Cambridge, MA 02138 | Telephone: (617) 495-1400
The Harvard Sussex Program (HSP) exists in order to increase the contribution of scholarship to the formation of public policy on issues involving chemical/biological warfare (CBW) and its underlying technologies. University-based research, publication, other forms of international communication, and training of young people are the means HSP uses to this end. HSP also promotes frameworks of study, both national and international, that bring together scientists and other scholars with officials of governmental and intergovernmental bodies.
SPRU University of Sussex Brighton East Sussex BN1 9QE, UK | Telephone: +44 (0) 12 7367 8172
The Monterey Institute of International Studies Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) strives to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by training the next generation of nonproliferation specialists and disseminating timely information and analysis. CNS at the Monterey Institute of International Studies is the largest nongovernmental organization in the United States devoted exclusively to research and training on nonproliferation issues." Within CNS, "the Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Nonproliferation Program monitors the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons and develops strategies for halting and reversing their spread. Current research activities include: overcoming obstacles to chemical and biological disarmament in Russia; assessing motivations for CBW acquisition by states and terrorist groups; and monitoring chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism.
460 Pierce Street Monterey, CA 93940 | Telephone: (831) 647-4154
The Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) examines the implications of technological innovation for U.S. national security policy and military planning. CTNSP combines scientific and technical assessments with analyses of current strategic and defense policy issues, taking on topics to bridge the gap. The Center has produced studies on proliferation and homeland security, military transformation, international science and technology, information technology, life sciences, and social science modeling.
300 5th Avenue SW Fort Lesley J. McNair Washington, DC 20319 | Telephone: (202) 685-2529
The Program on Science and Global Security, a research group at Princeton University since 1975, became a unit of the Woodrow Wilson School in July 2001. The Program seeks to provide the technical basis for policy initiatives in nuclear arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation. A principal additional role of the Program is to train U.S. and foreign scientists interested in informing their publics and governments about nuclear arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation policy options.
221 Nassau Street, 2nd Floor Princeton, NJ 08542 | Telephone: (609) 258-4677
The mission of the Institute for Biosecurity is to provide public health and emergency response professionals with the education needed for preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation of emerging public health threats, and for the Institute to conduct research that will contribute to the development of national policies to address these threats.
School of Public Health 3545 Lafayette, Ste. 300 St. Louis, MO 63104 | Telephone: (314) 977-8257
The Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University has the three-fold mission of producing outstanding policy-relevant research on international security, teaching and training the next generation of security specialists, and influencing public policy." Scholars at CISAC "examine emerging biotechnologies that could be used to cause catastrophic harm, and how to respond to such threats...CISAC researchers [also] are thinking through related public policy issues such as the best ways to strengthen public health surveillance and emergency response, the utility and drawbacks of oversight of research or research publication, and the advantages and dangers of classified biodefense work.
616 Serra St, E200 Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305-6055 | Telephone: (650) 723-9625
On September 23, 2001, the TTU Chancellor and President appointed the Task Force for Anti-Terrorism and Public Security to determine how Texas Tech University could best respond to the needs of the community, state and nation through our research and education resources. Among the recommendations from the Task Force was the formation of a Center to address law and public policy issues in biodefense. From that recommendation, the Center for Biodefense, Law and Public Policy was established in September 2002, and Dr. Victoria Sutton was appointed the first Director. Center faculty are from not only the law school but from throughout the Texas Tech System from multiple disciplines such as mass communications, microbiology, medicine, forensic science, pathology, animal science, food science and plant science.
2500 Broadway Lubbock, TX 79409 | Telephone: (806) 742-2011
The overall mission of this newly created center is to develop a comprehensive University-wide program to support the research effort in biodefense and emerging infections. Capitalizing on the $1.4 billion in federal funding to be released for this effort, this Center will provide scientists with the infrastructure to seek such funds, enhance recruitment efforts of new faculty to the institution and provide leadership to all Alabama universities committed to these efforts. In so doing, protection of the citizens of the country will be a foremost concern.
303 Children's Harbour Building Birmingham, AL 35233-0011 | Telephone: (205) 996-9600
The Bradford Disarmament Research Centre is within the University of Bradford ’s Department of Peace Studies. “Following an initiative by the Society of Friends the Department of Peace Studies was established in 1973 and it has grown to become arguably the leading academic centre for the study of peace and conflict in the world. It has an international reputation for research excellence and was awarded a maximum score in the most recent national audit of its teaching quality.
Pemberton Building University of Bradford Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP United Kingdom | Telephone: +44 (0) 12 7423 4187
The University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) facilitates innovative, rigorous research into the causes of international conflict and cooperation. Founded in 1983 as a research unit serving the entire UC system, IGCC's multi-campus structure allows it to build research teams from all ten UC campuses and the UC-managed Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories, providing broad-based links to the U.S. and foreign governments, and policy institutes from around the globe... IGCC is committed to educating the next generation of international problem-solvers and peacemakers through its research and teaching activities. The institute is one of the largest sources of dissertation and fellowship support on international studies in the United States. IGCC supports individual faculty and graduate student research throughout the UC system as well as international affairs programs on each UC campus.
UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0518 La Jolla, CA 92093 | Telephone: (858) 534-3352
The Center for Unconventional Security Affairs (CUSA) at the University of California Irvine addresses the security challenges of the 21st century through innovative research and education programs that integrate experts from the public and private sectors. Technological innovation, economic globalization, and the spread of democracy have dramatically transformed the security landscape. While the incidence of war has declined, other threats have moved onto the agenda, ranging from global terrorist networks to environmental change to infectious disease. CUSA has pioneered a collaborative, interdisciplinary structure that draws on the best resources available from UCI, the policy community, and the public and private sectors. CUSA conducts research and provides a range of educational and public services focused on areas of concern for human and national security.
Social Ecology I Irvine, CA 92697 | Telephone: (949) 824-8804
This website aims to provide resources for those considering the place, purpose and prospects of codes of conduct. It includes a chronology of past discussions about codes for bioscientists, notice of relevant events, publications and references information, and links to key organizations. It has been established as part of a research project undertaken by Brian Rappert (University of Exeter) and Malcolm Dando (University of Bradford) funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council New Security Challenges Programme entitled 'Coding Research: Biological Weapons, Security & the Silencing of Science'.
Exeter EX4 4RJ United Kingdom | Telephone: +44 (0) 13 9226 3353
The Centre was founded in the Summer of 2003 at the University of Hamburg. The aim is to contribute, through innovative research and outreach activities, to the universal prevention of biological weapon development, production and use. The development of new verification strategies and concepts is the core research area of the Study Group.
Forschungsstelle Biowaffen FSP BIOGUM Falkenried 94 20251 Hamburg Germany | Telephone: +49 (0)40 42803-6312/6313
The Center for Health Hazards Preparedness (CHHP), formerly the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism,… was established in 2002 through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)… The Center for Health Hazards Preparedness is a nationally-recognized center of excellence in coordinating research, education and service to improve the local, regional and national response to potential acts of terrorism, natural disasters and infectious diseases.” The Center provides course offerings on bioterrorism response for health providers, including simulations and discipline-specific materials; training for emergency room personnel, primary care clinicians and clinical laboratorians which will enable the early detection of a bioterrorist attack; training modules, including distance education modules, for health providers as first responders to bioterrorism events; advanced integrated information management systems for disease surveillance and epidemiology; communications methods to include extended metropolitan and rural regions to facilitate early recognition and coordinate responses to bioterrorism events; and outcomes measurements, and evaluations of processes and interventions.
555 S Floyd Street Louisville, KY 40202
The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) is a research center that pursues policy-oriented scholarship on major issues facing the United States in the global arena." The Controlling Dangerous Pathogens Project "brings together leading scientists, arms control experts, information technology specialists, lawyers, and industry representatives from the U.S. and abroad to discuss the need for systematic protection against misapplications of biotechnology, and to develop a prototype oversight system in which selective disclosure and review could increase protection without banning beneficial research or imposing excessive secrecy.
School of Public Affairs University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 | Telephone: (301) 405-7614
The mission of Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is "to prevent illness and death from infectious diseases through epidemiologic research and the rapid translation of scientific information into real-world practical applications and solutions." CIDRAP delivers on its mission through: "consensus building; connecting scientific research to real-world action; synthesizing information; communicating; [and] conducting research.
Academic Health Center 420 Delaware St SE MMC 263 Minneapolis, MN 55455 | Telephone: (612) 626-6770
The University of Nebraska Center for Biosecurity was created in 2002 to effectively serve the state of Nebraska and the nation by addressing both human and agricultural (plant and animal) biosecurity concerns...The center will focus on: continued development of clinical, service, educational and research infrastructure; research regarding surveillance, protection and treatment of potential bioterrorism agents in both human and agricultural systems; enhancement of laboratory automation, information security, statewide information technology-based communication systems; ...[and] development of bioterrorism related educational programs for students, health professionals, first responders and the public.
984075 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE 68198-4075 | Telephone: (402) 559-4518
Drawing on the expertise of a multidisciplinary professional staff with experience in government, medicine, public health, bioscience, and the social sciences, the Center's projects aim to: provide independent, critical research and analysis for decision makers in government, national security, bioscience, medicine, public health, and private industry; build international networks of scientists, medical and public health practitioners, scholars and decision-makers to improve communication about biosecurity, create common objectives, and facilitate development of new knowledge; develop scenarios for decision-makers that illustrate key challenges in epidemic preparedness and response and offer possible paths forward; [and,] promote the responsible use and governance of increasingly powerful bioscience and biotechnologies.
The Pier IV Building 621 E. Pratt Street, Suite 210 Baltimore, MD 21202 | Telephone: (443) 573-3304
The University of South Florida Center for Biological Defense's (CBD) mission "is to conduct laboratory-based applied research and develop web-enhanced surveillance systems for the rapid identification of bioterrorism and other emerging infectious disease events; and to provide education and training in homeland security to professionals in the community." The Center's objectives include: "develop[ing] innovative rapid clinical and environmental screening tests to allow early detection and recognition of biological agents suggestive of a BT attack; provid[ing] effective and efficient dual-use surveillance of possible BT agents in non-traditional settings; ...[and] educat[ing] and train[ing] health professionals, emergency personnel, and government agencies in preparation for, detection of, and response to, a BT attack.
3602 Spectrum Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 | Telephone: (813) 974-6663
The Mountbatten Centre for International Studies (MCIS) "is particularly active in studying the global spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the different ways of controlling them. [MCIS] seeks to facilitate and encourage international consensus-building on these matters through dialogue with national policy-making officials and researchers, and through [the Centre's] own research...One distinguishing characteristic of [the Centre's] work is its coverage of all the WMD technologies and their international regulatory mechanisms, and [the Centre's] ability to integrate and compare what is taking place in the different fields." MCIS has "active programmes on nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, their missile delivery systems, missile defences, and British nuclear history.
School of Social Sciences The University Highfield Southampton Hants SO17 1BJ United Kingdom | Telephone: +44 (0) 23 8059 2522
The Law, Policy, and Ethics Core (LPEC) provides support for the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE) through research, study, and analysis of policy, laws, and regulations which impact research and scientists in biodefense. Areas of focus for the LPEC include federal policy, law, and regulations, and international aspects of: (1) select agents, (2) scientific publications, (3) animal and primate testing, (4) vaccine and approval processes, (5) human subject testing, and (6) intellectual property.
301 University Blvd., Keiller Bldg. Galveston, TX 77555-0609 | Telephone: (409) 772-3989
The Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP) "is a multidisciplinary, nonpartisan organization initiated by graduate students from the University of Washington. FOSEP is hosted by the Office of Research at the University of Washington." The mission of FOSEP is to "foster discussion about the role of science in our society" and to "build a network of individuals interested in science ethics and policy in the Seattle area."
Box 357120 Seattle, WA 98195 | Telephone: (206) 543-8043