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On October 6, 2009, the Center for Biosecurity of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center organized a 1-day conference, Prevention of Biothreats: A Look Ahead, in Washington, DC. This conference report was prepared by the UPMC staff provide a brief synopsis of each day’s panel discussions and individual presentations. Participants discussed a wide range of U.S. government programs, international approaches, and nongovernment efforts aimed at preventing the development and use of biological weapons, including arms control and multilateral agreements; efforts to prevent the unlawful acquisition of materials, equipment, and information; deterrence, intelligence, and surveillance; and improving resilience to biological attacks as a means of dissuasion and prevention.

In December 2008 in accordance with the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53), the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism submitted its report, World at Risk.This report card provides an assessment of the progress that the U.S. government has made in implementing the recommendations of the Commission. It is our hope that by identifying areas of progress, as well as those in need of further attention, appropriate action will be taken to mitigate the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction to the United States.

On November 21, 2008, AAAS held a workshop that brought together a number of international participants from the biosecurity field. The issues and ideas discussed during the workshop were combined into a report on dual use research and education of students in the biological sciences.