Biosecurity: Changing the Game
Biosecurity: Changing the Game
The Pandemic Center, Brown University School of Public Health
Host Dr. Dinah Nasike takes you on a journey through the complex and evolving world of biosecurity, featuring insightful conversations with leading professionals, field experts and innovators in the field. From emerging and re-emerging epidemics and early-warning systems research and innovation, to pathogen economies, bioterrorism and global norms. This podcast will take a deep dive into critical conversations happening around biosecurity and how countries, institutions, experts and politicians are strategically posturing themselves.
Surveillance: An Essential Part of Disease Response and Prevention
Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guest Dr. Issa Makumbi, an expert in public health and epidemiology who serves as the Deputy Director of the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH), have an in-depth conversation on disease surveillance, and why it is so important for preventing, detecting, and responding to biological threats.
Feb 2
57 min
Part II: Communities on the Frontline – Strengthening Epidemic Preparedness & Response
Dr. Dinah Nasike concludes her conversation with Professor Judy Omumbo, a renowned public health expert and epidemiologist, on the role communities play in epidemic preparedness and response and why communities are not just beneficiaries of health systems but critical partners in stopping outbreaks before they spread.
Dec 11, 2025
34 min
Communities on the Frontline – Strengthening Epidemic Preparedness & Response
In this episode, Dr. Dinah Nasike sits down with Professor Judy Omumbo, a renowned public health expert and epidemiologist, to explore the vital role communities play in epidemic preparedness and response. From grassroots mobilization to trust-building and rapid response systems, Professor Omumbo offers insight into why communities are not just beneficiaries of health systems but critical partners in stopping outbreaks before they spread.
Nov 26, 2025
33 min
Part II - Genomic Surveillance: A Biosecurity tool for deterrence, detection,  and response to emerging threats
In this second and final part of Biosecurity: Changing the Game's discussion of genomic surveillance, Dr. Dinah Nasike and guests from Ginkgo Bioworks - Joshua Griffin Dunn who is the Senior Director, Computational Biology and Head of Design; and Mitchell Wolfe who is the Vice President for Global Engagement and Governance at Ginkgo - explore one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing the next pandemic or bioterror event."It’s a story about technology, intelligence, and trust — and how sequencing tiny bits of genetic code can help us detect threats early, attribute their origins, and even deter malicious actors."
Nov 13, 2025
29 min
Genomic Surveillance: A Biosecurity tool for deterrence, detection,  and response to emerging threats
This episode of Biosecurity: Changing the Game is all about genomic surveillance — one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing the next pandemic or bioterror event. It’s a story about technology, intelligence, and trust — and how sequencing tiny bits of genetic code can help us detect threats early, attribute their origins, and even deter malicious actors. Dr. Dinah Nasike explores this topic with guests from Ginkgo Bioworks - Joshua Griffin Dunn who is the Senior Director, Computational Biology and Head of Design; and Mitchell Wolfe who is the Vice President for Global Engagement and Governance at Ginkgo.
Oct 30, 2025
31 min
Part II - Staying Ahead: Preparing for the Next Wave of Infectious Disease Outbreaks
In the conclusion of Dr. Dinah Nasike's conversation with her guest, Dr. Julius Lutwama, a virologist and expert in viral hemorrhagic fevers, they continue their discussion on the increasing number of infectious disease threats in the world and how to prepare for future outbreaks.
Oct 16, 2025
39 min
Staying Ahead: Preparing for the Next Wave of Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Dr. Dinah Nasike and her guest, Dr. Julius Lutwama, a virologist and expert in viral hemorrhagic fevers, discuss the increasing number of infectious disease threats in the world and how to impact preparedness for future outbreaks.
Oct 2, 2025
41 min
Japan's Secret Biological Weapons Research Program & Unit 731
In this episode of Biosecurity: Changing the Game, Dr. Dinah Nasike presents a narrative of a case study on Unit 731 to wrap up the Biological Weapons Covention series. Unit 731 was a secret biological weapons research operation unit operated by the Imperial Japanese Army that was responsible for large-scale biological and chemical warfare research.Links for more information: The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
Sep 18, 2025
58 min
Part III - Germ-Wars, Treaties, and Global Trust: Demystifying the Biological Weapons Convention
In the third and final part of this conversation, Dr. Dinah Nasike, Dr. Alex Kyabarongo (a veterinarian, former Political Affairs Intern at the Biological Weapons Convention, and currently a Masters of Biodefense Candidate at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University) and Sandra Matinyi (Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and the Executive Director of Nuo Bioscience, Uganda) conclude their discussion of the Biological Weapons Convention.Links for more information:ScienceDirectSiege of CaffaBritish Forces in North AmericaGermany's Anthrax HorsesJapan’s Unit 731 (1930s–1945)Rajneesh Cult and SalmonellaWhat is dual-use research of concern?The German BW ProgramThe Japanese BW ProgramThe Soviet Biological Weapons Program and Its Legacy in Today’s RussiaU.S. Biological Warfare and Biological Defense ProgramsThe Impact of Biological Warfare in the Cold War Era - AMO1925 Geneva Protocol – UNODANuo BioscienceThe Youth for Biosecurity Initiative – UNODADual-Use Research | NIH Office of Intramural ResearchMirror Life ScienceThe BWC Confidence-Building MeasuresRevolutionizing the Biological Weapons Convention: Integrating Science Diplomacy for Global Security | Science & DiplomacyImplementation Support Unit – UNODABiowarfare, bioterrorism and biocrime: A historical
Sep 4, 2025
41 min
Part II - Germ-Wars, Treaties, and Global Trust: Demystifying the Biological Weapons Convention
In the second part of this conversation, Dr. Dinah Nasike, Dr. Alex Kyabarongo (a veterinarian, former Political Affairs Intern at the Biological Weapons Convention, and currently a Masters of Biodefense Candidate at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University) and Sandra Matinyi (Biosecurity Game Changers Fellow and the Executive Director of Nuo Bioscience, Uganda) continue their discussion of the Biological Weapons Convention.Links for more information:ScienceDirectSiege of CaffaBritish Forces in North AmericaGermany's Anthrax HorsesJapan’s Unit 731 (1930s–1945)Rajneesh Cult and SalmonellaWhat is dual-use research of concern?The German BW ProgramThe Japanese BW ProgramThe Soviet Biological Weapons Program and Its Legacy in Today’s RussiaU.S. Biological Warfare and Biological Defense ProgramsThe Impact of Biological Warfare in the Cold War Era - AMO1925 Geneva Protocol – UNODANuo BioscienceThe Youth for Biosecurity Initiative – UNODADual-Use Research | NIH Office of Intramural ResearchMirror Life ScienceThe BWC Confidence-Building MeasuresRevolutionizing the Biological Weapons Convention: Integrating Science Diplomacy for Global Security | Science & DiplomacyImplementation Support Unit – UNODABiowarfare, bioterrorism and biocrime: A historical overview
Aug 21, 2025
43 min
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