Center for Biosecurity

The Center for Biosecurity is an independent, nonprofit organization of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) that is dedicated to improving the US's resilience to major biological threats.

Mission statement
The Center for Biosecurity is an independent, nonprofit organization of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Our mission is to strengthen national security by reducing the risks posed by biological attacks, epidemics, and other destabilizing events, and to improve the nation’s resilience in the face of such events.

To improve government policy and practice, our staff of experts in medicine, public health, national security, law, government, anthropology, and the biological sciences conducts innovative research and delivers reliable analyses that: 1) assess the threats and challenges posed by biological weapon attacks, large-scale epidemics, and other large disasters; 2) identify key barriers and solutions to prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery across the public and private sectors; 3) advance the development of new technologies, medicines, and vaccines to deal with these challenges; and 4) improve global public health and security.

Major Conferences and Events

 * National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism. February 1999
 * 2nd National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism. November 2000
 * Dark Winter. June 2001
 * The Public as an Asset, Not a Problem: A Summit on Leadership During Bioterrorism. February 2003
 * Atlantic Storm. January 2005
 * Conference on Biosafety and Biorisks. May 2005
 * Bulls, Bears, and Birds: Preparing the Financial Industry for a Pandemic. September 2005
 * Disease, Disaster, and Democracy: The public's stake in health emergency planning. May 2006
 * Prevention of Biothreats: A Look Ahead. October 6, 2009
 * Resilient American Communities: Progress In Practice and Policy. December 10, 2009