This is a list of [project](https://biosecurityfundamentals.com/blog/biosecurity-project-guidance/) ideas in biosecurity and pandemic preparedness for participants on our [Biosecurity Fundamentals: Pandemics course](https://biosecurityfundamentals.com/pandemics/).

We encourage you to come up with a project idea yourself: trying to do so is useful for thinking through and prioritising biosecurity work.

However, we have also made a list of research questions to serve as inspiration for you to generate your own ideas. If picking something from this list, feel free to adapt it to suit your particular skills or interests!

## **Project categories**

To help guide your project ideation, we have suggested the following five categories of projects for which we will be offering [prizes](https://biosecurityfundamentals.com/blog/biosecurity-project-prize-categories/):

- **Simple explainers**
- **Novel research (qualitative)**
- **Novel research (quantitative)**
- **COVID-19 analysis**
- **Build a thing**

### **Simple explainers**

- **What?** A blogpost, interview, graphic[1] or video that clearly explains a concept or technology in biosecurity or pandemic preparedness.
- **Why?** There is a lot of good research out there that is jargon-heavy and difficult to understand[2]. By distilling this information into a simple explainer, you will improve your own understanding of the topic, as well as helping others who want to learn about it.
- **Examples:**
- My colleague Adam has written a [blog post](https://adamjones.me/blog/crispr-diagnostics-intro/) explaining the CRISPR-based diagnostic technologies SHERLOCK and DETECTR[3].
- What was the [RECOVERY trial](https://www.recoverytrial.net/), and how could we replicate this model for future pandemics?

### **Novel research (qualitative)**

- **What?** A blogpost or interview that aims to answer a novel question in biosecurity or pandemic preparedness.

- **Why?** Pandemic preparedness is a very broad field, and there are many questions which haven't even been asked, let alone answered. Remember, novel research doesn't need to be groundbreaking! It could just come from asking a very specific question or applying your existing experience from a different field.

- **Examples:**
- What can we learn from financial regulations for DNA synthesis screening?
- LAMP was invented over 25 years ago, and supposedly [has a range of advantages over PCR](https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/1931). Why is it so rarely used?
- Chris Rodriguez's prizewinning project from the October 2023 Pandemics Course: [Could we inject large language models with disinformation to stop them being used for biological terrorism?](https://biosecurityfundamentals.com/projects/disinformation-security-making-llms-safer-by-lying-to-them/)

### **Novel research (quantitative)**

- **What?** Epidemiological modelling, cost-benefit or some other kind of quantitative analysis that aims to answer a novel question in biosecurity or pandemic preparedness. We recommend only doing this type of project if you already have relevant experience for the type of quantitative analysis you are doing.

- **Why?** Pandemic preparedness is a very broad field, and there are many questions which haven't even been asked, let alone answered. Remember, novel research doesn't need to be groundbreaking! It could just come from asking a very specific question or using your existing experience from a different field.

- **Examples:**
- How many metagenomic sequencing "sentinel sites" would we need to detect ~all pandemic outbreaks globally within 48 hours?[4]
- A cost-benefit analysis of installing a [Corsi-Rosenthal box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi–Rosenthal_Box) in every office in a specified region.

### **COVID-19 analysis**

- **What?** A simple explainer or piece of novel research focussed on learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

- **Why?** We've had a warning shot of what a severe pandemic looks like in our globalised modern world, and how prepared we currently are to deal with it. There is a huge amount of data out there, and way more we should be learning from this.

- **Examples:**
- Country-by-country comparison of government communication strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- How did different countries support wages during the COVID-19 pandemic? Similar to [this explainer](https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/coronavirus-how-countries-supported-wages-during-pandemic) from Institute for Government.
- What can we learn from Operation Warp Speed and how could we apply this to other diseases? Similar to [this article](https://ifp.org/how-to-reuse-the-operation-warp-speed-model/) from Institute for Progress.

### **Build a thing**

- **What?** Build an interactive tool or physical product which is relevant for biosecurity or pandemic preparedness. We've written a [guide](https://biosecurityfundamentals.com/blog/how-to-build-an-interactive-biosecurity-tool-with-minimal-coding-experience/) for doing this with minimal coding experience.

- **Why?** Biosecurity needs more entrepreneurs! Prototyping and iterating a product is a great way to start developing this skill.

- **Examples:**
- Build your own [Corsi-Rosenthal box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi–Rosenthal_Box) and run tests on it, experimenting with different designs to see how they affect air quality.
- Build an interactive tool, similar to the [Czech COVID simulator](https://covidgame.info/) or the [IFBA's Biorisk Adventure game](https://ifbabioriskadventure.org/) which helps people to learn about a specific aspect of pandemic preparedness.

## **Project ideas**

The following longlist of ideas is a living document that will be expanded and refined over time. At the moment this is quite rough – many of these ideas could do with more work to clarify the specific question the project is trying to answer and/or narrow the scope. We welcome any feedback on the existing ideas and suggestions for new ones! As well as picking one of these ideas 'off-the-shelf', we hope this list serves as inspiration for you to generate your own ideas. If picking something from this list, feel free to adapt it to suit your particular skills or interests!

## **Preventing patient zero**

### **Preventing zoonotic spillover**

**Roadmap for Reducing Zoonotic Spillover Risk** Choose one of Neil Vora's [five key interventions to prevent zoonotic spillover](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9973692/).

Research and summarise:
- What the intervention means in practice
- Evidence for how it reduces zoonotic spillover risk
- Estimated impact on risk reduction

Narrow your focus:
- Select a specific aspect of the intervention
- Choose a particular country or region to apply it

Create a roadmap:
- Outline steps to implement your focused intervention in the specific region
- Who are the key stakeholders?

_Resources:_

_[Paper](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9973692/), [Article](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01312-y)_
_They have set up an organisation called '[Preventing Pandemics at the Source (PPATS)](https://www.preventingfuturepandemics.org/)' to work on these 5 interventions. You may want to [reach out to them](https://www.preventingfuturepandemics.org/get-involved-contact-us) about your project!_

**H5N1** Research any of the following questions on H5N1 (or come up with your own!):

- What is currently being done in [specific region] to prevent spillover of H5N1?
- What is the current state of H5N1 vaccine stockpiles in [specific region]?
- When were the doses in the current stockpile manufactured?
- How many doses do they have?
- Where are they stored?
- Who is responsible for replenishing them?
- Some of the above information may be confidential and hard to find. You could interview somebody about what kind of stockpiling information is confidential and why.
- How reliant is the [influenza vaccine supply chain on chicken eggs](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/how-fluvaccine-made.htm)? 
- How much of an issue would this be in an H5N1 pandemic that infects chickens?
- What are the best ways to remove chicken eggs from the vaccine supply chain?
- [Finland has started vaccinating poultry workers against H5N1](https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/07/05/why-finland-and-others-are-vaccinating-people-against-bird-flu).
- Are there plans to do this in your country? If not, why not?
- Should we be vaccinating all at-risk humans against all potential zoonotic diseases?
- Could we vaccinate all susceptible farm animals against H5N1?
- If not, why not? What's the blocker to doing this?
- Are there delivery mechanisms that could make it more cost effective to vaccinate farm animals (e.g. [spray vaccination](https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/spray-vaccination-of-dayold-chicks-at-the-hatchery))?
- How could we incentivise relevant stakeholders (e.g. vets, farmers, rural communities, local governments, etc.) to vaccinate the animals against these threats?

**Impact of animal welfare interventions on zoonotic spillover risk**

Research a range of interventions to improve animal welfare in farms. What effect do these interventions have on the risk of zoonotic spillover?

### **Preventing laboratory-acquired infections**

**Biosafety**

A blog post investigating some of the most important/consequential lab leaks in history
- Why did they happen? Would modern biosafety practices prevent the same thing from happening again?
- This is one area where we'd love to have a better-written resource for [session 1 of the curriculum](https://course.biosecurityfundamentals.com/pandemics?session=1)

Useful resources:
- [80k podcast with Alison Young on how top labs have jeopardised public health with repeated biosafety failures](https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/alison-young-biosafety-lab-leaks/)
- [Additional articles](https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/alison-young-biosafety-lab-leaks/#:~:text=EXPAND%20HIGHLIGHTS-,Articles%2C%20books%2C%20and%20other%20media%20discussed%20in%20the%20show,-Upcoming%20fellowship%20opportunity) discussed in that podcast
- [High-risk human-caused pathogen exposure events from 1975-2016](https://f1000research.com/articles/10-752)
- [Survey of laboratory-acquired infections around the world in biosafety level 3 and 4 laboratories](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27234593/)

Read through and summarise the key takeaways from the WHO's recently updated [laboratory biosecurity guidance](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240095113)
- Determine an audience that should be aware of this guidance but may not have read the full document. Present the guidance in a way that is more digestible for that audience.

**Oversight of ePPP research and DURC**

Read through and summarise the key takeaways from the new [US Policy for Oversight of DURC and ePPPs](https://aspr.hhs.gov/S3/Documents/USG-Policy-for-Oversight-of-DURC-and-PEPP-May2024-508.pdf)
- How does this differ from the previous [2017 P3CO framework](https://www.nih.gov/news-events/research-involving-potential-pandemic-pathogens)?
- Pick one of the [three research projects](https://www.nih.gov/news-events/research-involving-potential-pandemic-pathogens#:~:text=To%20date%2C%20only,and%20intellectual%20property.) that were reviewed under the P3CO framework. Try to review them according to the new framework.

What are the organisations and regulations that oversee ePPP research and DURC in your country?

Investigate what research is taking place in the [closest BSL-4 lab to you](https://www.globalbiolabs.org/map), and evaluate how dangerous that might be from a global pandemic perspective.
- What pathogens are they researching?
- What precautions are they taking to reduce risk?
- What rules do they have to comply with?
- What are the potential benefits of their research?
- What did it take for them to get verified to do this research?

### **Preventing bioweapon development and release**

**Biological Weapons Convention** _Project ideas coming soon_

**Intelligence**

Are there any organisations doing [OSINT monitoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_intelligence) for bioweapon threats?
- If no, then propose a body that could do this and how it might operate

**DNA Synthesis Regulation**

What can we learn from financial regulations for DNA synthesis screening?
- What is the state of the art in customer due diligence (CDD) and know your customer (KYC)?
- What is the state of the art in transparency registers (e.g. [Cifas](https://www.cifas.org.uk/)) and how could you apply this to DNA synthesis screening?

Benchtop synthesis machines
- How likely are these to become the dominant method for DNA synthesis, and if so, how does this change the priorities for DNA synthesis screening?
- Which features would mail-order synthesis have to have to crowd desktop synthesis out of the market? (e.g. cheap, fast, high quality)
- How feasible is [on-chip governance](https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/secure-governable-chips) for benchtop synthesis machines?

**Bioengineering detection and attribution** _Project ideas coming soon_

## **Detecting and containing early infections**

### **Detection**

**Metagenomic sequencing**

What is the current state of [insert country]'s wastewater monitoring systems post-COVID? 
- What infrastructure still exists?
- Which pathogens are they monitoring for?
- What technology are they using to monitor pathogens?
- Could they be adapted for early detection of novel pathogens?
- What is their funding structure/business model?
- What type of staff do they need to operate them?
- What open-source tools do they use?
- What standards exist to ensure the data collected is interoperable with other tools?
- What are their constraints?

How cheap would metagenomic sequencing have to be to test for all known pathogens in everyone who comes into a hospital/a GP/at home every day?
- Based on current trends in DNA seq costs, when will we reach that cost and how should we prepare for it (what other infrastructure would we need)?

How many metagenomic sequencing "sentinel sites" would be needed to detect ~all pandemic outbreaks globally within 48 hours? 
- e.g. one in every town >1000 people? every city with >1M people?
- How many sampling sites are needed in each location?

**Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)**

LAMP was invented over 25 years ago, and supposedly [has a range of advantages over PCR](https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/8/1931). Why is it so rarely used?

Write a simple explainer of how LAMP works.

**CRISPR-based diagnostics**

Write simple explainers of SHERLOCK and DETECTR.

When are we likely to see CRISPR-based diagnostics widely used?
- What are the bottlenecks to getting there?
- Reach out to [Sherlock Biosciences](https://sherlock.bio/platforms/crispr/) or other companies to find out more!

**Digital detection** _Project ideas coming soon_

### **Containment**

Could the world have pursued zero COVID?
- At what point in time did this become infeasible?

What is the latest on [Bill Gates' GERM team](https://www.gatesnotes.com/Meet-the-GERM-team)? Reach out to the BMGF to ask about this?

What exercises should local regions be doing to practise containing novel pathogen outbreaks?

## **Government pandemic response**

COVID inquiries
- Many countries have conducted COVID inquiries (e.g. [Singapore](https://www.gov.sg/article/covid-19-white-paper), [UK](https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/))
- Take one recommendation from your country's inquiry (e.g. UK's [here](https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/reports/module-1-report-the-resilience-and-preparedness-of-the-united-kingdom/#section_13_appendix-4-list-of-recommendations-made-in-this-report)), and build a detailed roadmap for how you would implement it

How did different countries support wages during the COVID-19 pandemic? Similar to [this explainer](https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/coronavirus-how-countries-supported-wages-during-pandemic) from Institute for Government.

What can we learn from Operation Warp Speed and how could we apply this to other diseases? Similar to [this article](https://ifp.org/how-to-reuse-the-operation-warp-speed-model/) from Institute for Progress.

Communications
- How did Government communications strategies differ during COVID? 
- Perhaps interview people from different countries
- What were some of the biggest comms mistakes made around the world and how did they happen? How could we avoid similar mistakes in a future pandemic?
- What legislation could you use in [insert country] to prohibit misinformation during a public health emergency?

## **Emerging tech to strengthen pandemic response**

### **Vaccines**

_Project ideas coming soon_

### **Therapeutics**

Write an article explaining the [RECOVERY trial](https://www.recoverytrial.net/) or the [WHO Solidarity trial](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/solidarity-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-treatments)
- How we could replicate this model for future pandemics?

Build a roadmap for a shared platform to run all clinical trials on.
- This could have huge benefits for general global health, as well as pandemic response

### **Indoor air quality**

Far-UVC
- Many excellent research questions in [this post](https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/z8ZWwm4xeHBAiLZ6d/thoughts-on-far-uvc-after-working-in-the-field-for-8-months)
- Explore potential business models to drive the widespread adoption of Far-UVC.
- Possible areas/customers you could explore
    - Hospitals
    - Workplaces
    - Schools and Universities
    - Laboratories
    - Factory farms
- Why are KrCl lamps so expensive?
- How much does far-UV degrade plastics?

Other UV
- What is the state of the art and uptake of [in-duct GUV](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8021448/)? 
- Is this something that could be built into a [Corsi-Rosenthal Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi–Rosenthal_Box) setup for cheap air filtration?
- How effective are portable GUV air purifiers on the market (e.g. [this one](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Disinfection-Cleaner-Bathroom-Disinfection/dp/B09MZGPGHF?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE))?

Corsi-Rosenthal boxes
- Conduct a cost/benefit analysis of installing one in every room in your workplace (possibly an interactive one in [Squiggle](https://www.squiggle-language.com/docs)).
- How effective are they at reducing pathogen transmission?


Project ideas for biosecurity and pandemic preparedness

Will Saunter • July 18, 2024