Focus Areas | Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Global Health Security Emerging Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Medical and Public Health Preparedness and Response Deliberate Biological Threats Opportunities and Risks in the Life Sciences Health Security Education and Awareness

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Global Health Security

We work with international partners to advance science diplomacy, strengthen outbreak prevention systems, and enhance global capabilities for disease detection, surveillance, and coordinated response.

Projects & Resources Related to This Focus Area

One Health

The Seasonal Influenza Disease Burden Estimator

US - India Biosecurity Dialogue

Southeast Asia Strategic Biosecurity Dialogue

Recent Publications

In a year of steep challenges, there were still shining moments in global health

One Health Transboundary Assessment for Priority Zoonoses (OHTAPZ)

Engineering Infection Controls to Reduce Indoor Transmission of Respiratory Infections: A Scoping Review

Findings from a disease prioritization and tabletop exercise to evaluate transboundary One Health capacities between Jordan and Iraq

The 2025 measles outbreak is largest in 3 decades

Emerging Infectious Diseases and Epidemics

Explore how we advance priorities and strategies for epidemic readiness, from early detection and rapid response to recovery, whether threats emerge naturally or deliberately.

Viruses in infected organism , viral disease epidemic by nobeastsofierce

Projects & Resources Related to This Focus Area

Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Health Security

Disease X Medical Countermeasure Program

Dissecting Pandemic-Prone Viral Families

Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) Reauthorization

Recent Publications

Measles cases surged in 2025 as vaccination rates dropped

What to know about the "super flu" and the unprecedented spike in flu cases

Flu season in the U.S. is heating up, driven by new subclade K variant

What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic

Engineering Infection Controls to Reduce Indoor Transmission of Respiratory Infections: A Scoping Review

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Medical and Public Health Preparedness and Response

We provide decision makers with evidence-based analysis and actionable recommendations to build resilient health systems capable of effectively managing public health emergencies and disasters.

Projects & Resources Related to This Focus Area

Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI)

Indoor Air Quality

Increasing Respiratory Protection for the Next Pandemic

Enabling Accountability for Effective Outbreak Reporting by Developing Standards for Transparency (ORBIT)

Tackling Rumors and Understanding & Strengthening Trust (TRUST) in Public Health

Addressing Misleading and Purposefully Manipulated Health-Related Information

Recent Publications

Far UVC Technology and Germicidal Ultraviolet Energy: Policy and Research Review for Indoor Air Quality and Disease Transmission Control

Countermeasures

More than a miracle

As U.S. funding falters, mRNA cancer vaccine pioneers face new hurdles

The online health misinformation machine

FDA approves new COVID shots, with restrictions

Deliberate Biological Threats

Learn about our work to identify, analyze, and equip leaders with critical intelligence on deliberate biological threats, including detecting misleading claims that exacerbate security challenges.

Chemical and genetic research By m.m photo

Projects & Resources Related to This Focus Area

GP WMD Counter Disinfo

The BWC Global Forum: Biotech, Biosecurity & Beyond

Tackling Rumors and Understanding & Strengthening Trust (TRUST) in Public Health

Addressing Misleading and Purposefully Manipulated Health-Related Information

Recent Publications

The BWC at 50: Envisioning the Next 50 Years of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

Toward risk analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on the deliberate biological threat landscape

BWC confidence-building measures: Increasing BWC assurance through transparency and information sharing

A playbook on investigations into biological events of ambiguous origin

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Opportunities and Risks in the Life Sciences

We track emerging trends at the intersection of biotechnology and AI, delivering actionable recommendations to enhance biosecurity and biosafety while maximizing innovation potential.

Projects & Resources Related to This Focus Area

Artificial Intelligence & Biotechnology (AIxBio)

Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub

Policy Options for Gene Synthesis

International Guidelines for Biosecurity Ethics

Recent Publications

Increasing Gene Synthesis Security Risk Awareness Through Global Engagement and Collaborative Exercise Development

Biological data governance in an age of AI

Biological AI Is Slipping Through Europe’s AI Law — For Now

AI can design toxic proteins. They’re escaping through biosecurity cracks.

Gain of Fiction: How COVID Origins Motivated Defunding of U.S. Science

Health Security Education and Awareness

The Center offers various resources, including educational opportunities, a newsletter, and the Health Security journal to enhance awareness and understanding of health security issues.