Summary of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security RFI Submission for PAHPA Reauthorization to US Senate

Summary of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security RFI Submission for PAHPA Reauthorization to US Senate Summary of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security RFI Submission for PAHPA Reauthorization to US Senate The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security recently provided feedback and suggestions in response to a Request for Information (RFI) in preparation for the upcoming Pandemic and All-Haza. [...] Previous iterations of PAHPA have authorized the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and provided new authorities for a variety of other programs. [...] The Center for Health Security’s recommendations consist of 5 categories of policy recommendations: (1) establishing a ‘Disease X’ Medical Countermeasures Program at BARDA; (2) supporting innovative next-generation reusable respirators for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS); (3) requiring mandatory screening of gene synthesis orders and customers; (4) implementing a National Diagnostics Action. [...] Gene synthesis screening: Congress should require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prescribe a regulation requiring gene synthesis providers and manufacturers to screen all customers and incoming orders of gene sequences and to require all purchasers of gene sequences to order only from providers and manufacturers who perform such screening. [...] Bioattribution: Congress should task the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) with coordinating federal bioattribution efforts across and outside of government, as well as with establishing a working group to maximize existing databases and data resources for bioattribution purposes.