Public Policy and
Biological Threats

A program of the UC Institute on
Global Conflict and Cooperation

funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York

Background

IGCC’s Public Policy and Biological Threats (PPBT) program began in July 2004 with a two-week intensive training at UC San Diego. The multidisciplinary training program fosters a dynamic, collaborative learning environment for University of California Ph.D. and professional-school students, junior UC faculty, and private industry professionals. The program is funded by a generous grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Now in its fifth year, the Public Policy and Biological Threats (PPBT) program focuses on policy responses to bioterrorism and emerging public health threats. Topics include the science of biological weapons and threats, the history of bioterrorism and weaponization, verification and monitoring, scenario building, national security decision making, and public health policy and infrastructure. Faculty includes experts from throughout the UC system, the National Laboratories, and many of the nation’s leading research institutions.

The program is co-directed by Sam Bozzette, senior natural scientist at RAND and executive director of health outcomes at Amilyn, and Peter Cowhey, Associate Vice Chancellor for International Affairs and dean of the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD.

Program Support for Graduate Students and Junior Faculty

Fellowship funding is available on a competitive basis to Ph.D. students, post-docs, and junior faculty participants from diverse disciplines. Early-career scholars from professional schools, chemistry, medicine, epidemiology, nursing, public health, pharmacy, law, social psychology, public policy, economics, and international relations academic programs are encouraged to apply. The deadline for registration is in the spring each year. More information may be found by clicking on the "How to Apply" link.

Community Participation

Industry professionals and government officials are also invited to participate in the program. Information on fees may be found by clicking on the "How to Apply" link.

Curriculum

The Public Policy and Biological Threats summer training program typically covers the following elements:

• The science of biological weapons and biological threats: An introduction to infectious diseases, treatment, weaponization, and dispersion


• Domestic and international biosecurity intelligence


• Disease outbreak and detection: Remote sensing, syndromic surveillance, contact tracing, etc.


• Improved risk-scenario planning and tools for scenario building


• Assessment of response strategies and plans


• International rules and regime building (creation of shared understandings of the strategic challenge and policy norms)


• Building consensus among stakeholders, including an introduction to public policymaking


• Analysis of the growth of a sophisticated biotechnology industry around the world and the issues it poses for the control of bioterrorism


• The ethical and legal aspects of setting and coordinating biothreats responses and policy


• Communication of evolving threat scenarios and disasters to officials and the public

For additional information on the program, please email igcc-recruiting@ucsd.edu.