A national chemical defense consortium targeting $400M–$1.2B countermeasure programs with a 3-year AI counteragent development model – BioSymetrics/Lunai Bioworks

Lunai Bioworks (NASDAQ: LNAI), through our subsidiary BioSymetrics, has launched the Pathfinder Consortium, a national academic-industry alliance designed to accelerate medical countermeasures for emerging chemical threats. #Biodefense #MedicalCountermeasures #AIforDrugDiscovery

Standardization of a qPCR Assay for Seb and Stx1 Detection and Its Applications in #Biodefense Systems

by Victor Hugo Gonçalves Pinto et al.

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2025, 52(1), 2; www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/52...

Lunai Bioworks has landed at PMWC 2026, Silicon Valley, March 4-6. See Gabe Musso’s talk, March 6 at 11:45 a.m. PST

Lunai Bioworks has landed at PMWC 2026 in Santa Clara (Mar 4–6). If you’re working on neurology programs and care about translation-first drug discovery, we’d love to connect. #PMWC2026 #DrugDiscovery #Biodefense

Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.

Pulling back on #biodefense weakens our ability to detect, model and respond to the next threat not just at the national level but globally as well. As climate change and urbanization reshape transmission patterns, preparedness isn’t optional. It’s foundational to public health.

📅 March 6 | 12 PM ET
Join us for a webinar on the state of #Biodefense in the US and the rising risks from natural, accidental, and deliberate biological threats.

Moderated by @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social w/ @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social, Harshini Mukundan, & Kelly Chafin

brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Meet Lunai Bioworks at Precision Medicine World Conference 2026, March 4–6, Silicon Valley, CA, USA

We’re heading to PMWC 2026 in Santa Clara (March 4–6). If you’re working on neurology programs and want translation-focused AI plus in vivo validation, we’d love to connect. #PMWC2026 #DrugDiscovery #Biodefense

NIAID staffers ordered to remove #biodefense, #pandemic preparedness language on website

Experts say the move will hobble the United States’ ability to respond to future infectious disease threats.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/bioterrorism...

Photo: US National Guard, Ben Houtkooper / Flickr cc

NIAID staffers ordered to remove biodefense, pandemic preparedness language on website Experts say the move will hobble the United States’ ability to respond to future infectious disease threats.

NIAID staffers ordered to remove #biodefense, #pandemic preparedness language on website

Experts say the move will hobble the United States’ ability to respond to future infectious disease threats.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/bioterrorism...

Key US Infectious-Diseases Centre to Drop Pandemic Preparation Staff members at the United States’s premier infectious-disease research institute have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the institute’s web pages, according to e-mails Nature has obtained. The directive comes amid a broader shake-up at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of 27 institutes and centres at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIAID is expected to deprioritize the two topics in an overhaul of its funded research projects, according to four NIAID employees who spoke to Nature on the condition of anonymity, because they are not authorized to speak to the press. NIH director Jay Bhattacharya explained the restructure at an event with other top agency officials on 30 January. “It’s a complete transformation of [the NIAID] away from this old model” that has historically prioritized research on HIV, biodefence and pandemic preparedness, he said. The institute will focus more on basic immunology and other infectious diseases currently affecting people in the United States, he added, rather than on predicting future diseases.   About one-third of the NIAID’s US$6.6-billion budget currently funds projects involving emerging infectious diseases and biodefence. The research studies pathogens of concern and monitors their spread, and develops medical countermeasures against threats from radiation exposure, chemicals and infectious diseases. Nahid Bhadelia, director of Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Massachusetts, says the decision to deprioritize these areas will leave people in the United States more vulnerable to pathogens that are constantly evolving in wildlife around the world and spilling into human populations, sometimes sparking outbreaks. “Just because we say we’re going to stop caring about these issues doesn’t make the issues go away — it just makes us less prepared,” she says. A spokesperson for the NIH, the world’s largest public funder of biomedical science, based in Bethesda, Maryland, says, “NIAID’s new vision sharpens its focus on the interconnected pillars of infectious diseases and immunology, expanding opportunities for research that address the most pressing challenges to Americans’ health today.” The spokesperson declined to respond to Nature's queries about the agency’s specific plans to restructure the institute.   Political heat The NIAID is currently under the leadership of acting director Jeffery Taubenberger, after its previous director, infectious-disease physician Jeanne Marrazzo, was fired by the administration of US President Donald Trump after less than two years into the post. Her predecessor, Anthony Fauci, held the job for 38 years. Fauci and the institute have been scrutinized by Trump and other Republican politicians as a result of public-health measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic — such as lockdowns and school closures — which they say resulted in people losing trust in the country’s health agencies. (During the pandemic, Fauci offered recommendations on how to prevent the spread of the virus, but neither Fauci nor the NIAID set policy for public-health measures.) To restore trust, Bhattacharya, Taubenberger and Taubenberger’s senior adviser, John Powers, outlined a “new vision” for the institute in a commentary1 published in Nature Medicine on 16 January. “NIAID’s work clearly neither prevented the pandemic nor prevented Americans from experiencing among the highest levels of all-cause excess mortality in the developed world during that time,” they wrote. “Given the increasing prevalence of allergic and autoimmune disorders and the burden of common infections in the population over the past few decades, the NIAID must focus research on these conditions with a greater sense of urgency.” New direction The instructions to agency staff members to rebrand the institute’s language are only the first step towards implementing this new vision, according to the NIAID employees. NIH principal deputy director Matthew Memoli has ordered more changes, including the review of the portfolio of grants funding biodefence and pandemic preparedness, in the coming weeks and months, they say. If funds are allocated to other topics, “that’s a very big deal”, Bhadelia says. Few other US agencies have the budget or infrastructure to fund basic research into these topics, says Gigi Gronvall, a biosecurity specialist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. Taubenberger hinted during the 30 January event that a reallocation is coming. “To better prepare for the future [we need to] better deal with what we’re facing today,” he said. “Maybe a better way to look at this is ‘people preparedness’. One way for people to be prepared is to be healthier, eat better and exercise, so you’re less likely to get sick or have a poor outcome,” Powers added. This priority is important, Bhadelia says, but “the new vision is remarkable not for what’s included — but what’s excluded. It almost paints a picture of ‘one or the other’. In reality, these things interact with each other”. For example, people with chronic conditions are at greater risk during a pandemic, she says. Gronvall adds that this approach is “full of hubris”. “We know that there are groups of viruses that are more likely to cause illness, epidemics and pandemics,” she says, so it makes sense to study them. For example, Bhadelia adds, the anticipatory basic research that the NIAID has funded helped make it possible to develop COVID-19 vaccines in record time, which “allowed us to reduce mortality” from the pandemic. The restructure is also expected to target the NIAID division focusing on HIV/AIDS research, which oversees a $1.5-billion portfolio of projects developing therapeutics and vaccines against the virus. The division’s 33 branches will likely be consolidated, one NIAID employee tells Nature. But it’s not clear whether the total number of projects or amount of money the division doles out will be impacted, the employee adds. Almost 20% of the NIH’s 2024 workforce of 21,000 have been laid off or have left voluntarily since Trump took office last January. The NIH spokesperson declined to say whether there will be further layoffs of NIAID staff members as part of the restructure. “Everyone is worried about what comes next,” an institute employee says.

The NIAID will review of the portfolio of grants funding biodefence and pandemic preparedness, in the coming weeks and months. #biodefense #pandemic

Lunai Bioworks Highlights Drug Discovery and Biodefense AI Platform on CNBC

Lunai Bioworks was recently featured on CNBC’s Business Minute, where David Weinstein, our CEO, discussed how we’re using AI to scale therapeutic discovery and strengthen biodefense preparedness. #Biodefense #ResponsibleAI #DrugDiscovery

From Startups To Soldiers - Scaling Dual-Use Technology For The US Army - Dr. Casey Perley, Ph.D. - Executive Director, Army Applications Laboratory #AutonomousBridging #CasualtyCare #QuantumHardening #ElectromagneticWarfare #Biodefense www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWVu...

Lunai Bioworks Launches Sentinel, an AI Safeguard to Block Large Language Models From Generating Novel Chemical Weapons

Lunai Bioworks today announced Sentinel™, an embedded AI safeguard designed to help prevent large language and scientific foundation models from generating novel chemical and biological threat agents. #Biosecurity #Biodefense #AISafety

We lost a LOT when #KirstyDuncan retired. She should be running our #biodefense portfolio.

When things go to hell again south, all those #Hegethi #antimask #antivax nutcases, regardless of the origin of it, we will need to defend against that mentality & that mob.

It's the real defense need.

☣️ As NATO allies strive toward their new defense spending goals, it's critical that #biodefense is included in core defense investments, write CSR's @clparthemore.bsky.social and Andrew Weber.

➡️ Read more at @defensenews.bsky.social:

Happy Holidays from BioSymetrics and Lunai Bioworks

We tried something silly: we asked AI to adapt the lyrics of a familiar seasonal tune as a playful ode to zebrafish behavior analysis. Check out this post's image for the lyrics. #DrugDiscovery #Biodefense #AIinDrugDiscovery

Biodefense in the FY26 NDAA - The Council on Strategic Risks On December 18th, 2025, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 was signed into law by the President. Experts at the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) identified at least 24 ...

☣️ At least 24 provisions in the FY26 NDAA directly affect #biodefense. Kyle Wilgus and Sabrina Chwalek break down these provisions and their implications here:

Bioweapons are an Abomination (and that includes “biodefense”) All the science news you can handle in a single feed

Bioweapons are an Abomination (and that includes “biodefense”) #Science #Biology #Microbiology #Bioweapons #Biodefense

MIT Unveils TX-GAIN: A Supercomputer to Revolutionize BO Research

#ai #supercomputing #mit #biodefense #potatosecurity

MIT Unveils TX-GAIN: A Supercomputer to Revolutionize AI Research MIT's new TX-GAIN supercomputer sets a new standard in AI research, offering groundbreaking capabilities in biodefense and cybersecurity.

MIT Unveils TX-GAIN: A Supercomputer to Revolutionize AI Research

#ai #supercomputing #mit #biodefense #cybersecurity

MIT's Lincoln Laboratory Unveils TX-GAIN: The Most Powerful AI Supercomputer in U.S. Academia MIT reveals TX-GAIN, a groundbreaking AI supercomputer, to advance research in biodefense, materials discovery, and cybersecurity.

MIT's Lincoln Laboratory Unveils TX-GAIN: The Most Powerful AI Supercomputer in U.S. Academia

#mit #aitechnology #supercomputing #biodefense

AI & zebrafish data to advance early detection of neurotoxic compounds

We’re using AI and zebrafish data to help detect neurotoxic compounds targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and support defense and public health. #Biodefense #Neurotoxicity #AChE

Therapeutics, Biodefense, and Women’s Health Show Momentum | Biotech VC Deals Weekly Roundup | VentureRadar Therapeutics, Biodefense, and Women’s Health Show Momentum | Biotech VC Deals Weekly Roundup

Biotech VC Weekly 🔬
Oncology, biodefense & women’s health see continued momentum — from pregnancy monitoring wearables to thermostable vaccines & AI-enabled diagnostics.
More here → www.ventureradar.com/articles/The...

#Biotech #VC #HealthTech #Oncology #WomenHealth #Biodefense #Vaccines

Valthos Secures $30 Million to Revolutionize Biodefense with AI-Driven Solutions Valthos has raised $30 million in seed funding to develop advanced biodefense systems using AI. This investment promises to enhance the fight against biological threats.

Valthos Secures $30 Million to Revolutionize Biodefense with AI-Driven Solutions #USA #San_Francisco #OpenAI #Biodefense #Valthos

It should be allowed to loan out money or grant money to #corporations for #biodefense and new treatment research that the private sector is unwilling to fund. We could also allow the #corporation to hold on to #crypto assets and earn interest on those assets, making it a haven for investors.

Council on Strategic Risks Announces the Summer 2025 Mid-Career Biodefense Bootcamp Fellows - The Council on Strategic Risks The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) was thrilled to welcome twelve mid-career experts to its latest cohort of Biodefense Bootcamp Fellows.

☣️ In August, CSR welcomed a new cohort of #Biodefense Bootcamp Fellows. These mid-career experts convened to connect, learn, and engage with key leaders in the field as they deeply explored #biological risks, threat reduction, and biosecurity.

⬇️ Meet the Fellows:

New Lyophilized Anthrax Vaccine Could Transform Biodefense Preparedness Researchers unveil a freeze-dried anthrax nanoparticle vaccine offering stronger immunity, easier stockpiling, and improved biodefense readiness.

#BiologicalWeapons #Vaccine #Anthrax #Biosecurity
Nanoparticle Anthrax Vaccine Shows Promise in Enhancing #Biodefense Preparedness
globalbiodefense.com/2025/09/09/l...

[...]
The new approach focuses on a cryptic neutralizing epitope (the LND) within Bacillus anthracis protective ...

Mixed Signals on Biodefense in Trump’s FY26 Budget Request - The Council on Strategic Risks The administration's cuts to federal spending on biodefense and biosecurity programs undermine America's global biodefense leadership and deterrence capabilities.

☣️ The administration’s FY26 Discretionary Budget Request continues a concerning trend of cuts to federal spending, including slashing funding for #biodefense and #biosecurity programs.

⬇️ Eva Siegmann and Kyle Wilgus analyze funding trends and their consequences in the latest blog:

Incorporating Geospatial Intelligence in Biodefense Incorporating Geospatial Intelligence in Biodefense

#BiologicalWeapons #Disease #Surveillance #Verification #Space #Biosafety
Incorporating Geospatial Intelligence in #Biodefense
www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...

[...]
In this space, geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), which combines GIS, remote sensing, and ...

#phep #publichealth #biodefense #policy #politics

White House Empties Office for U.S. Pandemic Policy: The Gaps Left Behind | Think Global Health Summer departures leave the White House without a senior official for pandemic preparedness, biosecurity, or biodefense

The U.S. has the tools—and the mandate—to lead on pandemic preparedness. But right now, OPPR is sitting empty.

Thanks to @thinkglobalhealth.org for helping me tell this story.

www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/whit...

#HealthSecurity #PublicHealth #Biodefense #ThinkGlobalHealth #Biosecurity