ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Light refreshments will be served. 

09.45–09.55 Conference welcome

Professor Hugh Brady, President, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

09.55–10.05 Biosecurity, national security and the geopolitical context

Jonathan Black, Former UK Deputy National Security Adviser

10.05–10.10 Ministerial remarks

Recorded remarks from Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State for Security of the United Kingdom

10.10–10.25 Expert remarks: What governments need from science and industry at the frontier of biology and AI

Edward You, Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent for WMD Directorate Operational Response Unit

10.25–11.15 Plenary one: Understanding the threats

Understanding the full spectrum of biological risks — from naturally occurring hazards to intentional synthetic threats, AI-enabled threat creation and food security challenges. Key question: What are the technologies driving emerging biosecurity threats we need to prioritise, and where are the gaps?

Chair: Professor Neil Ferguson, Director, School of Public Health, Founding Director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Panellists

• Professor Wendy Barclay, Regius Professor of Infectious Disease, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• Max Breet, Head of International, Perimeter
• Professor Dr Andrea Büttner, Executive Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering
• Dr Nicholas Joad, Director, Defence Science and Technology (DSTL) and Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor, Ministry of Defence
• Jeff Kaufman, Director of Detection, SecureBio

11.15–11.30 Coffee break

11.30–11.45 Expert remarks: Singapore's biosecurity agenda

Chen Yeang Tat, Deputy CEO (Operations), HTX – Home Team Science and Technology Agency of Singapore

11.45–12.30 Plenary two: Surveillance

Developing rapid, pathogen-agnostic diagnostics and detection capabilities bridging biology, chemistry and engineering. Focus on integrated platforms, water and air surveillance, microforensics, and governance frameworks for data sharing. Key question: Do we have the capability to collect, analyse and make sense of data — ethically and interoperably?

Chair: Professor Karen Polizzi, Professor of Biotechnology, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Opening remarks by Professor Dr Henrik Wegener, Head of the Global Pathogen Analysis Platform, Technical University of Denmark

The Global Pathogen Analysis Platform (GPAP) – advanced AI tools for pathogen analysis

Panellists

• Professor Leon Barron, Professor of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• Jamie Marsay, Head of Biotechnology, Kromek Group
• Dr David Ulaeto, Senior Principal Scientist, UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)

An interactive showcase alongside a networking lunch with the following startups and scale ups from Imperial's innovation ecosystem:

• : Developing a novel Magnetic Blood Filtration technology. Its nanoengineered magnetic particles enable the selective removal of specific substances - such as pathogens, antibodies, and inflammatory cytokines - from the bloodstream, much like dialysis, but with unmatched precision ionics.
• : Harnessing an innate mechanism of gene activation, MiNA Therapeutics' platform enables the development of new medicines that restore normal function to patients’ cells.
• : Developing the next-generation protein sequencing platform that has the potential to unlock the next frontier of biological data, critical for biosecurity and healthcare resilience. 
• : ProtonDx is an Imperial spinout and a leader in innovative, portable molecular diagnostics for rapid, precise, multi-pathogen infectious disease testing at the point of need.
• : Developing automated wastewater monitoring technology to detect infectious diseases before symptoms appear, enabling earlier intervention and improving public health resilience.

13.30–14.20 Roundtable discussions

Opening impulse statements (2 minutes) followed by roundtable discussion and participation by conference guests.

Chair: Professor Peter Haynes, Provost and Deputy President, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Roundtable 1: Addressing national capability needs

Impulse statements by:

• Louise Owen, Deputy Director, Cabinet Office

• Rupert Shute, Professor of Practice  in Emerging Technology Regulation, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• Philip Keel, Director of Countermeasures and Response, UK Health Security Agency
• Professor Peter Biggins, Visiting Professor, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• Dr Michael Adeogun, Head of Strategy – Life Sciences and Health, National Physical Laboratory  
• Dr Isabel Bennett, Head of Science Strategy, Department for Health and Social Care

Roundtable 2: Cross-sector coalitions to support and invest in emerging biosecurity priorities

Chair: Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Impulse statements by:

• Eric David, Partner, Flagship Pioneering
• Maya Levin, Sciences lead, Office of Eric Schmidt 
• James Lovell, Biosecurity Integrated Security Fund Portfolio Lead, UK Cabinet Office

• Hannu Rajaniemi, Co-Founder and CEO, Red Queen Bio 

14.25–14.35 Expert remarks: NATO DIANA Challenge Introduction

Human resilience and biotechnologies

Professor Dr Rune Linding, NATO DIANA Challenge Manager for Human Resilience and Biotechnologies

14.35–15.25 Plenary three: Response

Are we equipped to understand the cause, match response, and deploy countermeasures at scale and pace? Rapid deployment technologies, sovereign manufacturing capability, broad-application therapeutics and supply chain resilience. 

Chair:

• Professor Paul Kellam, Professor of Virus Genomics, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, and CSO,  RQ Biotechnology 

Panellists

• Dr Charles Fracchia, CEO, Black Mesa, and Chairman, BIO-ISAC
• Natalie Kempston, Deputy Director, National Security and Operational Response, Department of Health and Social Care
• Jo Wales, Senior Director and Lead, Regional Pandemic Readiness and UK Resilience, Moderna UK
• Dr Brian Wang, Programme Director at ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency)

15.25–15.45 Coffee break

15.45–16.15 Expert remarks

The 100-Day Imperative: Pandemic preparedness, AI-driven threats, and the case for a new global architecture

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI); co-creator of COVAX, and former Acting Director of the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

UK health security and the strategic choices shaping the next decade

Professor Susan Hopkins, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency; Professor of Infectious Diseases and Health Security at University College London and Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

16.15–17.05 Plenary four: Global leadership

Where we stand at this convergence of AI and biotechnology. What it means for security, resilience, and the policy choices facing governments right now, and where national and international attention most urgently needs to be focused. 

Chair: Professor Azra Ghani, Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and the National University of Singapore, Academic Director of Imperial Global Singapore, Director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis

Panellists

• Dr Janet Martha Blatny, Director, Total Defence, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI)
• Kristof Bonnarens, Deputy Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), European Commission
• Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI); co-creator of COVAX, and former Acting Director of the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
• Professor Susan Hopkins, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency; Professor of Infectious Diseases and Health Security at University College London and Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

17.05–17.10 Closing remarks

Amanda Wolthuizen, Vice-President (Strategy), ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

An opportunity to connect and network after the event.