Critical biothreats are urgent global concerns – natural, accidental or deliberate acts that accelerate threats to human, animal, and plant health.

Current biothreat research and policies often overlook the complex and dynamic realities of diseases occurring at the margins of health surveillance and control. In complex, fragile, and conflict-affected systems the risks of emerging threats are highest, and health responses most difficult – complicated by drivers such as climate change, political instability, and displacement.

  • Challenge 1: Transboundary threats in the Middle East

    The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant transboundary One Health threats, where human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected.

    Factors such as conflict, climate change, rapid urbanization, and large-scale displacement create ideal conditions for the emergence and spread of diseases including zoonotic infections, antimicrobial resistance (AMR)...

  • Challenge 2: Resistant infections in Ukraine

    Ukraine faces a growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, disrupted healthcare infrastructure, and increased antibiotic misuse in both civilian and military settings.

    The widespread use of antimicrobials in emergency medicine, agriculture, and self-medication — combined with damaged sanitation systems and displaced populations — creates ideal conditions...

  • Challenge 3: Fragile, subverted, and conflict-affected systems

    Biological threats emerging at the margins of state control pose specific risks due to incomplete surveillance and degraded (or absent) health systems.

    Participants are invited to identify and explore a geographical context, threat area, or social system which may benefit from increased attention to data.