Southeast Asia Biosecurity: June 2025

Your monthly roundup of biosecurity insights, outbreaks, and opportunities

Hey there, how have you been June these days?

Welcome to the June edition of our newsletter. Southeast Asia Biosecurity, or you can call us SEA Bio — a network of early-career researchers passionate about strengthening biosecurity in Southeast Asia. Every month, we bring you news, research, and opportunities from across the region (and beyond) to keep you updated, inspired, and connected in this biospace.

This newsletter highlights some developments in the global biosecurity and health security and shares opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute. If there’s something you’d like to see in the next issue—or something we can do better—let us know via this form. You can also suggest content or events to feature here!

Regional & Global Biosecurity News

News highlights and issues on biosecurity/health security in the region or topical to the region. Note that these are not exhaustive, and we include any relevant updates from our previous newsletters updates!

ASEAN Biosecurity & Policy

• Advancing Biosafety in Asia – Bhutan Workshop (NCBP): Covers the 7th regional biosafety workshop in Bhutan focused on enhancing biosafety frameworks, laboratory practices, and regional collaboration in Asia. Representatives from 13 Asian countries discussed harmonizing standards and risk communication.

• Biosecurity and the SDGs – RSIS: This issue discusses how biosecurity frameworks in ASEAN intersect with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and outlines policy-research linkages and recommended priorities following the 2024 biosafety declaration.

• ASEAN and 2030 Disease Elimination Goals (ASEANHub): Highlights ASEAN’s progress and setbacks in eliminating HIV/AIDS, TB, and hepatitis B. Singapore and Brunei are the only countries that might be able to meet 2030 goals, prompting calls for greater equity and coordination.

• Myanmar at Global Biosecurity Conference: Myanmar joined global delegates at a biosecurity conference in Russia, where leaders emphasized international cooperation and responsible AI use in addressing biological threats.

• Ending TB in Southeast Asia – ASEAN’s vaccine diplomacy and digital health tools: ASEAN is intensifying efforts to eliminate tuberculosis by 2035 through vaccine development, including M72 trials in Indonesia, and the use of AI-powered diagnostic tools across member states. The region’s push combines vaccine diplomacy, digital health innovations, and international cooperation to strengthen TB control and public health resilience.

• Tackling Dengue Together in ASEAN: On ASEAN Dengue Day, experts call for urgent regional collaboration to develop treatments for dengue, a growing threat worsened by climate change and limited healthcare access. With no approved antiviral drug, public-sector investment and cross-country partnerships are essential to accelerate research, ensure equity, and shift from crisis response to long-term solutions.

• Measles Resurgence in East Asia and Pacific: WHO Western Pacific has warned of a dangerous resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, with measles cases peaking in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, only 65% of children under one are fully immunized, far below the 95% needed for herd immunity, highlighting urgent gaps in routine vaccination and the need for intensified, equitable immunization efforts.

• 6th ASEAN Health Cluster 3 Meeting: Brunei Darussalam hosted the 6th ASEAN Health Cluster 3 Meeting from June 3-5, 2025, focusing on strengthening health systems and access to care under ASEAN’s Post-2015 Health Development Agenda. As the new chair for 2025-2026, Brunei will lead efforts to promote universal healthcare, digital health innovation, and support for vulnerable groups, aligning with ASEAN Vision 2025 and the ASCC Blueprint.

• Big Pharma to Supply the Philippines with Bird Flu Vaccine: Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines has announced its readiness to supply a bird flu vaccine to the local poultry industry, pending regulatory approval from the FDA. Recommended by the Bureau of Animal Industry, the vaccine is seen as a key tool alongside biosecurity and surveillance to manage avian influenza risks to both animal and public health.

• Vietnam proposes to bring ASF vaccination into mass immunization in high-risk areas: Vietnam’s AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine has shown up to 90% efficacy, but low uptake, especially among small farmers, threatens herd immunity. Experts stress that reaching 74–84% coverage is vital for disease control, requiring stronger policy support, outreach, and coordination.

Outbreak Tracker: Southeast Asia (Live Sources)

Here’s a quick snapshot of key disease outbreaks in Southeast Asia (updated from last month).

• Measles Surges in Cambodia, Philippines, and Vietnam: Since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam has recorded 81,691 suspected measles cases in 63 provinces and cities. Cambodia reported 2,150 cases of measles between January and April 2025. The Philippines reported 2,068 cases from 1 January to 10 May 2025, find out more here.

• Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Cambodia: Cambodia records its 11th human case and its 5th human fatality in 2025.

• Cutaneous Anthrax in Thailand: Thailand notified WHO of 4 cases of cutaneous anthrax. One of the affected individuals died as a result of disease complications, while the remaining three cases were hospitalized and received appropriate medical care.

• COVID‑19 variant NB.1.8.1 in Thailand: So far in 2025, Thailand records 257,280 cases of COVID-19, with two new deaths, raising the total fatalities to 52.

Here are regularly updated sources for regional outbreak data to refer to, for more complete and live updates on ASEAN outbreaks:

• ASEAN Biodiaspora Virtual Center (ABVC) : Real-time outbreak dashboards across ASEAN

• WHO Regional Outbreak Reports: Includes Southeast Asia (SEARO) and Western Pacific (WPRO)

• ReliefWeb – ASEAN Outbreak Alerts: Aggregated reports from governments, WHO, NGOs, and media

• FAO EMPRES-i+ Dashboard: Animal disease events (ASF, H5N1, etc.)
  
  

Global Biosecurity & Health Security News

• Paris Conference on Risks from Mirror Life: This Conference is the first in a series of international meetings that will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and address the feasibility and risks of efforts to develop mirror life, you can watch the symposium recording here.

• U.S.-Backed Biosecurity Initiative in The Black Sea Region: This five-year initiative led by the FAO and supported by U.S. funding trained over 900 veterinary professionals across nine Black Sea nations. It modernized national surveillance systems for transboundary animal diseases, targeting 6 priority pathogens.

• UK Pledges £1 Billion for National Biosecurity Centre: The UK government announced a £1 billion investment to build a National Biosecurity Centre in Surrey, due to be operational by 2033–34. It will focus on detecting and managing threats from zoonotic diseases. The center will also coordinate with global institutions to ensure early warning systems and scientific response capabilities.

• H20 Summit in Geneva, Switzerland: The H20 Summit, held on 19-20 June 2025 in Geneva and co-hosted by WHO, gathered G20/G7 leaders, health experts, and global stakeholders to explore partnerships and public trust in global health. The summit focused on delivering concrete recommendations to accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration and political commitment.

• NATO Invests in Biotech to Counter Biothreats: NATO’s Innovation Fund has made its first biotech investment, co-leading a $35M round for UK-based Portal Biotech, which uses AI-driven protein sequencing to detect engineered pathogens. Its portable tech enables rapid, on-site biosecurity monitoring for disease threats and pandemic prevention.

• Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue (Council on Strategic Risks): This high-level dialogue gathered NATO members, scientists, and policy leaders to align on early detection and cross-border response to biological threats. Sessions focused on integrating emerging technologies, AI risks, and resilience strategies under the Global Biosecurity Agenda framework.

Reports/Publications

• Quantitative models of AI-driven bioterrorism and lab leak biorisk by Adam Jones: This working paper introduces mathematical models to assess the likelihood and potential impacts of AI-enabled bioterrorism and lab leak scenarios. The outputs showed that lab leaks might be ~2000x as likely to cause a pandemic than bioterrorism. Where even after AI amplification, lab leaks remain 150x more likely.

• Dual use and gain-of-function research: a significant endeavor with biosecurity imperatives: The essay supports continuing gain-of-function research for pandemic preparedness but stresses the need for strict global oversight, enhanced biosafety, and ethical review to prevent misuse and accidental release. It calls for a robust international framework to balance scientific benefits with biosecurity risks.

• From coop to cave: Inside the high-tech hunt for H5N1 and Disease X: This in-depth report follows scientists in Cambodia using air sampling technology to detect deadly zoonotic pathogens like H5N1 bird flu and potential Disease X in wet markets and bat caves. With Cambodia seeing a spike in human bird flu cases, including child deaths, innovative tools like portable air samplers and mobile labs offer safer, faster, and more affordable disease surveillance, marking a shift in global pandemic preparedness.

• Data and AI-Enabled Biological Design: RAND explores the dual-use risks of AI models trained on biological data, warning they could be misused to design harmful pathogens. It recommends stronger governance of data access, model training, and cross-sector collaboration to balance innovation with biosecurity.

• CEPI Biosafety and Biosecurity Request for Proposals: CEPI's Biosafety and Biosecurity Strengthening (BSS) Framework RfP invites partners to support its 100 Days Mission by enhancing global biosafety infrastructure, training, and biosecurity governance. The initiative seeks implementation partners across three focus areas, infrastructure support, training and risk management, and event organization, with a goal of enabling safe, equitable, and rapid vaccine R&D against emerging pathogens.

• Considerations for use of avian influenza A(‎H5)‎ vaccines during the interpandemic and emergence periods: this report provides guidance on the characteristics, safety, immunogenicity, and potential strategies for using A(H5) vaccines in humans, especially in light of increasing zoonotic spillovers. It outlines vaccine options for various risk groups and highlights the need for preparedness, cross-sectoral coordination, and further research to inform pandemic planning and response.

• Forecasting Biosecurity Risks from LLMs: This study surveyed biosecurity experts and superforecasters on the risks frontier AI models pose to biosecurity. Experts predict that advanced AI could significantly increase the risk of large-scale human-caused epidemics but tend to underestimate how soon such AI capabilities will emerge, some of which already exist. Encouragingly, they believe effective safeguards, like nucleic acid screening and AI model controls, could largely mitigate these risks.

Opportunities

Jobs

• CSER Jobs (Deadline: midnight (BST) on Sunday 6 July 2025)

  • Research Associate (Fixed Term): CSER is looking for a Research Associate to improve our understanding of how AI may deliberately or accidentally affect biosecurity risk. They particularly welcome applicants with a PhD in a relevant technical discipline (including but not limited to biology, computer science, engineering, population health, modelling) and an interest in policy.

  • Research Assistant (Part-Time, Fixed Term): Support the Centre Director, Prof. S.M. Amadae, on research into AI governance, nuclear security, and catastrophic risk. This position offers the opportunity to strengthen skills across a range of activities, including academic writing, presenting to senior stakeholders, and grant writing.

• Plant Biology / Pathology Methods Consultants at SecureBio: This role involves evaluating how effectively AI assistants support plant molecular biology and plant pathology lab tasks, particularly in troubleshooting. You'll collaborate with biologists, contribute your practical lab or field experience with plant pathogens, and work remotely on a flexible, per-task basis. No deadline specified, start date ASAP.

• Project Lead at Oxford Biosecurity Group: Have a specific project idea, or would you like to develop one over the next 3 months? Call for biosecurity project proposals starting October 20 to December 13, 2025. Between 1 and 3 projects will be selected. Researcher applications open mid-September (approx. Sept 15-Oct 5). Projects should have high impact, involve 3+ remote researchers, and have a budget of up to £100 for expenses, with possible additional funding. Deadline: 7 July 2025.

• Technical Consultant at ARIA’s Proactive Biodefense Program: A 4-week (extendable) consulting role with the UK’s ARIA to help design a "Proactive Biodefense" R&D program focused on preventing pandemics. The consultant will explore innovative, broad biosecurity ideas in a fast-moving environment. Suitable for experts in biosecurity, virology, bioinformatics, or AI safety. Remote and part-time options available. Deadline: 8 July 2025.

• Cause Area Lead – Global Catastrophic Risks at Founders Pledge: They're hiring a Cause Area Lead for Global Catastrophic Risks to guide strategy, lead a small team, and co-manage major grant funds. It’s a remote, research-leadership role with significant grantmaking influence, preferably based in the US, UK, or Germany. Deadline: 3:00pm BST, 9 July 2025.
  
  

Events

• EA Summit in the Philippines: Happening on 27 September 2025 at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, this one-day event brings together Filipinos interested in using evidence and compassion to do the most good. Open to both newcomers and those working in areas like global health, animal welfare, or AI safety, the summit fosters meaningful ideas and action. A biosecurity-specific section will be included, with details to be announced closer to the date. Apply here.

• BIOHK2025: Happening on 10-13 September 2025. The premier biotechnology conference and exhibition in Asia that brings together global biotech leaders, innovators, and stakeholders. Dive into the world of groundbreaking advancements, connect with industry experts, and explore new frontier in biotechnology. Get your ticket here!

• SBA.4 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa will be held in Kigali, Rwanda on 23 July 2025, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and policy to discuss the intersection of synthetic biology, AI, and biosecurity. Key topics include sustainable agriculture, health, environmental solutions, biomanufacturing, and biosafety, with a focus on advancing Africa’s bioeconomy, health systems, and environmental resilience. The event will feature keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions, providing a platform for collaboration and innovation. Get your ticket here!

• One Young World Leading Summit 2025 in Germany – A global summit in Munich from 03 to 06 November 2025 for young leaders aged 18–30 addressing major global challenges through collaboration and innovation. Apply by 07 July 2025

• 2025 Discover Vancouver Cultural Program (Fully Funded) – A cultural exchange program in Vancouver for globally minded individuals with an interest in Canadian culture, especially content creators and storytellers. Program runs from 26 to 29 August 2025. Apply by 31 July 2025

Upskilling/Fellowships

• Synthetic Nucleic Acid Technology: The Biosecurity Landscape: This call for papers invites contributions on biosecurity challenges and approaches in the era of synthetic nucleic acid technology. As advances in synthesis transform biotech, they raise pressing technical, ethical, and policy concerns. Topics include governance, order screening, risk from novel or extinct pathogens, global democratization, and regulatory frameworks. Submissions from diverse fields are encouraged to explore how to safely and effectively manage these powerful tools. Manuscript summary submission due on 4 September 2025.

• WHO Learning – Dual-Use Research and Responsible Use of Life Sciences – Free self-paced course exploring dual-use research and bio-risk mitigation across the One Health spectrum; open now, no deadline.

• University of Birmingham – PhD Opportunities in Microbiology and Infection – Doctoral programs open to candidates interested in infectious disease research and antimicrobial resistance; applications accepted on a rolling basis.

• NTI’s Ninth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition: This competition empowers emerging biosecurity leaders to contribute innovative ideas to the global biosecurity community. This year’s question: “How should we define ‘biological weapons’ in an evolving threat landscape, and what actions should the international community take to mitigate their risks?”. Submissions are due by 13 July 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Why no network updates?

You might have noticed no official network updates in this newsletter — that doesn’t mean nothing’s happening! We’re currently keeping this space focused on the latest biosecurity news, opportunities, and regional insights. For updates on our network’s activities, collaborations, and upcoming events, be sure to subscribe!

Thank you for staying connected with SEA Bio!

We hope next month brings fewer outbreaks and more breakthroughs! 🙂‍↕️

See you next month, and we hope you have a wonderful start to the second half of the year!