Nuclear Threat Initiative receives grant to counter global biological risks

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) will expand its efforts to counter global catastrophic biological risks over the next three years thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the Open Philanthropy Project.

To expand its efforts, NTI hired Jaime Yassif as senior fellow to serve in its biosecurity program. Yassif will be responsible for implementing new projects funded by this grant. She will focus on activities to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention, reduce biological threats from powerful actors, and foster international dialogue and action to reduce catastrophic biological risks.

“We appreciate this support from the Open Philanthropy Project to expand NTI’s work to better understand and reduce high consequence and catastrophic global biological risks. In a changing and increasingly fragmented world, we need to vastly improve our capability to identify and prevent biological events that could cause dramatic global consequences,” Elizabeth Cameron, NTI vice president of Global Biological Policy and Programs, said. “We look forward to welcoming Jaime Yassif to the NTI | bio team as a Senior Fellow, where she will be an excellent addition to our growing biosecurity effort.”

NTI also received grants from the Open Philanthropy Project in October 2017 and July 2018, which the organization used to improve biosecurity and foster a Global Health Security Index.