Biosecurity Organizations
Biosecurity Organizations
Overview and comparison of organizations working on biosecurity and pandemic preparedness relevant to AI-era biological risks. Open Philanthropy has directed over $90M to organizations in this set alone, making it the dominant funder in EA-aligned biosecurity.
Overview
The biosecurity organizational landscape relevant to AI-era risks spans established institutions with decades of policy influence, EA-funded startups building novel technical infrastructure, and traditional international partnerships operating at billion-dollar scale. These organizations collectively address the growing convergence of AI capabilities and biological risks through approaches ranging from DNA synthesis screening to pathogen surveillance to vaccine development.
The funding landscape is heavily shaped by Coefficient GivingOrganizationOpen PhilanthropyOpen Philanthropy rebranded to Coefficient Giving in November 2025. See the Coefficient Giving page for current information., which has directed over $90M to organizations in this set. Outside EA, CEPIOrganizationCoalition for Epidemic Preparedness InnovationsCEPI is an international vaccine development partnership founded in 2017 that addresses market failures in pandemic preparedness by funding vaccines for diseases with limited commercial viability. ...Quality: 53/100 operates at a fundamentally different scale ($760M+ raised, $3.5B five-year plan) but focuses primarily on natural pandemic threats rather than deliberate misuse.
Identity and Approach
| Organization | Founded | Approach | Threat Focus | Key Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JHU CHSOrganizationJohns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityThe Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is a well-established biosecurity organization that has significantly influenced US policy on pandemic preparedness and biological threats, with recent ...Quality: 63/100 | 1998 | Detect, Governance | Both | Event 201 pandemic simulation; WHO Collaborating Centre |
| CEPIOrganizationCoalition for Epidemic Preparedness InnovationsCEPI is an international vaccine development partnership founded in 2017 that addresses market failures in pandemic preparedness by funding vaccines for diseases with limited commercial viability. ...Quality: 53/100 | 2017 | Defend | Natural | 8 authorized COVID vaccines; 100 Days Mission |
| NTI | bioOrganizationNTI | bio (Nuclear Threat Initiative - Biological Program)The biosecurity division of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, NTI | bio works to reduce global catastrophic biological risks through DNA synthesis screening, BWC strengthening, the Global Health Secur...Quality: 60/100 | ≈2016 | Delay, Governance | Both | Spawned IBBIS; Global Health Security Index |
| SecureBioOrganizationSecureBioA biosecurity nonprofit applying the Delay/Detect/Defend framework to protect against catastrophic pandemics, including AI-enabled biological threats, through wastewater surveillance (Nucleic Acid ...Quality: 65/100 | 2022 | Delay, Detect, Defend | AI-enabled | Virology Capabilities Test (VCT); Nucleic Acid Observatory |
| SecureDNAOrganizationSecureDNAA Swiss nonprofit foundation providing free, privacy-preserving DNA synthesis screening software using novel cryptographic protocols. Co-founded by Kevin Esvelt and Turing Award winner Andrew Yao, ...Quality: 60/100 | 2022 | Delay | Deliberate | Cryptographic DNA screening at 30bp (exceeds US requirements) |
| CLTROrganizationCentre for Long-Term ResilienceThe Centre for Long-Term Resilience is a UK-based think tank that has demonstrated concrete policy influence on AI and biosecurity risks, including contributing to the UK's AI Strategy and Biologic...Quality: 63/100 | ≈2021 | Governance | Both | UK MoD AI Strategy influence; Biological Security Strategy input |
| Blueprint BiosecurityOrganizationBlueprint BiosecurityAn EA-funded biosecurity nonprofit founded in 2023 by Jake Swett, dedicated to achieving breakthroughs in pandemic prevention through far-UVC germicidal light, next-generation PPE, and glycol vapor...Quality: 60/100 | 2023 | Defend | Natural + deliberate | 266-page far-UVC Blueprint; EXHALE research grants |
| IBBISOrganizationIBBIS (International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science)An independent Swiss foundation launched in February 2024, spun out of NTI | bio, that develops free open-source tools for DNA synthesis screening and works to strengthen international biosecurity ...Quality: 60/100 | 2024 | Delay, Governance | Deliberate | Common Mechanism open-source screening tool |
| 1Day SoonerOrganization1Day SoonerA pandemic preparedness nonprofit originally founded to advocate for COVID-19 human challenge trials, now working on indoor air quality (germicidal UV), advance market commitments for vaccines, hep...Quality: 60/100 | 2020 | Defend, Governance | Natural | UK COVID challenge trial advocacy; air safety report |
| CSROrganizationCouncil on Strategic RisksThe Council on Strategic Risks is a DC-based nonprofit founded in 2017 that focuses on climate-security intersections, strategic weapons, and ecological risks through three research centers. While ...Quality: 38/100 | 2017 | Governance | Systemic | MiRCH climate-military tracker; systemic risk briefings |
| Red Queen BioOrganizationRed Queen BioAn AI biosecurity Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2025 by Nikolai Eroshenko and Hannu Rajaniemi (co-founders of HelixNano), spun out to build defensive biological countermeasures at the pace ...Quality: 55/100 | 2025 | Defend | AI-enabled | None yet (launched Nov 2025) |
Approach uses SecureBioOrganizationSecureBioA biosecurity nonprofit applying the Delay/Detect/Defend framework to protect against catastrophic pandemics, including AI-enabled biological threats, through wastewater surveillance (Nucleic Acid ...Quality: 65/100's Delay/Detect/Defend framework plus Governance. Threat Focus distinguishes natural pandemics, deliberate/engineered threats, and AI-enabled biological risks.
Funding and Assessment
| Organization | EA Funding | OP Funding | Non-EA Funding | Impact | Promise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JHU CHSOrganizationJohns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityThe Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is a well-established biosecurity organization that has significantly influenced US policy on pandemic preparedness and biological threats, with recent ...Quality: 63/100 | >$40M | >$40M | >$23M (CDC, Sloan, DoD) | A | B+ |
| CEPIOrganizationCoalition for Epidemic Preparedness InnovationsCEPI is an international vaccine development partnership founded in 2017 that addresses market failures in pandemic preparedness by funding vaccines for diseases with limited commercial viability. ...Quality: 53/100 | $0 | $0 | $760M+ (govts, Gates, Wellcome) | A | B |
| NTI | bioOrganizationNTI | bio (Nuclear Threat Initiative - Biological Program)The biosecurity division of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, NTI | bio works to reduce global catastrophic biological risks through DNA synthesis screening, BWC strengthening, the Global Health Secur...Quality: 60/100 | >$29M | >$29M | Parent NTI: $250M (Turner) | A- | B+ |
| SecureBioOrganizationSecureBioA biosecurity nonprofit applying the Delay/Detect/Defend framework to protect against catastrophic pandemics, including AI-enabled biological threats, through wastewater surveillance (Nucleic Acid ...Quality: 65/100 | ≈$9.4M | ≈$9.4M | Minimal identified | B+ | A- |
| SecureDNAOrganizationSecureDNAA Swiss nonprofit foundation providing free, privacy-preserving DNA synthesis screening software using novel cryptographic protocols. Co-founded by Kevin Esvelt and Turing Award winner Andrew Yao, ...Quality: 60/100 | Indirect (via SecureBio) | Indirect | Private philanthropy (US, EU, China) | B | B+ |
| CLTROrganizationCentre for Long-Term ResilienceThe Centre for Long-Term Resilience is a UK-based think tank that has demonstrated concrete policy influence on AI and biosecurity risks, including contributing to the UK's AI Strategy and Biologic...Quality: 63/100 | ≈$8M+ | ≈$5M | Private foundations | B | B+ |
| Blueprint BiosecurityOrganizationBlueprint BiosecurityAn EA-funded biosecurity nonprofit founded in 2023 by Jake Swett, dedicated to achieving breakthroughs in pandemic prevention through far-UVC germicidal light, next-generation PPE, and glycol vapor...Quality: 60/100 | ≈$2M | ≈$1.85M | ≈$250K (Vanguard Charitable) | C+ | B+ |
| IBBISOrganizationIBBIS (International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science)An independent Swiss foundation launched in February 2024, spun out of NTI | bio, that develops free open-source tools for DNA synthesis screening and works to strengthen international biosecurity ...Quality: 60/100 | $3M (Founders Pledge) | $0 direct | Paris Peace Forum support | C+ | B |
| 1Day SoonerOrganization1Day SoonerA pandemic preparedness nonprofit originally founded to advocate for COVID-19 human challenge trials, now working on indoor air quality (germicidal UV), advance market commitments for vaccines, hep...Quality: 60/100 | ≈$7.8M | ≈$5.6M | ≈$5M (Schmidt, Packard, etc.) | C+ | B- |
| CSROrganizationCouncil on Strategic RisksThe Council on Strategic Risks is a DC-based nonprofit founded in 2017 that focuses on climate-security intersections, strategic weapons, and ecological risks through three research centers. While ...Quality: 38/100 | $0 | $0 | ≈$3.7M (MacArthur, Mertz Gilmore) | C | C |
| Red Queen BioOrganizationRed Queen BioAn AI biosecurity Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2025 by Nikolai Eroshenko and Hannu Rajaniemi (co-founders of HelixNano), spun out to build defensive biological countermeasures at the pace ...Quality: 55/100 | $0 | $0 | $15M (OpenAI-led seed round) | D | B |
EA Funding includes Coefficient Giving, Founders Pledge, Survival and Flourishing Fund, EA Infrastructure Fund, and Emergent Ventures. Impact reflects demonstrated achievements to date. Promise reflects potential given positioning, approach, and resources. Both use A (highest) through F (lowest).
Rating Rationale
- A/A- impact: JHU CHS (25+ years of policy influence, Event 201, WHO Collaborating Centre), CEPI (8 authorized COVID vaccines, est. 2.7M deaths averted), NTI | bio (spawned IBBIS, GHS Index, Bio Funders Compact)
- B+/B impact: SecureBio (VCT adopted by major AI labs, NAO monitoring 31 sites), SecureDNA (deployed cryptographic screening exceeding US requirements), CLTR (documented UK policy wins on small budget)
- C+/C impact: Blueprint (impressive research output but young), IBBIS (Common Mechanism deployed but only 15% provider adoption), 1Day Sooner (UK challenge trial success, broad portfolio), CSR (traditional think tank, biosecurity not primary focus)
- D impact: Red Queen Bio (launched Nov 2025, no demonstrated output yet)
- A- promise: SecureBio (unique position at AI-bio intersection, VCT becoming industry standard)
- B+ promise: JHU CHS, NTI | bio, SecureDNA, CLTR, Blueprint (each has strong positioning with different risk profiles)
- B promise: CEPI (mature but structural tensions on equity), IBBIS (addresses critical gap), Red Queen Bio (novel thesis, OpenAI backing, but unproven)
Coefficient Giving Concentration
Coefficient GivingOrganizationOpen PhilanthropyOpen Philanthropy rebranded to Coefficient Giving in November 2025. See the Coefficient Giving page for current information. is the dominant funder in EA-aligned biosecurity. Six of the eleven organizations receive OP funding, and for several it constitutes the majority of their budget:
| Organization | OP Funding | % of Org's Total | Grant Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| JHU CHSOrganizationJohns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityThe Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is a well-established biosecurity organization that has significantly influenced US policy on pandemic preparedness and biological threats, with recent ...Quality: 63/100 | >$40M | ≈65% | 2017-2023 |
| NTI | bioOrganizationNTI | bio (Nuclear Threat Initiative - Biological Program)The biosecurity division of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, NTI | bio works to reduce global catastrophic biological risks through DNA synthesis screening, BWC strengthening, the Global Health Secur...Quality: 60/100 | >$29M | Large majority | 2018-2023 |
| SecureBioOrganizationSecureBioA biosecurity nonprofit applying the Delay/Detect/Defend framework to protect against catastrophic pandemics, including AI-enabled biological threats, through wastewater surveillance (Nucleic Acid ...Quality: 65/100 | ≈$9.4M | ≈100% | 2022-2023 |
| 1Day SoonerOrganization1Day SoonerA pandemic preparedness nonprofit originally founded to advocate for COVID-19 human challenge trials, now working on indoor air quality (germicidal UV), advance market commitments for vaccines, hep...Quality: 60/100 | ≈$5.6M | ≈44% | Ongoing |
| CLTROrganizationCentre for Long-Term ResilienceThe Centre for Long-Term Resilience is a UK-based think tank that has demonstrated concrete policy influence on AI and biosecurity risks, including contributing to the UK's AI Strategy and Biologic...Quality: 63/100 | ≈$5M | ≈50% | 2024 |
| Blueprint BiosecurityOrganizationBlueprint BiosecurityAn EA-funded biosecurity nonprofit founded in 2023 by Jake Swett, dedicated to achieving breakthroughs in pandemic prevention through far-UVC germicidal light, next-generation PPE, and glycol vapor...Quality: 60/100 | ≈$1.85M | ≈82% | 2023-2024 |
| Total identified | >$90M |
This concentration creates both strength (coordinated strategy) and risk (single point of funding failure). SecureBio derives nearly 100% of identified funding from Coefficient Giving.
Two organizations operate entirely outside the EA funding ecosystem:
- CEPI: $760M+ from governments and traditional philanthropy. Dwarfs all EA biosecurity funding combined.
- Red Queen Bio: $15M seed round led by OpenAIOrganizationOpenAIComprehensive organizational profile of OpenAI documenting evolution from 2015 non-profit to commercial AGI developer, with detailed analysis of governance crisis, safety researcher exodus (75% of ... — the first major AI lab direct investment in biosecurity infrastructure.
Notable Patterns
Synthesis screening convergence: Three organizations work on DNA synthesis screening with complementary approaches — SecureDNAOrganizationSecureDNAA Swiss nonprofit foundation providing free, privacy-preserving DNA synthesis screening software using novel cryptographic protocols. Co-founded by Kevin Esvelt and Turing Award winner Andrew Yao, ...Quality: 60/100 (cryptographic privacy-preserving tool), IBBISOrganizationIBBIS (International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science)An independent Swiss foundation launched in February 2024, spun out of NTI | bio, that develops free open-source tools for DNA synthesis screening and works to strengthen international biosecurity ...Quality: 60/100 (open-source Common Mechanism + international standards), and NTI | bioOrganizationNTI | bio (Nuclear Threat Initiative - Biological Program)The biosecurity division of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, NTI | bio works to reduce global catastrophic biological risks through DNA synthesis screening, BWC strengthening, the Global Health Secur...Quality: 60/100 (governance advocacy). IBBIS was originally incubated within NTI | bio.
AI lab engagement: The biosecurity field is seeing growing direct engagement from AI labs. OpenAIOrganizationOpenAIComprehensive organizational profile of OpenAI documenting evolution from 2015 non-profit to commercial AGI developer, with detailed analysis of governance crisis, safety researcher exodus (75% of ... led Red Queen Bio's $15M seed round. SecureBioOrganizationSecureBioA biosecurity nonprofit applying the Delay/Detect/Defend framework to protect against catastrophic pandemics, including AI-enabled biological threats, through wastewater surveillance (Nucleic Acid ...Quality: 65/100's VCT is used by major AI labs for pre-release safety evaluations. JHU CHSOrganizationJohns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityThe Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is a well-established biosecurity organization that has significantly influenced US policy on pandemic preparedness and biological threats, with recent ...Quality: 63/100 has convened meetings with OpenAI, AnthropicOrganizationAnthropicComprehensive profile of Anthropic, founded in 2021 by seven former OpenAI researchers (Dario and Daniela Amodei, Chris Olah, Tom Brown, Jack Clark, Jared Kaplan, Sam McCandlish) with early funding..., DeepMind, and others on AIxBio risks.
Age vs. demonstrated impact: The oldest organization (JHU CHS, 1998) has the clearest demonstrated impact, while the newest (Red Queen Bio, 2025) has the most novel thesis but no output yet. This expected pattern makes "promise" ratings more speculative for newer organizations.
Far-UVC convergence: Both Blueprint BiosecurityOrganizationBlueprint BiosecurityAn EA-funded biosecurity nonprofit founded in 2023 by Jake Swett, dedicated to achieving breakthroughs in pandemic prevention through far-UVC germicidal light, next-generation PPE, and glycol vapor...Quality: 60/100 and 1Day SoonerOrganization1Day SoonerA pandemic preparedness nonprofit originally founded to advocate for COVID-19 human challenge trials, now working on indoor air quality (germicidal UV), advance market commitments for vaccines, hep...Quality: 60/100 work on far-UVC/indoor air quality from different angles — Blueprint through comprehensive research and deployment blueprints, 1Day Sooner through policy advocacy and cost-effectiveness analysis with Rethink Priorities.
Key Uncertainties
Key Questions
- ?How would an Coefficient Giving funding reduction affect the biosecurity landscape, given that multiple organizations derive 50-100% of funding from OP?
- ?Will AI lab direct investment in biosecurity (like OpenAI's Red Queen Bio investment) become a significant funding stream, or was this an isolated case?
- ?Can DNA synthesis screening achieve near-universal adoption before benchtop synthesizers make centralized screening obsolete?
- ?Is the current organizational landscape adequate for AI-enabled biological threats, or are there critical capability gaps that existing organizations don't address?
- ?How should the field balance natural pandemic preparedness (CEPI's focus) with deliberate misuse prevention (the EA biosecurity focus)?