Welcome to Series 1: Enhancing Public Health Security and Resilience—the first part of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)’s four-part Whole-of-Government Virtual Research and Development (R&D) Showcase!
This series will highlight how U.S. government R&D investments are accelerating reopening and recovery efforts, restoring public confidence, and keeping our front-line workforce safe and protected. Learn where our government is investing in research, science, and innovation to provide impactful solutions in areas of safeguarding transportation, public health, and emergency response. This first part of the four-part series will discuss what is needed to directly enhance the nation’s public health, national security, and economic recovery.
Expert Panel 1: Preparing for the Next Pandemic—As the threat of COVID-19 emerged, experts across S&T and within our laboratory network mobilized immediately to conduct research that would quickly translate into real-time results and actionable guidance. As the battle against this global pandemic rages on, questions continually arise about how to prepare for a future pandemic. This panel will discuss how a “One Health” approach can help prepare for possible future public health emergencies.
Expert Panel 2: Detecting Public Health Threats through Wastewater Surveillance—Wastewater can play an important role in gathering health data and acting as an early warning system. This capability can detect SARS-CoV-2 virus 4-10 days before people start to show symptoms of exposure to COVID-19. Join us as experts discuss how data science, standards, technology, and infrastructure, can come together to help inform effective response efforts in communities.
Expert Panel 3: Opioids Detection and Partnerships: Responding to a Public Health Crisis—The opioid crisis continues to rise in the COVID-era. Communities, and particularly first responders, are at great risk and require new capabilities to protect their health and safety. To answer this call to action, S&T is partnering with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to enhance field detection of synthetic opioids and other drugs in real-time. Learn how your hometown will benefit from these efforts in the battle against opioids.
Expert Panel 4: Securing the Nation’s Public Transit against COVID-19 and other Threats—Understanding the spread of COVID-19 in our transit systems is key to our nation re-opening safely. S&T joined a research team that conducted testing in New York City as part of the Urban Security Initiative, a broader effort to detect hazards. This panel will discuss the value of this effort in the fight against COVID-19 and future mitigation efforts against threats—be they natural, accidental, or intentional.
EBook
This companion document offers a glimpse of the exciting efforts discussed in our expert panel discussions. View the downloadable PDF to learn about vital S&T research in safeguarding public transit, detecting public health threats through wastewater surveillance, preparing for the next pandemic, and opioids detection and partnerships.
Related Stories
The resources listed offer additional information on various S&T research efforts related to safeguarding public transit, detecting public health threats through wastewater surveillance, preparing for the next pandemic, and opioids detection and partnerships.
1.1 Preparing for the Next Pandemic
- Joselito Ignacio, Public Health Advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Domenic (Nick) Bianchini, Senior Advisor, Requirements and Capability Analysis, Transportation Security Administration
- Robert Fisher, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense and Pandemic Influenza, Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Lloyd Hough, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor & Lead of Hazard Awareness and Characterization Technology Center, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
- John Verrico, Chief of Media & Community Relations, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
1.2 Detecting Public Health Threats through Wastewater Surveillance
- Ted Smith, Professor, Environmental Medicine at the University of Louisville
- Phil Mattson, Standards Executive, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
- Amy Kirby, Ph.D. MPH, Program Lead, National Wastewater Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Nancy Lin, Group Leader, Biomaterials Group, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Jay Garland, Associate Director for Research, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1.3 Opioids Detection and Partnerships: Responding to a Public Health Crisis
- Rosanna Anderson, Ph.D., Program Manager, Opioid Detection and First Responder Capabilities, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
- Phil Mattson, Standards Executive, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
- Richard Ozanich, Project Manager, Opioids Standards and Equipment Testing, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
- Col. Thomas Synan, Chief of Police, Newtown Police Department, Ohio and Co-Chair Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition
- John Verrico, Chief of Media & Community Relations, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
1.4 Securing the Nation’s Public Transit against COVID-19 and other Threats
- Mark Dowd, Chief Innovation Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City
- Michael Berube, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
- Shawn Ryan, Director, Homeland Security Research Program, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Don Bansleben, Ph.D., Program Manager, Office of Mission Capability and Support, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate