Janika Schmitt

Nov 19, 2024 | ifp.org | Janika Schmitt |Willy Chertman |Alec Stapp

In the wake of the election, the path forward on biosecurity is unclear, and a lot will depend on who ultimately leads the key federal agencies tasked with fighting infectious disease. And there are reasons for concern: For instance, Trump has said he will disband the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy. In light of ongoing outbreaks like mpox and the spread of H5N1 influenza in American dairy cows, now is not the time to deprioritize pandemic preparedness initiatives.

May 9, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Janika Schmitt

I f H5N1 turns into a full-blown pandemic, we are currently in chapter one. To prevent chapter two from becoming a reality, the most important tool in our arsenal will be widespread testing. Testing isn’t just about diagnosing people with the virus. Containing the spread of this highly pathogenic bird flu strain in cattle hinges on our ability to detect and track it. The H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows is widespread and spans multiple U.S. states.

Apr 3, 2024 | ifp.org | Arielle D'Souza |Janika Schmitt

RecommendationsSimilar to how September 11th changed the U.S. conception of homeland security, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our approach to pathogen early warning. In response to the pandemic, investments in early warning and biosurveillance occurred across the federal government.

Nov 9, 2023 | ifp.org | Janika Schmitt

Anticipate and mitigate downside riskARPA-H is willing to take significant technical risks, acknowledging that cutting-edge technologies can fail due to unexpected obstacles. However, the risk landscape extends beyond technical risks, and includes misperceptions, accidents, or misuse (HQ10). We agree with ARPA-H that those who spearhead novel technologies and capabilities will be the first to encounter these risks – and possess the opportunity to address them.