Steph Batalis
@stephbatalis.bsky.social
Biotech/Biosecurity Research Fellow at CSET Georgetown, PhD in biochem from Wake Forest. Lover of science storytelling and watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Views are my own.
Reposted by Steph Batalis
📊New Data Snapshot
NIH funding helps fuel innovation directly — resulting in 84,000 U.S. patents — but its impact is felt much more broadly.
Almost half of all research areas in the global patent landscape contain NIH-funded research. cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
NIH funding helps fuel innovation directly — resulting in 84,000 U.S. patents — but its impact is felt much more broadly.
Almost half of all research areas in the global patent landscape contain NIH-funded research. cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
The NIH's Impact on Research and Innovation | Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Data Snapshots are informative descriptions and quick analyses that dig into CSET’s unique data resources. This three-part series introduces CSET’s patent clusters, which connect related patents throu...
cset.georgetown.edu
August 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
📊New Data Snapshot
NIH funding helps fuel innovation directly — resulting in 84,000 U.S. patents — but its impact is felt much more broadly.
Almost half of all research areas in the global patent landscape contain NIH-funded research. cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
NIH funding helps fuel innovation directly — resulting in 84,000 U.S. patents — but its impact is felt much more broadly.
Almost half of all research areas in the global patent landscape contain NIH-funded research. cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
Reposted by Steph Batalis
The plan also promotes and emphasizes the importance of scientific, including biological, datasets- in line with @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social recommendations for the plan, which you can read here: cset.georgetown.edu/publication/..., and with other CSET work: cset.georgetown.edu/publication/....
CSET's Recommendations for an AI Action Plan | Center for Security and Emerging Technology
In response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's request for input on an AI Action Plan, CSET provides key recommendations for advancing AI research, ensuring U.S. competitiveness, and max...
cset.georgetown.edu
July 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
The plan also promotes and emphasizes the importance of scientific, including biological, datasets- in line with @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social recommendations for the plan, which you can read here: cset.georgetown.edu/publication/..., and with other CSET work: cset.georgetown.edu/publication/....
Reposted by Steph Batalis
Focusing on bio, one provision is a federal funding requirement for DNA synthesis screening- a useful tool in the toolbox for limiting biological risk.
Check out @stephbatalis.bsky.social and I's piece breaking down the kind of decisions screeners have to make: thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
Check out @stephbatalis.bsky.social and I's piece breaking down the kind of decisions screeners have to make: thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
How to stop bioterrorists from buying dangerous DNA
The companies that sell synthesized DNA to scientists need to screen their customers, lest dangerous sequences for pathogens or toxins fall into the wrong hands.
thebulletin.org
July 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Focusing on bio, one provision is a federal funding requirement for DNA synthesis screening- a useful tool in the toolbox for limiting biological risk.
Check out @stephbatalis.bsky.social and I's piece breaking down the kind of decisions screeners have to make: thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
Check out @stephbatalis.bsky.social and I's piece breaking down the kind of decisions screeners have to make: thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
Reposted by Steph Batalis
On Tuesday, scientists held an event organized by House Democrats in which they stood in front of posters outlining their work — and the federal cuts that now threaten it.
Canceled grants get the spotlight at a Capitol Hill 'science fair'
On Tuesday, scientists held an event organized by House Democrats in which they stood in front of posters outlining their work — and the federal cuts that now threaten it.
n.pr
July 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
On Tuesday, scientists held an event organized by House Democrats in which they stood in front of posters outlining their work — and the federal cuts that now threaten it.
Reposted by Steph Batalis
Antimicrobial resistance is a huge issue and an oft-forgotten killer. It kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS or malaria.
This article is fascinating- it points out that while much of the AMR prevention discussion focuses on overuse of antimicrobials, underuse can also be a major issue.
This article is fascinating- it points out that while much of the AMR prevention discussion focuses on overuse of antimicrobials, underuse can also be a major issue.
June 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Antimicrobial resistance is a huge issue and an oft-forgotten killer. It kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS or malaria.
This article is fascinating- it points out that while much of the AMR prevention discussion focuses on overuse of antimicrobials, underuse can also be a major issue.
This article is fascinating- it points out that while much of the AMR prevention discussion focuses on overuse of antimicrobials, underuse can also be a major issue.
Reposted by Steph Batalis
Amidst all the discussion about AI safety, how exactly do we figure out whether a model is safe?
There's no perfect method, but safety evaluations are the best tool we have.
That said, different evals answer different questions about a model!
There's no perfect method, but safety evaluations are the best tool we have.
That said, different evals answer different questions about a model!
⚖️ New Explainer!
Effectively evaluating AI models is more crucial than ever. But how do AI evaluations actually work?
In their new explainer,
@jessicaji.bsky.social, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social &
@stephbatalis.bsky.social break down the different fundamental types of AI safety evaluations.
Effectively evaluating AI models is more crucial than ever. But how do AI evaluations actually work?
In their new explainer,
@jessicaji.bsky.social, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social &
@stephbatalis.bsky.social break down the different fundamental types of AI safety evaluations.
May 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Amidst all the discussion about AI safety, how exactly do we figure out whether a model is safe?
There's no perfect method, but safety evaluations are the best tool we have.
That said, different evals answer different questions about a model!
There's no perfect method, but safety evaluations are the best tool we have.
That said, different evals answer different questions about a model!
"Red-teaming" isn't a catch-all term (or methodology!) to evaluate AI safety. So, what else do we have in the toolbox?
In our recent blog post, we explore the different questions we can ask about safety, how we can start to measure them, and what it means for AIxBio. Check it out! ⬇️
In our recent blog post, we explore the different questions we can ask about safety, how we can start to measure them, and what it means for AIxBio. Check it out! ⬇️
⚖️ New Explainer!
Effectively evaluating AI models is more crucial than ever. But how do AI evaluations actually work?
In their new explainer,
@jessicaji.bsky.social, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social &
@stephbatalis.bsky.social break down the different fundamental types of AI safety evaluations.
Effectively evaluating AI models is more crucial than ever. But how do AI evaluations actually work?
In their new explainer,
@jessicaji.bsky.social, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social &
@stephbatalis.bsky.social break down the different fundamental types of AI safety evaluations.
May 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"Red-teaming" isn't a catch-all term (or methodology!) to evaluate AI safety. So, what else do we have in the toolbox?
In our recent blog post, we explore the different questions we can ask about safety, how we can start to measure them, and what it means for AIxBio. Check it out! ⬇️
In our recent blog post, we explore the different questions we can ask about safety, how we can start to measure them, and what it means for AIxBio. Check it out! ⬇️
News like this isn't just a concern for public health practitioners - it should also be a big red flag for U.S. national security folks.
America's biodefense strategy uses robust health infrastructure to deter bad actors. Right now, we're tearing down our own defenses so adversaries don't have to.
America's biodefense strategy uses robust health infrastructure to deter bad actors. Right now, we're tearing down our own defenses so adversaries don't have to.
It appears Sec. Kennedy is getting ready to over-ride vaccine policy experts & scrub Covid shot recommendations for children, teens & pregnant people. Having a HHS secretary reset vaccine policy without hearings or expert advice is unprecedented, experts tell STAT. www.statnews.com/2025/05/15/c...
HHS to stop recommending routine Covid shots for children, pregnant people, RFK Jr. ally says
A change in recommending Covid vaccines for children and pregnant women would circumvent an expert panel but please many MAHA fans.
www.statnews.com
May 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
News like this isn't just a concern for public health practitioners - it should also be a big red flag for U.S. national security folks.
America's biodefense strategy uses robust health infrastructure to deter bad actors. Right now, we're tearing down our own defenses so adversaries don't have to.
America's biodefense strategy uses robust health infrastructure to deter bad actors. Right now, we're tearing down our own defenses so adversaries don't have to.
Reposted by Steph Batalis
A Trump executive order calls for putting an end to "dangerous gain-of-function research" -- prompting experts to share concerns about its potential impact on infectious disease research. @stephbatalis.bsky.social @raz524.bsky.social
www.medpagetoday.com/special-repo...
www.medpagetoday.com/special-repo...
Trump's Gain-of-Function Order Prompts Questions
It comes as another guidance was set to take effect
www.medpagetoday.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A Trump executive order calls for putting an end to "dangerous gain-of-function research" -- prompting experts to share concerns about its potential impact on infectious disease research. @stephbatalis.bsky.social @raz524.bsky.social
www.medpagetoday.com/special-repo...
www.medpagetoday.com/special-repo...
This has only become more relevant in the past week. Research cuts, new hurdles for vaccine trials, and tariffs on key medical countermeasures aren’t just risking Americans' health—they’re dismantling U.S. biodefense so our adversaries don’t have to.
@defenseone.bsky.social
@defenseone.bsky.social
🚨 Latest op-ed is out in Defense One!
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
America’s response to measles is eroding its ability to deter biological attacks
The rising death toll for a preventable disease reveals just how ill-prepared the country is to handle a malicious bioweapon.
www.defenseone.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This has only become more relevant in the past week. Research cuts, new hurdles for vaccine trials, and tariffs on key medical countermeasures aren’t just risking Americans' health—they’re dismantling U.S. biodefense so our adversaries don’t have to.
@defenseone.bsky.social
@defenseone.bsky.social
The Pandora Report is easily one of my favorite newsletters right now. A great one-stop shop for timely health + biosecurity policy news, especially with too many “Breaking News” alerts flying around fight now to follow. Plus, it always sends me down rabbit holes with great links. Highly recommend.
Pandora Report 5.2.2025
This week's Pandora Report includes a new opportunity to learn about GMU's Biodefense MS program, publication of a new PRC whitepaper on COVID-19 origins, discussion of the impact of Trump administration's second first 100 days on public health, and more.
pandorareport.org
This week's Pandora Report includes a new opportunity to learn about GMU's Biodefense MS program, publication of a new PRC whitepaper on COVID-19 origins, discussion of the impact of Trump administration's second first 100 days on public health, and more.
pandorareport.org
The Pandora Report
Where Science Meets Security
pandorareport.org
May 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Pandora Report is easily one of my favorite newsletters right now. A great one-stop shop for timely health + biosecurity policy news, especially with too many “Breaking News” alerts flying around fight now to follow. Plus, it always sends me down rabbit holes with great links. Highly recommend.
🚨 Latest op-ed is out in Defense One!
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
America’s response to measles is eroding its ability to deter biological attacks
The rising death toll for a preventable disease reveals just how ill-prepared the country is to handle a malicious bioweapon.
www.defenseone.com
May 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
🚨 Latest op-ed is out in Defense One!
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
“Dismantling critical preparedness offices, cutting infrastructure and funding, and allowing misinformation to derail the response are not just bad for healthcare—they’re dangerous national security signals.”
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
Reposted by Steph Batalis
When customers order synthesized DNA, how do companies know whether it's safe to send?
For @thebulletin.org, CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social & @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social explore what it takes to keep things safe. thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
For @thebulletin.org, CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social & @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social explore what it takes to keep things safe. thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
How to stop bioterrorists from buying dangerous DNA
The companies that sell synthesized DNA to scientists need to screen their customers, lest dangerous sequences for pathogens or toxins fall into the wrong hands.
thebulletin.org
April 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
When customers order synthesized DNA, how do companies know whether it's safe to send?
For @thebulletin.org, CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social & @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social explore what it takes to keep things safe. thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
For @thebulletin.org, CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social & @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social explore what it takes to keep things safe. thebulletin.org/2025/04/how-...
In our latest piece for @thebulletin.org, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social and I put YOU, the reader, in the shoes of a 🧬DNA synthesis provider🧬 to demonstrate how much tougher customer screening is than it may seem, and why guidance would be helpful for providers trying to make tricky decisions.⬇️
Companies that sell synthesized DNA need to screen their customers, lest sequences for pathogens or toxins fall into the wrong hands.
How? Here are three recommendations.
"How to stop bioterrorists from buying dangerous DNA," by @stephbatalis.bsky.social and @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social. ⬇️
How? Here are three recommendations.
"How to stop bioterrorists from buying dangerous DNA," by @stephbatalis.bsky.social and @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social. ⬇️
How to stop bioterrorists from buying dangerous DNA
The companies that sell synthesized DNA to scientists need to screen their customers, lest dangerous sequences for pathogens or toxins fall into the wrong hands.
thebulletin.org
April 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In our latest piece for @thebulletin.org, @vikramvenkatram.bsky.social and I put YOU, the reader, in the shoes of a 🧬DNA synthesis provider🧬 to demonstrate how much tougher customer screening is than it may seem, and why guidance would be helpful for providers trying to make tricky decisions.⬇️
"We all rely on science [...] Businesses and farmers rely on science and engineering for product innovation, technological advances, and weather forecasting. Science helps humanity protect the planet and keeps pollutants and toxins out of our air, water, and food."
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Public Statement on Supporting Science for the Benefit of All Citizens
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive acr...
docs.google.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:33 PM
"We all rely on science [...] Businesses and farmers rely on science and engineering for product innovation, technological advances, and weather forecasting. Science helps humanity protect the planet and keeps pollutants and toxins out of our air, water, and food."
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Steph Batalis
NEW: Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)& Trump's former NatSec Advisor Matt Pottinger make the case that funding for scientific R&D isn't a gift to academia. It's vital to U.S. national security, as China, the United States' primary strategic adversary, is already investing heavily in R&D.
shorturl.at/PgUK0
shorturl.at/PgUK0
Opinion | Funding for R&D isn’t a gift to academia
Investing in scientific research and development is vital to U.S. security.
shorturl.at
March 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM
NEW: Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)& Trump's former NatSec Advisor Matt Pottinger make the case that funding for scientific R&D isn't a gift to academia. It's vital to U.S. national security, as China, the United States' primary strategic adversary, is already investing heavily in R&D.
shorturl.at/PgUK0
shorturl.at/PgUK0
Not only this, but most of the NIH research was to ID biological targets/causes of disease rather than direct drug development—work that often isn't in the domain of the private sector. Cutting federal funding would mean less of the foundational science that makes future breakthroughs possible.
This report shows that NIH funding contributed to published research associated with every one of the 210 new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration from 2010–2016. Collectively, this research involved >200,000 years of grant funding totaling more than $100 billion.
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
April 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Not only this, but most of the NIH research was to ID biological targets/causes of disease rather than direct drug development—work that often isn't in the domain of the private sector. Cutting federal funding would mean less of the foundational science that makes future breakthroughs possible.
Reposted by Steph Batalis
A beautiful day and the scientists just wanna science, man.
March 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
A beautiful day and the scientists just wanna science, man.
TLDR: We can’t try to gain global leadership *and* destabilize our NIH/NSF funding edge.
We aren’t just at risk of losing out on essential scientific advances. The global leader also gets to set global norms, shape future tech, and a HUGE economic advantage.
eto.tech/blog/federal...
We aren’t just at risk of losing out on essential scientific advances. The global leader also gets to set global norms, shape future tech, and a HUGE economic advantage.
eto.tech/blog/federal...
Federal funding underpins American research across 'hot' AI + bio research clusters – Emerging Technology Observatory
As China challenges, NIH and NSF funds play a key role in U.S. research efforts
eto.tech
February 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
TLDR: We can’t try to gain global leadership *and* destabilize our NIH/NSF funding edge.
We aren’t just at risk of losing out on essential scientific advances. The global leader also gets to set global norms, shape future tech, and a HUGE economic advantage.
eto.tech/blog/federal...
We aren’t just at risk of losing out on essential scientific advances. The global leader also gets to set global norms, shape future tech, and a HUGE economic advantage.
eto.tech/blog/federal...
I was asked on a panel yesterday what keeps me up at night: It’s this.👇 Even though my day job is to think about bioweapons + bad actors, THIS is what has me fearful. The long tail of this could undermine bio/med innovation, public health infrastructure, and the economies built on them for decades.
NEW: The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep funding frozen at the NIH - a move that some legal scholars say is illegal.
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Revealed: NIH research grants still frozen despite lawsuits challenging Trump order
The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep a funding freeze in place, leaving researchers in limbo.
www.nature.com
February 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I was asked on a panel yesterday what keeps me up at night: It’s this.👇 Even though my day job is to think about bioweapons + bad actors, THIS is what has me fearful. The long tail of this could undermine bio/med innovation, public health infrastructure, and the economies built on them for decades.
At a time of intense global competition, reducing funding to NIH and NSF isn’t just a budget issue. It’s a strategic misstep that could undermine U.S. influence in biotech and AI for decades.
Read more in my recent post with CSET's ETO👇
Read more in my recent post with CSET's ETO👇
🧪✨New blog post✨🧪 How NIH and NSF funding powers American research at the leading edge of AI and bio, as China challenges for leadership - a guest analysis from CSET's very own @stephbatalis.bsky.social using Map of Science data eto.tech/blog/federal...
Federal funding underpins American research across 'hot' AI + bio research clusters – Emerging Technology Observatory
As China challenges, NIH and NSF funds play a key role in U.S. research efforts
eto.tech
February 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
At a time of intense global competition, reducing funding to NIH and NSF isn’t just a budget issue. It’s a strategic misstep that could undermine U.S. influence in biotech and AI for decades.
Read more in my recent post with CSET's ETO👇
Read more in my recent post with CSET's ETO👇
Evo 2's release yesterday isn’t just impressive (though it is!)—it’s also making waves in the AIxBio policy space as the largest fully-open biological AI model to date. 🧬
⬇️Here are a few policy implications I’ll be keeping an eye on:
⬇️Here are a few policy implications I’ll be keeping an eye on:
Announcing Evo 2: The largest publicly available, AI model for biology to date, capable of understanding and designing genetic code across all three domains of life. t.co/1Zt6gQ74SA
February 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Evo 2's release yesterday isn’t just impressive (though it is!)—it’s also making waves in the AIxBio policy space as the largest fully-open biological AI model to date. 🧬
⬇️Here are a few policy implications I’ll be keeping an eye on:
⬇️Here are a few policy implications I’ll be keeping an eye on:
My favorite thing about working at @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social? Learning something new every day from the experts I'm lucky enough to sit next to - from cybersecurity to AI evals to export controls (and more!)
Don’t take it from me - join the virtual CSET water cooler here: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Don’t take it from me - join the virtual CSET water cooler here: bsky.app/starter-pack...
January 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My favorite thing about working at @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social? Learning something new every day from the experts I'm lucky enough to sit next to - from cybersecurity to AI evals to export controls (and more!)
Don’t take it from me - join the virtual CSET water cooler here: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Don’t take it from me - join the virtual CSET water cooler here: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Reposted by Steph Batalis
The dogs of Dupont Circle in the snow this morning! @capitalweather.bsky.social #dcsnow #dmvsnow #dcsnow2025 a
January 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The dogs of Dupont Circle in the snow this morning! @capitalweather.bsky.social #dcsnow #dmvsnow #dcsnow2025 a
The US has work to do to get ahead in biotech and AI - and building a safe and resilient innovation ecosystem will also require us to balance advances with safeguards. Glad for the opportunity to put together a starting point in my new report for CSET, below!⬇️
Biological threats from pathogens and toxins can cause significant and widespread harm, regardless of whether they are natural, engineered, intentional, or unintentional.
Our new report by CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social explains more 🧬🧪 cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
Our new report by CSET's @stephbatalis.bsky.social explains more 🧬🧪 cset.georgetown.edu/publication/...
Anticipating Biological Risk: A Toolkit for Strategic Biosecurity Policy | Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools pose exciting possibilities to advance scientific, biomedical, and public health research. At the same time, these tools have raised concerns about their potential t...
cset.georgetown.edu
December 13, 2024 at 5:03 PM
The US has work to do to get ahead in biotech and AI - and building a safe and resilient innovation ecosystem will also require us to balance advances with safeguards. Glad for the opportunity to put together a starting point in my new report for CSET, below!⬇️