Dr Tara O’Toole: The CIA, National Security And Preventing The Next Pandemic
Ira Pastor, ideaXme exponential health ambassador and founder of Bioquark interviews Dr. Tara O’Toole, Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow at In-Q-Tel.
During the course of this interview, at 44:41, Dr. O’Toole receives breaking news that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has determined the 2019 Coronavirus to be a significant threat, therefore authorizing the emergency use of in-vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of the novel coronavirus.
Ira Pastor Comments:
We have a fascinating show today focused on a very timely topic.
On a few past episodes we’ve explored the topic of viruses from different angles — from the somewhat benign (where we discussed the “good” human virome and Hepatitis G co-infection) to the less benign (where we discussed chronic herpes, simplex II infection and potential links to neuro-degeneration), to the downright nasty (where we’ve talked about Ebola).
But we have not yet talked about the emergent viruses (i.e. Coronavirus), unknown viruses, or for that matter the “intentionally malevolent.”
Dr. Tara O’Toole Links Cutting-Edge Technologies to National Security Agencies
Dr. Tara O’Toole is an Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow at In-Q-Tel, which is a private, non-profit strategic investment firm that links the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other components of the US Intelligence Community with venture-backed start-up firms on the leading edge of technological innovation.
Dr. O’Toole is leading a strategic In-Q-Tel initiative called B.Next to explore opportunities and risks likely to arise in the next decade as a result of advances in the biological sciences and biotechnologies, with a particular focus on detection of, and defense against biological attacks.
Prior to joining In-Q-Tel, Dr. O’Toole served as Under Secretary for the Science and Technology Directorate at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where she was responsible for scientific and technological research designed to provide new security and resilience innovations.
Prior to her work at the DHS, she was the CEO and Director of the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), an independent organization dedicated to improving the country’s resilience to major biological threats.
A Career in Biosecurity and Biodefense
Dr. O’Toole is internationally known for her work on biosecurity and on health and safety issues related to the US nuclear weapons complex, as well as her disaster response exercises, where she was a principal author and producer of Dark Winter and Atlantic Storm, both of which simulated a covert outbreak of smallpox in the United States.
She has many publications in the biodefense field on topics including contagious disease epidemics, biodefense research and development strategies, and hospital preparedness, including the book Bioterrorism: Guidelines for Medical and Public Health Management.
Dr. O’Toole has a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, an MD from George Washington University, and a master’s of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University. She completed internal medicine residency training at Yale University and a fellowship in occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins University.
On this episode we will hear from Dr. O’Toole:
How she developed an interest in medicine, public health, and in the topics of biodefense and biosecurity. About DHS and the CIA’s role in the management of epidemics, outbreaks, and biological weapons’ defense. The B.Next Initiative and the Biodefense Technology Architecture at In-Q-Tel. Her views on topics including: drug repurposing, bio-hacking/”do-it-yourself” biology, the approval of new drugs when human efficacy studies are not ethical or feasible (to reduce or prevent the toxicity of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear substances). About post-Cold War biodefense concerns.
Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio.
Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter: @IraSamuelPastor
If you liked this interview, be sure to check out our interview with Dr. Kortepeter former Lead in Infection Prevention and Control against Ebola virus at the World Health Organization!
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