The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking suggestions for experts to be considered for the membership rotation or other engagement with the Forum on Microbial Threats tasked with examining critical scientific and policy challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants. Forum activities clarify new and persistent problems and help spark innovative approaches to preparedness, detection, surveillance, and response. Members of the Forum convene several times each year to identify, discuss, and act on key challenges and opportunities in addressing microbial threats. To broaden perspectives, the Forum holds public workshops on critical topics, with proceedings made publicly available, and commissions or supports papers on selected scientific and policy issues. These activities build trust and encourage candid discussions across diverse fields—from human, animal, and plant health communities to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics industries—generating actionable insights that inform research priorities, policy decisions, and collaborative initiatives.
Using these suggestions, National Academies staff will be looking to fill 5 open seats on the committee of approximately 30 total volunteer experts in addition to collecting information for potential speakers, participants, and other forms of engagement.
Based on the Statement of Task and the continuing membership of the committee, staff are looking for expertise particularly in the following areas:
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Drug Development
Diagnostic Development and Deployment
Regulatory Science & Policy
AI-Enabled Disease Surveillance
Medical Product Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience
Pandemic Financing
Biotechnology and Venture Capital
Environmental Microbiology