About This Plan

The Bio Action Plan is a five-year roadmap to reduce catastrophic biological risk in the age of AI. AI is making biotechnology more powerful and accessible, accelerating discovery while increasing the potential for misuse. Our defenses are not ready for these growing risks. Strengthening them is urgent.

We are not starting from zero. The plan builds on decades of work by the biosecurity and public health communities.1–3 These foundations include the Biological Weapons Convention; guidance and research from WHO, the National Academies, and Johns Hopkins; and the Apollo Program for Biodefense.4 The 100 Days Mission, WHO’s pathogen-prioritization framework, and synthesis-screening frameworks also inform its approach to preparedness and prevention.5,6 Our References Page provides a more comprehensive list of this important work.

The Bio Action Plan connects these foundations through eleven priorities spanning prevention, detection, and response. It identifies critical gaps, directs attention to where additional investment can make a difference, and gives philanthropy, industry, and government a shared agenda for measurable progress. Implementation should strengthen existing institutions, draw on established standards, and support adoption across countries,7,8 while accelerating innovation.

The original plan was developed in collaboration with colleagues at Sentinel Bio, with contributions and feedback from many others. The SAIFbio team built this website and adapted the plan for an online audience. We will regularly update the plan as we receive feedback and as the world evolves and changes.

Our purpose is simple: to catalyze action. We need to scale defenses that work, develop capabilities that are still missing, and ensure these layers work together when a threat emerges. The Bio Action Plan offers a roadmap to a safer world. Turning it into reality requires action now.