Researchers from Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB) and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with assistance from CRDF Global, have launched a pilot project focusing on cyberbiosecurity. This initiative is a response to the increasing cyber threats targeting laboratories that manage high-risk biological materials.
According to the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), cyberbiosecurity involves safeguarding against misuse, exploitation, and disruption of critical information, data, and equipment. This is at the intersection of biological labs and the digital domain. The project, named “Establishment of Cyber Biosecurity Inventory and Procedures for Effective Safety and Administrative Controls for COVAB and UVRI Laboratories in Uganda,” is spearheaded by Associate Professor Lawrence Mugisha from CoVAB and Dr. Stephen Balinandi from UVRI.
During a workshop held on August 16, 2024 Professor Mugisha emphasized the growing danger posed by cyber threats. These increasingly target various sectors, including government institutions, businesses, and critical infrastructure such as financial and healthcare facilities. These attacks disrupt essential services, leading to significant financial losses and compromising both personal and institutional security.
Recent incidents have shown that cyberattacks are now focusing on laboratories handling sensitive biological materials such as highly pathogenic organisms like anthrax, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2. These could be weaponized in incidents of bioterrorism.
To address these threats, Makerere University, through CoVAB, is collaborating with UVRI to implement Uganda’s first cyberbiosecurity pilot project. This collaboration aims to identify and map potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in biological laboratories at both institutions. Comprehensive information and communication technology (ICT) risk assessments will be conducted to develop Cybersecurity Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidelines, and manuals, ultimately leading to the creation of a robust Cyberbiosecurity Policy.
In his opening remarks, CoVAB Principal Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine highlighted the urgent need to address cyberbiosecurity threats, citing his own experience with a cybersecurity breach. He encouraged the development of training programs and the establishment of a dedicated cyberbiosecurity research team within CoVAB and UVRI. Prof. Mwiine also underscored the importance of seeking collaborative research opportunities in this field and acknowledged Prof.Mugisha’s leadership in promoting bioethics and biosafety in Uganda. The project represents a critical step toward fortifying the security of Uganda’s biological research infrastructure against cyber threats and ensuring the safety of valuable scientific data and materials.
