Tara O'toole

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security works to protect people’s health from the consequences of epidemics and disasters and to ensure that communities are resilient to major challenges. The Center examines how scientific and technological innovations can strengthen health security. We advance policies and practice to address a range of challenges, including the global rise in emerging infectious diseases, a continued risk of pandemic flu, major natural disasters, our dependence on vulnerable infrastructure, outbreaks of foodborne illness, and the potential for biological, chemical or nuclear accidents or intentional threats. An important part of our mission is to connect diverse and international communities of health and science experts, industry representatives, and government officials to strengthen collective efforts to improve health security. The Center conducts independent research and analysis, and we communicate our results to inform the work of decision makers across communities. We do this work through the combined talents of our scholars in science, medicine, public health, law, social sciences, economics and national security.