Gryphon Scientific Inaugural Member in U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC)

Gryphon Scientific Inaugural Member in U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC)

Gryphon Scientific is an inaugural member in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) groundbreaking U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) created to champion the development of secure and reliable artificial intelligence (AI). NIST’s establishment of AISIC reflects its commitment to empowering stakeholders, mitigating risks, and fostering responsible AI development through measurement science.

AISIC unites more than 200 private companies, academic research teams, non-profit organizations, and U.S. Government agencies committed to advancing research and development for safe and trustworthy AI systems.  These entities represent the nation’s largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world’s most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI’s use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.

Gryphon Scientific will be one of more than 200 leading AI stakeholders to help advance the development and deployment of safe, trustworthy AI under new U.S. Government safety institute.

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a diverse and complex field that will increasingly integrate into everyday life. The promise of AI is nearly unlimited, but comes with significant risks. It is important to develop practices and policies to ensure AI products are safe and trustworthy. Given the breadth of AI’s potential use and the importance of AI Safety, NIST’s new U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI) and related consortium (AISIC) has a critical mandate to fulfill: equip and empower U.S. AI practitioners with the tools to responsibly develop safe AI.

 

Gryphon Scientific is grateful to be included as a founding members in AISIC, and look forward to collaborating with NIST and many other stakeholders in the field of AI Safety in the coming years through the important work of the consortium.”

-Dr. Margaret Rush, Chief Scientific Officer, Gryphon Scientific

Gryphon Scientific currently works with the developers of leading (and niche) Large Language Models (LLMs) to reduce the risks that these models can be misused to cause harm with biology. Our work included red-teaming, the development of evaluations for ongoing testing, running controlled experiments and the development of biosecurity policies for LLMs. A summary of some of our recent work was submitted as part of the congressional hearing for the Ninth Bipartisan Senate Forums on Artificial Intelligence. Gryphon Scientific looks forward to continuing collaboration with industry, academics and government to bring expertise to AISIC.

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Data Science

Gryphon Staff Outline a Framework for Assessing Benefits of Human Pathogen Research

Gryphon Staff Outline a Framework for Assessing Benefits of Human Pathogen Research

To make informed choices about performing, supporting, publishing, or regulating human pathogen research, stakeholders involved with such research must weigh its benefits to public health and scientific knowledge against biosafety and biosecurity risks. However, assessing the public health benefits of research is difficult because benefits typically unfold over long time scales, with great uncertainty, and unevenly across the global population, and they depend upon disputable technical details of the research in question. To aid decision-makers, Gryphon staff outlined a novel framework for qualitatively estimating a research project’s maximum expected public health benefits. The framework is deliberately designed as a set of six simple yes-or-no questions that can be answered by reviewers who are not experts in the scientific fields at issue. Underpinning the framework is the idea that the expected benefits of human pathogen research are larger when the pathogen (and the specific variants under study) are or will be circulating in humans and domestic animals.

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Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies

Gryphon Scientific Characterizes Private-Sector Research on Human Pathogens in the US

Gryphon Scientific Characterizes Private-Sector Research on Human Pathogens in the US

Improperly protected human pathogen research poses risks to human health and wellbeing through laboratory accidents and the malicious misuse of laboratory materials or information. A patchwork of US government policies serves to manage these risks, but private non-profit and for-profit performers of human pathogen research are subject to less oversight than government or academic research performers. To support informed decisions about regulation, we estimated the size, nature, and oversight capacities of the US private sector in human pathogen research by using data from multiple sources. Overall, we estimate that about one quarter of human pathogen research performed in the United States occurs in the private sector. To learn more, check out the final report and a TIME article co-authored by Gryphon’s Dan Greene below.

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Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies

Gryphon Staff Evaluate Federal Grant Funding for the Bioeconomy

Gryphon Staff Evaluate Federal Grant Funding for the Bioeconomy

Defined as economic activity driven by innovation in the life sciences, the bioeconomy is poised to revolutionize global economies on the scale of the industrial revolution. Seeking to expand domestic biotechnology capabilities, President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy in September 2022 which establishes a whole-of-government approach to supporting the bioeconomy. As agencies strive to meet the goals set forth for them in the Executive Order, development of new funding programs for biotechnology and expansion of existing ones is anticipated. As part of a broader study of the US bioeconomy, Gryphon staff undertook an analysis of U.S. grant funding for biotechnology expanding upon methods first reported in Bioeconomy.XYZ in March of 2022. The study was published in Bioeconomy.XYZ, a bioeconomy-focused platform, as a follow up to the original analysis.

  • Download the Dataset | Download
  • CLIENT | U.S. Government
  • GRYPHON STAFF | Dr. Rocco Casagrande and Bryn O’Meara
  • PARTNERS | Battelle and Kathryn Hamilton, MS from Bioeconomy.XYZ
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Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies

Promoting Responsible Research Collaborations in Southeast Asia

Promoting Responsible Research Collaborations in Southeast Asia

Gryphon Scientific staff members developed a framework for Conducting Responsible and Productive International Research Collaborations. The framework includes vetting potential collaborators, setting goals and expectations for the partnership, analyzing the risks and benefits of the research, following institutional guidelines, and making informed decisions based on principles of responsible research. Gryphon staff hosted a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand to teach scientists about the framework and discuss best practices for research collaborations. Outputs from this work include a white-paper and a review, which can be accessed with the links below.

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International Engagement

Gryphon’s Managing Director Publishes Op-Ed on Dual-Use Research Regulation in The New York Times

Gryphon’s Managing Director Publishes Op-Ed on Dual-Use Research Regulation in The New York Times

Dr. Rocco Casagrande recently published an op-ed in The New York Times, advocating for the adoption of the strengthened regulatory regime as recommended by the NSABB. The current oversight system is fragmented and contains loopholes that allow for privately funded labs to conduct unsupervised research with pathogens of pandemic potential. Dr. Casagrande noted that the adoption of the proposals elaborated by the NSABB would require action by both the administration and congress, and urges both to act. He recommended the establishment and funding of an US independent government agency to serve as the regulatory agency for biosafety and biosecurity research, analogous to the National Transportation Safety Board or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, backed by congressional legislation. He also pointed out that similar regulatory regimes exist in countries with robust pathogen research communities, specifically Canada, Germany and Switzerland, and so adoption of these recommendations should not squelch the research community in the US.

Dr. Casagrande, a Gryphon founder who has served as the Managing Director since 2005, was the Principal Investigator of the “Risk and Benefit Assessment of Gain of Function Research” report, a risk and benefit assessment of Gain of Function research involving pathogens of pandemic potential published in 2015.

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Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies

Towards a Theory of Pandemic Proof PPE

Towards a Theory of Pandemic Proof PPE

Overview

Shortcomings related to personal protective equipment (PPE) were widely recognized to have exacerbate the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, because these shortcomings were varied and had logistical, engineering, biomedical and societal underpinnings, the most effective interventions to improve PPE are unclear. Gryphon Scientific is examining how PPE is designed, manufactured, stored, distributed and used. This study will identify gaps that could be closed via funding from philanthropists, NGOs or governments to better protect the global population against the next outbreak. This project will take place over the course of a year, culminating in Fall 2023.

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Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies

Gryphon Scientific Announces New Organizational Structure and Leadership Team

Gryphon Scientific Announces New Organizational Structure and Leadership Team

TAKOMA PARK, MD, April 11, 2022 – Gryphon Scientific is excited to unveil a new company structure and leadership team designed to sustain and enhance the quality and influence of our work and meet the changing needs of our staff as the company has grown and diversified.

Gryphon Scientific is a small business research and consulting practice that supports our clients in addressing a range of complex global issues, with a focus on health, safety, and security. Our staff, which include scientists, engineers, communications specialists, and policy and planning experts blend research, advanced data analytics, and stakeholder engagement to develop evidence-based solutions and tools that meet end-user needs. Gryphon’s new structure expands the executive leadership team and organizes our scientific and technical staff within a management structure that includes five Practice Areas. The partnership will now oversee Gryphon as a Board, under the leadership of Board Chair Dr. Rocco Casagrande, while the daily operation of Gryphon will be handled by Gryphon’s Executive Team, led by CEO Dr. Corey Meyer.

Dr. Rocco Casagrande - Chair of the Board

I am thrilled with our selection of Corey as Gryphon's new CEO. Over the past seven years at Gryphon, she has demonstrated a rare combination of exceptional intelligence, creativity, tact, and managerial skill essential for the complex role. Gryphon is well poised to grow sustainably under her new leadership. Her appointment will enable me to focus on the more challenging technical topics that I find rewarding.

Executive Leadership Team

Gryphon’s Executive Leadership Team is drawn from the experienced internal pool of Partners. Gryphon has expanded its Executive Team to support the continued growth and success of the organization. The partnership will now oversee Gryphon as a Board, under the leadership of Board Chair Dr. Rocco Casagrande, while the daily operation of Gryphon will be handled by Gryphon’s Executive Team, led by CEO Dr. Corey Meyer. The new leadership team includes:

Corey Meyer
Dr. Corey Meyer - Chief Executive Officer

I look forward to continuing to build Gryphon’s capability to deliver innovative, evidenced-based solutions to enhance health and preparedness in the US and abroad. Gryphon has a dedicated, talented cadre of staff and it is an honor to step into this newly developed leadership position and collaborate with so many passionate individuals to tackle pressing challenges for our clients.

Practice Areas

Gryphon’s re-organization focuses on expanding thought leadership around Practice Areas. Gryphon’s new Practice Area structure coordinates our work and business development in the technical areas for which Gryphon is recognized as a leader. This approach promotes innovation through collaboration among our technical staff, further enhances the technical quality of our products, and provides new professional development opportunities for staff.

Dr. Ryan Ritterson, our new Executive Vice President of Research, will oversee the five Practice Areas:

Press Release | Gryphon Restructuring Announcement

Contact: Lydia Tshamala | Number: +1 301 270 0672  Email: [email protected]

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Gryphon Staff Analyze the State of Research on Protecting Workers Against Occupational Exposure to Opioids

Gryphon Staff Analyze the State of Research on Protecting Workers Against Occupational Exposure to Opioids

The nationwide opioid crisis continues to affect not only people who use opioids but also communities at large by increasing the risk of accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids. In addition, the emergence of highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil increases the need to protect workers who may encounter unknown drug substances during job activities. To support the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Opioids Research Gaps Working Group, Gryphon Scientific examined the state of the literature concerning methods to protect workers against accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids and have identified unmet research needs concerning personal protective equipment, decontamination methods, and engineering controls. Additional studies are needed to overcome gaps in technical knowledge about personal protective equipment, decontamination, and control methods, and gaps in understanding how these measures are utilized by workers. Increasing our knowledge of how to protect against exposure to illicit opioids has the potential to improve occupational health across communities.

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All-Hazards Preparedness, Response, and CBRN Defense

AHRQ Telework Program Evaluation

AHRQ Telework Program Evaluation

AHRQ Telework Program Evaluation

Overview

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) commissioned Gryphon Scientific to conduct an evaluation of its telework program aiming to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the program, examine its compliance with Federal and departmental policies, and gauge its effectiveness in meeting the needs of the agency, its employees and its stakeholders.

Methods

Using a multi-faceted evaluation, Gryphon addressed the effect of remote work on productivity, annual leave usage, retention, commute, work-life balance, and colleagueship. The final evaluation included approaches to improve or strengthen AHRQ’s teleworking policies. The evaluation consisted of the following components:

    • A benchmarking study to identify key success factors and characteristics of a model program by reviewing the literature as well as telework practices within two other federal agencies
    • The design, fielding, and analysis of an online survey of AHRQ employee satisfaction
    • An assessment of compliance with security requirements through discussions with AHRQ’s Chief Information Security Officer
    • A report on interviews with AHRQ supervisors
    • A cost analysis based on responses to the employee survey and secondary data provided by AHRQ
    • Overall findings and recommendations for strengthening AHRQ’s program

Results

Gryphon provided AHRQ with evidence that their program saved the agency and its employees money, and, overall, the availability of teleworking resulted in a happier and more productive workforce. The final report included recommendations for further strengthening AHRQ’s teleworking program.

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Data Management and Communications