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How Machine Learning is Shaping the Future of Newborn Genetic Screening
By Janice Tagoe, MBA, MSc. - May 13, 2025 - Advancements in artificial intelligence and genomics are rapidly transforming the landscape of public health. One of the most promising areas of this intersection is newborn screening, where data-driven tools are helping to reimagine how we detect and respond to genetic conditions from the earliest moments of life. In a paper published this year (2025), researchers at Mass General Brigham unveiled a machine learning model designed to improve how genes are selected for newborn genomic sequencing programs. This development comes at a critical time, as more than 30 countries work to expand their newborn screening efforts. Yet, among these initiatives, the criteria for selecting which genes to screen vary widely. Some programs screen fewer than 150 genes, while others assess more than 4,000. Yet only 74 genes are consistently included across the majority of them. This lack of standardization presents a challenge to equal access to global health resources and limits the potential of these programs to deliver timely, life-saving care.
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GPI President, Paolo von Schirach on Asharq News
Check out the highlights from GPI President, Paolo von Schirach’s recent interview on Asharq الشرق TV where he discusses the impact of U.S. federal funding cuts to universities on international students, particularly concerning the continuity of scholarships. Watch here: https://asharq.co/5g478 #GPI #GPInstitute #Asharq #US #FundingCuts #Scholarship
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This Is What De-Nuking Iran Could Look Like If Trump Orders Military Strikes (From FOX News)
By Rebecca L. Grant, Ph.D. - May 7, 2025 - Iran can either talk, or get its weapons facilities bombed. Iran has gone too far and can make weapons-grade nuclear fuel for one bomb in less than a week, with more to follow. Two aircraft carriers and a fleet of B-2 stealth bombers are pointed straight at Iran. Never before have we seen such a big forward deployment of B-2 bombers. Do the options really include a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities? “Of course it does,” President Donald J. Trump said Monday. What’s changed is that a campaign to attack Iran’s nuclear weapons production is no longer far-fetched. Frankly, the attacks on Iran’s air defenses carried out by Israeli F-35s and other planes last year have lowered the risk calculus, both political and militarily. With the recent confirmation of Gen. Daniel Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Trump has a new top military advisor who is experienced in planning and carrying out precision airstrikes.
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Trump Warns Putin ‘STOP!’ But History Says That’s Not Enough – Just Ask Reagan (From FOX News)
By Rebecca L. Grant, Ph.D. - May 1, 2025 - “Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the peace deal DONE,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday. Oh, the frustration of negotiating with Russia. But this sounded like the cry of a hoop-skirted heroine tied to the railroad tracks. President Donald J. Trump is a master communicator, but with the single-word plea, he brought back bad memories of one of the low points of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. That came Sep. 16, 2022, when 60 Minutes asked then-President Joe Biden what he would say if Putin threatened to use nuclear or chemical weapons. “Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. It would change the face of war unlike anything since World War II,” Biden replied. About then came the tragic freeze in strategic planning that frittered away momentum for a battlefield victory for Ukraine. So here we are, with negotiations at an intense phase of swapping Crimea for the huge Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and trying to make sure Ukraine has a viable economic path.
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WEBINAR// Sustainability Strategies: How European SME’s Navigate Paradoxes in International Sustainability
On Monday, April 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM (EST) the Global Policy Institute and Bay Atlantic University (BAU) held a webinar titled “Sustainability Strategies: How European SME’s Navigate Paradoxes in International Sustainability” via Zoom and in-person at BAU. The session explored how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage the strategic tensions between sustainability commitments and global market pressures. Drawing on recent case study research, the talk examined the international strategies pursued by SME managers and how they reconcile contradictions between local market adaptation and value-driven practices in international businesses.
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India’s Battle Against Eco-Terrorism and Global Trafficking
By Dr. Nishakant Ojha-NEW DELHI - April22, 2025 - India’s biodiversity crisis has escalated into a national security threat, as wildlife trafficking large profits increasingly fund terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime. A new policy vision is imperative. India, home to some of the planet’s most iconic and endangered species, is facing an escalating crisis. Wildlife trafficking is no longer just an environmental issue—now it has become a matter of national security. Criminal syndicates are targeting India's tigers, elephants, rhinos, and pangolins that are sold in black markets to fund terrorism and insurgency, often in alliance with transnational networks operating across Southeast Asia and Africa. As the line between eco-crime and terrorism blurs, India must evolve from traditional conservation to adopting counterterrorism-grade technology, intelligence, and cooperation. These ground level findings present a comprehensive policy analysis and are at the foundation of a proposal to create a futuristic Anti-Wildlife Poaching System (AWPS), drawing lessons from global best practices—especially South Africa’s Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS)—to address India’s critical conservation and security gaps.
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For T-45 Replacement, Young Navy Carrier Pilots Need AI And “Air Under Their Butts” (From RealClearDefense)
By Rebecca L. Grant, Ph.D. - April 18, 2025 - The full text of this article is available below and in RealClearDefense here. The Navy is ready to unveil a secret sixth-generation fighter for its Ford and Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, but that’s not the only plane on their shopping list. The Navy also needs a future-focused advanced trainer for its carrier pilots to replace the T-45 Goshawk. Carrier air wing operations are more vital than ever. Just look at the constant carrier sorties in Central Command’s campaign against the Houthis – and China’s activity near Taiwan with its carrier Shandong. Even with advances in uncrewed aircraft and collaborative drones, the Navy must produce pilots for fleet combat and support aircraft for years to come. Drones are only just making their debut in carrier air wings, with the MQ-25 Stingray set to fly this year and go to sea in 2026. That said, naval aviation is evolving fast, and the way young pilots train is changing, too. The days of building a trainer that serves as a mini fighter for practice dogfights and carrier landings are long gone. What the advanced student pilots need is AI in the cockpit and “air under their butts” in the form of plenty of affordable flying hours that prepare them for complex missions.
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GPI-BAU Talk Series: Beyond the University
On Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM (EST) the Global Policy Institute (GPI) and Bay Atlantic University (BAU) held a talk titled “Beyond the University” via Zoom and in-person at BAU. Click to Watch. Speaker Dr. Christopher R. Sokol currently serves as Director of Programs at Frequentis USA, a leading global provider of communications systems for air traffic control, supporting operations in over 130 countries. Dr. Sokol previously held a federal position at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Portfolio Program Manager within the Command and Control Communications (C3) Division (AXE-400) under the Office of National Security Programs and Incident Response (AXE). In that role, he oversaw the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) and Very High Frequency (VHF) systems. With nearly three decades of experience in telecommunications and the management of critical communications infrastructure, Dr. Sokol has served in various capacities—active-duty Army, contractor, and federal civilian—with organizations such as the Army Space and Missile Defense Command (Fort Meade, Landstuhl Germany, Wheeler Army Airfield Hawaii), United States Strategic Command (Omaha, NE), the Joint Staff J6 (Pentagon), and the FAA (Washington, DC). At the FAA, he managed a portfolio of 36 programs with a combined budget of $300 million.
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Germany’s Energy Transition: From Piped Gas to LNG and Renewables
By Laetitia von Schönburg - April 11, 2025 - Germany's decision to end piped gas imports, mainly from Russia, and transition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) marks a profound shift in its energy strategy. While this move enhances energy security by reducing reliance on Russian gas, it comes with significant economic and infrastructural costs. The transition requires substantial investment in LNG infrastructure. It exposes the country to volatile global LNG prices and alters Germany's energy market dynamics. Historically, Germany depended on cost-effective Russian piped gas that provided, abundant energy and price stability. The complete cessation of Russian gas imports, particularly via Ukraine, has forced Germany to diversify its supply sources. The country now relies on imports from Norway, the U.S., and Qatar. However, LNG is significantly more expensive than piped gas, leading to higher energy costs. The price of imported LNG in Germany surged to $14.76 per MMBtu in early 2025, a 54.84% increase from January 2024. While Germany has invested heavily in LNG terminals like those in Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel, the infrastructure still requires further expansion to meet demand reliably. Additionally, Germany's need to secure long-term contracts with LNG suppliers remains crucial to avoid extreme price fluctuations.
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