The Russian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology (Federal State Budgetary Institution) under Rospotrebnadzor, is organizing the international conference “The Arctic: Zone of Risk and Territory of Opportunity”, which will be held online on June 17, 2026. 

The Arctic region is becoming increasingly important on the global agenda. Climate change, increased economic activity, and growing population mobility are heightening the risks of the spread of infectious diseases, including those caused by potentially unknown or “ancient” pathogens released from melting glaciers and permafrost. In 2021, Russia initiated the project “Biosafety in the Arctic” within the framework of the Arctic Council. The project’s goal is to develop an integrated international system for assessing and monitoring the uncontrolled spread of pathogenic microorganisms in the Arctic. The system under development should cover both the cross-border spread of infections and the risks associated with the degradation of permafrost, which can release microorganisms that have been preserved in Arctic ice for a long time.

Hygienic aspects of public health in the Arctic region, which are directly linked to extreme climatic conditions, deserve special attention. Low levels of natural sunlight for much of the year lead to chronic insufficient ultraviolet exposure, which critically restricts endogenous vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D deficiency, in turn, is associated with an increased risk of infectious and autoimmune diseases, bone metabolism disorders, and a decrease in the body’s overall resistance. This creates additional conditions that make the local population and visiting specialists vulnerable to infectious threats, including respiratory viral infections. Thus, issues of nutritional support, vitamin supplementation, and optimization of lighting conditions become an integral part of the region’s comprehensive biosafety system.

The international format of this conference is intended to serve as a tool for international cooperation aimed at minimizing the risks associated with the region’s unique conditions and global changes. The conference will address key challenges and prospects for ensuring biosafety in the Arctic, including:

• implementation of a modern, proactive epidemiological surveillance system, including genomic epidemiological surveillance;
• monitoring the potential for interspecies transmission of zoonotic pathogens in order to prevent the emergence of new dangerous pathogens;
• developing diagnostic tests, medications, and vaccines for the diagnosis, prevention, and control of potential outbreaks of infectious diseases;
• creating optimal hygienic conditions for life in the Arctic;
• promoting international cooperation in the prevention, diagnosis, and control of infectious diseases in the Arctic region.

The conference is being held to support the development of modern genetic technologies, with the participation of the World-Class Genomic Research Center to ensure biological safety and technological independence (Agreement of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation No. 075-15-2025-517, dated May 30, 2025). 

Participation in the conference is an opportunity to contribute to the formation of a global biosafety system, exchange experiences, and identify ways to jointly address pressing issues in the field of Arctic medicine and epidemiology. We invite you to participate in the conference and become a partner of the scientific forum.