%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins %@ 978-0-309-14535-0 %D 2009 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12774/responsible-research-with-biological-select-agents-and-toxins %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12774/responsible-research-with-biological-select-agents-and-toxins %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 188 %X The effort to understand and combat infectious diseases has, during the centuries, produced many key advances in science and medicine—including the development of vaccines, drugs, and other treatments. A subset of this research is conducted with agents that, like anthrax, not only pose a severe threat to the health of humans, plants, and animals but can also be used for ill-intended purposes. Such agents have been listed by the government as biological select agents and toxins. The 2001 anthrax letter attacks prompted the creation of new regulations aimed at increasing security for research with dangerous pathogens. The outcome of the anthrax letter investigation has raised concern about whether these measures are adequate. Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins evaluates both the physical security of select agent laboratories and personnel reliability measures designed to ensure the trustworthiness of those with access to biological select agents and toxins. The book offers a set of guiding principles and recommended changes to minimize security risk and facilitate the productivity of research. The book recommends fostering a culture of trust and responsibility in the laboratory, engaging the community in oversight of the Select Agent Program, and enhancing the operation of the Select Agent Program. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Challenges and Opportunities for Education About Dual Use Issues in the Life Sciences %@ 978-0-309-15840-4 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12958/challenges-and-opportunities-for-education-about-dual-use-issues-in-the-life-sciences %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12958/challenges-and-opportunities-for-education-about-dual-use-issues-in-the-life-sciences %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Education %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 146 %X The Challenges and Opportunities for Education About Dual Use Issues in the Life Sciences workshop was held to engage the life sciences community on the particular security issues related to research with dual use potential. More than 60 participants from almost 30 countries took part and included practicing life scientists, bioethics and biosecurity practitioners, and experts in the design of educational programs. The workshop sought to identify a baseline about (1) the extent to which dual use issues are currently being included in postsecondary education (undergraduate and postgraduate) in the life sciences; (2) in what contexts that education is occurring (e.g., in formal coursework, informal settings, as stand-alone subjects or part of more general training, and in what fields); and (3) what online educational materials addressing research in the life sciences with dual use potential already exist. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Understanding Biosecurity: Protecting Against the Misuse of Science in Today's World %@ 978-0-309-25291-1 %D 2010 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13341/understanding-biosecurity-protecting-against-the-misuse-of-science-in-todays %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13341/understanding-biosecurity-protecting-against-the-misuse-of-science-in-todays %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 24 %X Drawing on the work of the National Academies, this booklet introduces some of the issues at the intersection of science and security. The life sciences offer tremendous promise for meeting many 21st century challenges. But with opportunities come responsibilities. An important aspect of scientists' responsibility to society is captured in the concept of biosecurity-- the challenge to move the life sciences forward for legitimate purposes while reducing the risks that some materials, knowledge, tools, and technologies could also be used to do harm. This booklet was developed to serve as an educational resource for students and the scientific community, to illuminate the importance of biosecurity, and to explore how scientists, organizations, and governments at many levels can work together to minimize the threat. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Matchett, Karin %E Mazza, Anne-Marie %E Kendall, Steven %T Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza: Scientific Inquiry, Communication, Controversy: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-26775-5 %D 2013 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18255/perspectives-on-research-with-h5n1-avian-influenza-scientific-inquiry-communication %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18255/perspectives-on-research-with-h5n1-avian-influenza-scientific-inquiry-communication %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 132 %X When, in late 2011, it became public knowledge that two research groups had submitted for publication manuscripts that reported on their work on mammalian transmissibility of a lethal H5N1 avian influenza strain, the information caused an international debate about the appropriateness and communication of the researchers' work, the risks associated with the work, partial or complete censorship of scientific publications, and dual-use research of concern in general. Recognizing that the H5N1 research is only the most recent scientific activity subject to widespread attention due to safety and security concerns, on May 1, 2012, the National Research Council's Committee on Science, Technology and Law, in conjunction with the Board on Life Sciences and the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats, convened a one-day public workshop for the purposes of 1) discussing the H5N1 controversy; 2) considering responses by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which had funded this research, the World Health Organization, the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), scientific publishers, and members of the international research community; and 3) providing a forum wherein the concerns and interests of the broader community of stakeholders, including policy makers, biosafety and biosecurity experts, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the general public might be articulated. Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza: Scientific Enquiry, Communication, Controversy summarizes the proceedings of the workshop. %0 Book %A National Academy of Sciences %A National Research Council %E Hottes, Alison K. %E Rusek, Benjamin %E Sharples, Fran %T Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-Containment Biological Laboratories: Summary of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-22575-5 %D 2012 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13315/biosecurity-challenges-of-the-global-expansion-of-high-containment-biological-laboratories %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13315/biosecurity-challenges-of-the-global-expansion-of-high-containment-biological-laboratories %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 216 %X During July 10-13, 2011, 68 participants from 32 countries gathered in Istanbul, Turkey for a workshop organized by the United States National Research Council on Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-containment Biological Laboratories. The United States Department of State's Biosecurity Engagement Program sponsored the workshop, which was held in partnership with the Turkish Academy of Sciences. The international workshop examined biosafety and biosecurity issues related to the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-containment biological laboratories- equivalent to United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention biological safety level 3 or 4 labs. Although these laboratories are needed to characterize highly dangerous human and animal pathogens, assist in disease surveillance, and produce vaccines, they are complex systems with inherent risks. Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-Containment Biological Laboratories summarizes the workshop discussion, which included the following topics: Technological options to meet diagnostic, research, and other goals; Laboratory construction and commissioning; Operational maintenance to provide sustainable capabilities, safety, and security; and Measures for encouraging a culture of responsible conduct. Workshop attendees described the history and current challenges they face in their individual laboratories. Speakers recounted steps they were taking to improve safety and security, from running training programs to implementing a variety of personnel reliability measures. Many also spoke about physical security, access controls, and monitoring pathogen inventories. Workshop participants also identified tensions in the field and suggested possible areas for action. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %E Millett, Piers %E Husbands, Jo %E Sharples, Frances %E Thevenon, Audrey %T Gain-of-Function Research: Summary of the Second Symposium, March 10-11, 2016 %@ 978-0-309-44077-6 %D 2016 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23484/gain-of-function-research-summary-of-the-second-symposium-march %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23484/gain-of-function-research-summary-of-the-second-symposium-march %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 140 %X On March 10-11, 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a public symposium on potential U.S. government policies for the oversight of gain-of- function (GOF) research. This was the Academies' second meeting held at the request of the U.S. government to provide a mechanism to engage the life sciences community and the broader public and solicit feedback on optimal approaches to ensure effective federal oversight of GOF research as part of a broader U.S. government deliberative process. The first symposium, held in December 2014, examined the underlying scientific and technical questions surrounding the potential risks and benefits of GOF research involving pathogens with pandemic potential. The second symposium focused on discussion of the draft recommendations regarding GOF research of a Working Group of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. This report summarizes the key issues and ideas identified during the second symposium.