'Improving biosecurity'. Dual-use considerations in the research chain: from grant application to publication

Presentations:

• Robin Fears, European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) (pdf)
• John-Erik Stig Hansen, Danish Centre for Biosecurity and Biopreparedness (pdf)
• Ron Fouchier, Erasmus MC (pdf)
• Jos van der Meer, UMC St Radboud (pdf)
• Kees Jan Steenhoek, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (pdf)
• Rik Bleijs, Biosecurity Office, the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) (pdf)

The recommendations in the Improving biosecurity - assessment of dual-use research Academy report will also be discussed.

Life science research results may be misused by malicious parties, thereby posing a biosecurity risk. This is referred to as the dual-use aspect of research. A familiar example that prompted a debate about dual-use was Professor Ron Fouchier’s paper on the H5N1 bird flu virus. The symposium will focus on striking the right balance between mitigating the risks and creating freedom for innovative scientific research.

Organisation

This symposium is being jointly organised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Biosecurity Office of the RIVM.

Untitled Future Mutation of glass artist Luke Jerram. See also: http://www.lukejerram.com/