%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. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %T Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of the Life Sciences %@ 978-0-309-10032-8 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11567/globalization-biosecurity-and-the-future-of-the-life-sciences %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11567/globalization-biosecurity-and-the-future-of-the-life-sciences %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Conflict and Security Issues %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 316 %X Biomedical advances have made it possible to identify and manipulate features of living organisms in useful ways—leading to improvements in public health, agriculture, and other areas. The globalization of scientific and technical expertise also means that many scientists and other individuals around the world are generating breakthroughs in the life sciences and related technologies. The risks posed by bioterrorism and the proliferation of biological weapons capabilities have increased concern about how the rapid advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology could enable the production of biological weapons with unique and unpredictable characteristics. Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of Life Sciences examines current trends and future objectives of research in public health, life sciences, and biomedical science that contain applications relevant to developments in biological weapons 5 to 10 years into the future and ways to anticipate, identify, and mitigate these dangers. %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Bowman, Katherine %E Husbands, Jo L. %E Rusek, Ben %T The 2nd International Forum on Biosecurity: Summary of an International Meeting %@ 978-0-309-12829-2 %D 2009 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12525/the-2nd-international-forum-on-biosecurity-summary-of-an-international %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12525/the-2nd-international-forum-on-biosecurity-summary-of-an-international %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 158 %X The 2nd International Forum on Biosecurity, held in Budapest, Hungary on March 30 - April 2, 2008, represents the efforts of a number of individuals and organizations, over the last five years, to engage the international community of life scientists in addressing how to reduce the risk that the results of their work could be used for hostile purposes by terrorists and states. The participants who gathered in Budapest were already engaged in this challenging task, and, therefore, the focus of the meeting was on what had been accomplished and what challenges remained. There was no attempt to achieve consensus, since there exist real and important differences among those involved concerning the appropriate policies and actions to be undertaken. But there was a serious effort to identify a range of potential next steps, and also an effort to identify opportunities where international scientific organizations could make substantive contributions and offer their advice and expertise to policy discussions. The Forum's presentations, discussions, and results are summarized in this book. %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.