Who's Who	Events	Legislation	Biosecurity Code Examples

The United States

Who's Who Top

Government

Governmental actors with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. This is not a guide to overall governmental structure. Some departments listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Office of the President

Division(s) within the Office of the President with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

Department / Ministry / Agency:

Agriculture (USDA)
Comment: USDA is the primary agency which ensures a safe and plentiful supply of food for the American people. The USDA administers and funds food safety initiatives, water supply projects, pesticide and genetically modified organism research, and food assistance programs.

Division(s) within the USDA with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Comment: CIA is one of the pillars of the US intelligence community. They provide the US president with intelligence information by collecting, analyzing, and reporting information pertinent to US national security. Through their intelligence analysis, the CIA often influences policy makers to create or revise laws to strengthen national security.

 

Defence (DOD)
Comment: DOD is the coordinating body for all US military activities and bodies, including the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The DOD helps formulate and shape US defence and national security policy.

Division(s) within the DOD with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

Energy
Comment: DOE’s mission is to advance the economic and energy security of the US . In order to achieve this, the DOE will advance energy technologies, diversify energy sources, promote scientific research, and foster a cleaner environment.

Division(s) within the DOE with a role or interest in biosecurity:

Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
Comment: FBI is the investigative branch of the US federal government. The FBI deals with protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks, foreign intelligence operations, technology attacks, combating public corruption, protecting civil rights, combating organized crime, and upgrading law enforcement technology.

 

Homeland Security (DHS)
Comment: DHS was created in 2002 as a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US . is responsible for coordinating federal operations within the United States to prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. Its main goals are to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.

Division(s) within the DHS with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Comment: DHHS is the US agency responsible for protecting the health and well being of all Americans. To that end, DHHS conducts or administers health research, medical services, financial assistance, infant & elderly care, and medical preparedness for emergencies, including terrorism.

Division(s) within the DHHS with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

State
Comment: The State Department is the primary US department dealing with international diplomacy. The State Department has a wide variety of responsibilities including the negotiation of international treaties and the coordinating of programs with biosecurity implications.

Division(s) within the State Department with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) - Arms Control
  • Biological Weapons Convention
  • Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction (ISN/CB)
• Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) - Nonproliferation
  • Nonproliferation of WMD expertise
• Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

 

Specialized Institutes / Centers:

House Committee on Homeland Security (HCHS)
Comment: HCHS has primary jurisdiction over the nation’s third largest cabinet agency, the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, the committee has responsibility for government-wide homeland security policy and the most significant responsibility for homeland security policy of any House or Senate committee.

Subcommittee(s) within HCHS with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack
  • Comment: The Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack is responsible for helping to shape the Department of Homeland Security’s role in nuclear and biological counter-proliferation and detection of fissile materials, biological weapons, precursors, and production equipment.

 

House Committee on Science (HCS)
Comment: HCS has jurisdiction over all federally funded, non-defence, research and development (R&D) programs. The committee controls R&D work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Fire Administration, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The committee also is charged with guiding US science policy and ensuring that federal money for R&D is spent wisely.

 

National Science Foundation (NSF)
Comment: NSF is an independent federal US agency created, “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; [and] to secure the national defence.” To that end, the NSF funds research in all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except the medical sciences, and endeavors to keep the US at the leading edge of discoveries in all these scientific fields.

 

National Academies & Academia

Academic actors and national academies with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

National Academy:

The National Academies of Science (NAS)

Comment: NAS is a private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research. The scholars are dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and their use for the betterment of the general populous. In addition, by its mandate the NAS is required to advise the US government on matters of scientific and technical importance.
Contact: +1 (202) 334 - 2811

Division(s) within NAS with a role or interest in biosecurity:

 

Academia:

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) University of Minnesota

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (612) 626 – 6770

 

Comment: CISSM pursues policy-oriented scholarship on major issue facing the US in the global arena. The Center brings together scholars from around the world to perform research on policy issues involving cooperative security (including the “Controlling Dangerous Pathogens Project”), international economics and security, US – European relations, and US foreign policy.
Contact: + 1 (301) 405 - 7614

 

Comment: This university collaboration strives to be the primary public source for information on public health law, improve understanding of the ways that laws affect the prevention of disease through its regulation of research and training. The Center also promotes the development of effective public health law strategies by identifying existing public health law programs, developing program curriculum, delivering training sessions, conducting research, examining public health law infrastructure, promoting communication amongst public health law groups, and enhancing the visibility of effective public health laws.
Contact: + 1 (410) 955 – 7624

 

Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment, and the Life Sciences University of Minnesota

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (612) 625 – 0055

 

Comment: Cornell University ’s Institute for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Technology works to promote research, education, and technology transfer for applications in biotechnology that benefit society. The Institute encourages cooperation in the life sciences by fostering interdisciplinary cooperation and relationships, developing facilities that support collaboration with industry, and promoting wide dissemination of intellectual discoveries to all audiences.
Contact: + 1 (607) 255 – 2300

 

Comment: Cornell University ’s Peace Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program devoted to studying the problems of war and peace, arms control and disarmament, and instances of collective violence. The Program brings together members from all areas of Cornell’s academic community to support this mission through educational lectures and workshops.
Contact: + 1 (607) 255 – 6484

 

Comment: Run through DePaul University’s Law School, the International Weapons Control Center is dedicated to advancing the rule of law with regard to counter terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Center works with international organizations and US government agencies concerned with their fields of study to educate on and provide legal solutions to issues of peace and security.
Contact: + 1 (312) 362-5919

Comment: George Mason University's National Center for Biodefense & Infectious Diseases promotes awareness of the national and international security challenges and medical and public health threats posed by biological terrorism and biological weapons proliferation.
Contact: + 1 (703) 993 - 4271

 

George Mason University National Center for Biodefense

Comment: BCSIA provides leadership in the advancement of policy knowledge about international security challenges where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect. The Center recognizes that science and technology are driving forces of both threats and opportunities in international affairs and therefore works to integrate the insights of social scientists, natural scientists, technologists, and practitioners with governmental, diplomatic, military, and business experience.
Contact: + 1 (617) 495 - 1400

 

Comment: BCSIA provides leadership in the advancement of policy knowledge about international security challenges where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect. The Center recognizes that science and technology are driving forces of both threats and opportunities in international affairs and therefore works to integrate the insights of social scientists, natural scientists, technologists, and practitioners with governmental, diplomatic, military, and business experience.
Contact: + 1 (617) 495 - 1400

 

Illinois Institute of Technology - Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions (CSEP)

Comment: CSEP maintains an extensive online database of codes of ethics. CSEP’s database includes more than 850 codes from professional societies, corporations, and governmental and academic institutions.
Contact: + 1 (312) 567 - 6913

 

Monterey Institute of International Studies Center for Non-Proliferation Studies (CNS)

 

 

The Whitehead Institute for Biological Research: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (617) 258 – 5000

 

Industry

This list of companies, with significant life sciences interests, illustrates the breadth of impact on industry that any changes in regulations governing the availability of life sciences information would have. This may include limitations on publication openness, control or review of experiments and research, or various other factors arising from the sensitive, dual-use nature of some life sciences work. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Alloy Ventures

Comment: Alloy Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm with experience in funding and nurturing over 200 information technology and life science companies. Their investments have helped produce such companies as Adaptec, Amgen, Applied Micro Circuits, Applied Biosystems, Aspect Communications, CV Therapeutics, Nuance, Octel, PMC-Sierra, Remedy, and Verity.
Contact: + 1 ( 650) 687 - 5000

 

Arnold and Porter

Comment: Arnold and Porter is an international legal firm which focuses on coordinated and integrated cross-border regulatory, litigation and transactional services. The firm prides itself on understanding changing business environments as they intersect with law, public policy, and technology.
Contact: + 1 (202) 942 - 5000

 

 

Chiron

Comment: Coming Soon
Contact: + 1 (510) 655 - 8730

 

Gilead Sciences

Comment: Coming Soon
Contact: + 1 (650) 574 - 3000

 

Merck

Comment: Coming Soon
Contact: + 1 (908) 423 - 1000

 

Pfizer

Comment: Coming Soon
Contact: + 1 (212) 733 - 2323

 

Comment: SAIC is the largest employee owned research and engineering firm in the United States , and works globally to provide its commercial and government customers with solutions to their information technology, systems integration and eSolutions needs. SAIC also has a biosecurity team which works with their clients to provide biosecurity and biosafety technical knowledge, risk assessment, auditing and remediation procedures, policy and regulatory analysis, development of emergency response and assistance plans, as well as personnel training, education and awareness.
Contact: + 1 ( 800) 430 – 7629 (USA)
Contact: + 44 (0) 845 366 7242 (Europe)

 

Wyeth

Comment: Coming Soon
Contact: + 1 (610) 902 - 1200

 

Research Institutes & Non-Profits

Institutes and organisations with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

 

American Biological Safety Association (ABSA)

Comment: The ABSA was setup to promote biosafety as a scientific discipline, serve the needs of the worldwide biosafety community, and provide a forum where biosafety information can be exchanged and discussed. The ABSA also publishes a number of biosafety journals, runs biosafety courses, conducts biosafety conferences, and recognizes biosafety professionals through a registration and certification program.
Contact: + 1 (847) 949 - 1517

 

The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)

Comment: The AIBS represent more than 80 professional societies and organizations with a combined membership exceeding 240,000 scientists and educators. AIBS programs promote biological research nationally and internationally, disseminate up-to-date biological science information, provide scientific support services to governmental and private research and education programs, improve formal and informal biological science education for all ages and professions, help train the next generation of biologists, and provide information about biological science to policy-makers for better-informed decisions. AIBS has developed an ethics statement.
Contact: + 1 (202) 628 - 1500

 

American Medical Association (AMA)

Comment: AMA is a nationwide network of doctors that works on professional and public health issues. AMA has developed Guidelines to Prevent Malevolent Use of Biomedical Research.
Contact: + 1 (800) 621-8335

 

American Society of Microbiologists (ASM)

Comment: ASM represents 25 specializations of microbiological research as well as microbiology educators. In order to support their work, ASM encourages information dissemination, publishes journals and books, conducts seminars and colloquia, promotes contributions of microbiological sciences to society, recognizes distinctions amongst its practitioners, and sets standards for ethical and professional behavior. ASM has developed a Code of Ethics and a, "Policy Guidelines of the Publications Board of the ASM in the Handling of Manuscripts Dealing with Microbiological Sensitive Issues."
Contact: + 1 (202) 737 - 3600

 

Association of American Universities (AAU)

Comment: AAU is an association of Universities in the US and Canada that offer PhD programs. It provides its members with assistance in developing national policy positions on issues relating to academic research as well as graduate and professional education. The AAU also provides members with a forum for discussing a broad range of other institutional issues.
Contact: + 1 (202) 408 – 7500

 

Battelle

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (614) 424-6424

 

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)

Comment: Because biotechnology researchers expand the boundaries of science to benefit mankind, BIO champions biotechnology and advocates for its member organizations. BIO has produced a Statement of Ethical Principles and a ,"Statement on Ethical Use of Biotechnology to Promote Public Health and National Security and to Fight Against Bioterrorism."
Contact: + 1 (614) 424-6424

 

Comment: The Carnegie Corporation strives to promote “the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” Focusing mainly on the United States (up to 7.4% of funds go abroad), the Carnegie Corporations seeks to improve people’s lives through initiatives in education, international peace and security, international development, and strengthening US democracy. The Carnegie Corporation helps fund the Harvard Sussex Program which is an inter-university collaboration for research, communication and training in support of informed public policy regarding chemical/biological warfare (CBW).
Contact: + 1 (212) 207-6289

 

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Comment: The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation among nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States . They attempt to shape fresh policy approaches around the world by working with businesses, international organizations, and civil society and focusing on the economic, political and technological forces driving global change.
Contact: + 1 (202) 483 – 7600

 

Center For Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Comment: The Biological and Chemical Weapons Control Program at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and its Scientists Working Group, work to prevent the development and use of biological and chemical weapons. The Program develops analyses, reports, recommendations and briefings on technical and policy issues for Congress, the public, and the international community.
Contact: + 1 (202) 546 - 0795

 

The Center for Defense Information (CDI)

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (202) 332 – 0600

 

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Comment: CSIS strives to provide world leaders with strategic insights on -and policy solutions to- global issues. The CSIS endeavors to achieve three goals: address the full spectrum of new challenges to national and international security, maintain resident experts on all the worlds’ geographic regions, and commit to developing new methods of governance for the global age.
Contact: + 1 ( 202) 887 - 0200

 

The Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute (CBACI)

Comment: CBACI is a policy research organization established to address challenges to global security in the 21 st century with a special focus on the elimination of chemical and biological weapons. Through its program of research, the Institute attempts to alert public and private sector leaders about problems before they become crises. CBACI has set up a project entitled, "The Future of the Life Sciences: Reaping the Rewards and Managing the Risks," which examines the risks and benefits of biotechnology.
Contact: + 1 (202) 296 – 3574

 

Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG)

Comment: CRG fosters public debate about the social, ethical and environmental implications of genetic technologies. It has started the "Campaign for the Peaceful Development of the Biological Sciences," which encourages scientists to sign a pledge that prohibits the "development of novel biological and toxic agents, or the modification of biological agents, to enhance virulence, pathogenicity, or transmission
characteristics, for any purposes, including biological defense"
Contact: + 1 (617) 868 - 0870

 

Comment: FDP is a cooperative initiative among US federal agencies, academic research institutions, and policy research organizations. FDP’s purpose is to reduce the administrative burdens associated with federally funded research grants and contracts by providing a forum where federal officials and individuals from non-profit and academic research organizations can collaborate and discuss the issues involved in federal research grants.
Contact: + 1 (202) 334 - 1399

 

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

Comment: FAS was formed by a group of scientists that worked on the Manhattan Project, which developed the world’s first nuclear weapon, and were deeply concerned about its impact on society. FAS is dedicated to ending the global arms race and avoiding any use of nuclear weapons.
Contact: + 1 (202) 546 - 3300

 

The Henry L Stimson Center

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (202) 223 - 5956

 

Comment: Funded by the US federal government, HSI provides the US Department of Homeland Security with independent and objective analyses and advice on issues of importance to homeland security, particularly those requiring scientific, technical, and analytical expertise. HSI’s work supports policy development, decision-making, analysis of alternative approaches, and evaluation of new ideas on issues of significance to homeland security.
Contact: None Given

 

John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation of Chicago

Comment: The MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to fostering lasting improvement to the human condition. Through a number of programs, including the “Program on Global Security and Sustainability” and the “Program on Human Community Development,” the foundation seeks to strengthen institutions, improve public policy, and provide information to the public. The MacArthur foundation helps fund the Harvard Sussex Program which is an inter-university collaboration for research, communication and training in support of informed public policy regarding chemical/biological warfare (CBW).
Contact: + 1 (312) 726 - 8000

 

National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)

Comment: NCURA attempts to serve its members and advance the field of research administration through education and professional development programs, the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and by fostering a professional, collegial, and respected community. NCURA also strives to be the leading information portal for the research administration community, increase the knowledge about and respect for the research enterprise, and courier support for research from the American public and research sponsors.
Contact: + 1 (202) 466 – 3894

 

National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT)

Comment: MIPT is dedicated to preventing terrorism and mitigating its effects. Though the institute feels a special obligation to first responders and funds research to improve their safety while responding to disasters, by US federal mandate the institute conducts, “research into the social and political causes and effects of terrorism and the development of technologies to counter biological, nuclear, and chemical weapons of mass destruction…”
Contact: + 1 (405) 232 – 5121

 

New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM)

Comment: NYAM is dedicated to understanding the factors that harm or safeguard health in urban areas and developing appropriate interventions and preventive measures that will make city-dwellers healthier. The Academy’s focuses on pressing health issues including health disparities, access to care, asthma, HIV/AIDS, geriatric social work, substance abuse, health policy, urban disaster, mental health, health education training for public school teachers, handgun safety and improving community partnerships' ability to solve complex health problems.
Contact: +1 (212) 822-7200

 

Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

Comment: COMING SOON
Contact: + 1 (202) 296 – 4810

 

The Pugwash Conferences

Comment: After a 1955 manifesto issued by leading scientists that called for scientists to assemble to discuss the global threat posed by the advent of thermonuclear weapons, a conference was organized in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada. Since the first meeting, over 275 Pugwash conferences have been held and today they focus on bringing together scholars and influential public figures to reduce the danger of armed conflict and seek cooperative solutions to global problems.
Contact: + 1 (202) 478 – 3440

 

Sloan Foundation

Comment: The Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit institute focusing on science and technology, standard of living and economic performance, education and careers in science and technology, civics, and select national interests. Through its select national interests program, the Sloan Foundation has funded a number of biosecurity initiatives including those at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the University of Maryland’s Center for International and Security Studies, the National Academies of Science, the George Washington University Medical Center, and the New York Academy of Medicine, as well as law initiatives at University of Pacific, DePaul University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Contact: + 1 (212) 649 - 1649

 

Student Pugwash USA (SPUSA)

Comment: SPUSA is the US student affiliate of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. It is an educational, non-profit organization that strives to aid students in understanding the true depth of scientific education by encouraging independent thinking and helping them focus on and understand the interaction between science, technology, and public policy.
Contact: + 1 (202) 429 – 8900

 

Events Top

This is a list of events relevant to biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

2009

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: November 3-5, 2009
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: August 11-13, 2009
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Building International consensus on biosecurity - the experience of OECD
Date: May 8, 2009
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Dr. Michael Oborne and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Biosecurity Seminar Series," at Princeton University.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: April 29, 2009
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda, presentations, and report are available on the website. Top

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: April 3, 2009
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda, presentations, and report are available on the website.

 

7th Annual ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting
Date: February 22-25, 2009
Location : Baltimore , MD , USA
Participant(s): American Society for Microbiology
Description: The purpose of this meeting is to bring together individuals who are carrying out research to defend against the growing threat of bioterrorism and decision makers shaping the future biodefense research agenda, recognizing that emerging infectious diseases serve as a paradigm for handling the public threat of bioterrorism.

 

2008

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: December 10, 2008
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda, presentations, and report are available on the website.

 

Frontiers in Synthetic Biology: Engineering Genes, Genomes & Cells for Drug Discovery
Date: December 1-2, 2008
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Participant(s): GeneExpression Systems and guests
Description: The workshop will discuss the use of synthetic biology in drug discovery.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: November 4 - 6, 2008
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: August 12 - 14, 2008
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Combating Bioterrorism / Pandemics: Implementing Policies for Biosecurity
Date: July 28-30, 2008
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Participant(s): MIT, Professional Institute
Description: This workshop aims to address the organizational difficulties in addressing bioterrorism and the challenges of the implementation of biosecurity policies. Governments face new biosecurity priorities, including learning inter agency collaboration. Yet agencies have deeply embedded professional norms and organizational cultures, which resist change. MIT experts and affiliates explore the obstacles to implementation and strategies to overcome them.

 

Public Policy and Biological Threats
Date: July 26 - August 3, 2008
Location: Berkeley, CA, USA
Participant(s): UC Berkeley
Description: The multidisciplinary Public Policy and Biological Threats training program fosters a dynamic, collaborative, multidisciplinary learning environment for junior faculty, Ph.D. and professional-school students in the University of California system, and private industry professionals to analyze policy responses to bioterrorism and emerging public health threats.

 

Select Agent Program Regulations and High-Containment Laboratories
Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): AAAS Center for Science Technology and Security Policy
Description: The conference is a briefing on the select agent regulations and biosafety and biosecurity of high-containment research laboratories.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: April 29 - May 1, 2008
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

The Global Health Initiative of the World Health Organization, and How to Develop and Strengthen Ethics Programs for Scientists
Date: April 22, 2008
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Peter Folb and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Agricultural Bioterrorism
Date: March 12, 2008
Location: Stanford University, CA, USA
Participant(s): Richard Bostock and guests
Description: This seminar is being held by the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: February 27-28, 2008
Location : Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: The meeting agenda, presentations, and report are available on the website.

 

6th ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research
Date: February 24-27, 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Participant(s): American Society for Microbiology
Description: This meeting brings together researchers and decision makers working to defend against bioterrorism.

 

DNA for Peace: Balancing Biosciences for Development and for Security
Date: January 15 , 2008
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Peter Singer and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

2007

Global Biosecurity: Challenges & Opportunities: Options for Reducing Natural and Intentional Biological Risks
Date: December 18, 2007
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): David Franz and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Biotechnology Nonproliferation: U.S. Export Regulations and International Collaboration
Date: December 11, 2007
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Elizabeth Scott and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Plague in a Virtual World: What Real World Bio-Security Can Learn from Warlock Night Elves
Date: November 27, 2007
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Nina Fefferman and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

8th Meeting of the Global Health Security Action Group
Date: November 2, 2007
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): Ministers/Secretaries/Commissioner of Health and senior health officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Description: This annual meeting is held to coordinate public health activities throughout the world.

 

National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) - Roundtable on Synthetic Biology
Date: October 11, 2007
Location: Bethesda , MD, USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: This roundtable will explore the biosecurity and biosafety dimensions of synthetic biology – the agenda is available on the NSABB website.

 

Prevention of Biocrimes: A Discussion on Achieving International Security while Promoting Scientific Advancement
Date: September 27, 2007
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): Barry Kellman, Special Agent Kristine Beardsley, Nancy Connell, and guests.
Description: This conference examine, “ the potential impact of measures to criminalize the misuse of biology on scientific advancement and international security.

 

The Future of Biosecurity Communications
Date: September 10, 2007
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): The US National Academy and the Federation for American Scientists
Description: The meeting will discuss how the biosecurity policy community can form the infrastructure necessary to effectively disseminate information to the public and other stakeholders on biosecurity.

 

Combating Bioterrorism / Pandemics: Implementing Policies for Biosecurity
Date: July 23-25, 2007
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Participant(s): MIT, Professional Institute
Description: This workshop aims to address the organizational difficulties in addressing bioterrorism and the challenges of the implementation of biosecurity policies. Each agency has developed its only organizational style and is resistant to change during times of crisis. Participants will learn to identify how existing agencies will be able to change their priorities concerning bioweapons and how alternative approaches can be implemented. Finally, participants will tackle the question on how accurate information regarding bioterrorism and biosecurity may be provided to the public.

 

Public Policy and Biological Threats: Training the Next Generation
Date: July 22-August 4, 2007
Location: IGCC Public Policy and Biological Threats Program, UC San Diego, USA
Participant(s): UC San Diego and invited guests
Description: This summer training program will address among other things the following elements of public policy tools and biological threats: science of biological weapons and biological threats: an introduction to infectious diseases, treatment, weaponization, dispersion, and detection of biological agents best practices for organizing trans-disciplinary and high-volume data; Improved risk-scenario planning and improved tools for scenario building; Large-scale modeling evaluation analysis to achieve cost-benefit evaluations; Assessment of response strategies and plans, International rules and regime building (creation of shared understandings of the strategic challenge and policy norms); Strategic interaction analysis (game theory and other policy tools; Analysis of building consensus among stakeholders, including a concise introduction to public policymaking; and analysis of the intersection of the growth of a sophisticated biotechnology industry around the world and the issues posed for the control of bioterrorism.

 

Biodefense, genomics and synthetic biology: the dual-use dilemma
Date: 12 June, 2007
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): Dr. Claire Fraser-Liggett and guests.
Description: This conference is s ponsored by the National Institutes of Health Emergency Preparedness and Biodefense Interest Group.

 

Dual-Use Biotechnology Threats in a Post 9/11 World: Synthetic Genomics and Bioterrorism
Date: May 18, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Kathleen Vogel and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Terror Medicine
Date: May 11, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Leonard A. Cole and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University . This lecture will contain highly graphic materials that have been shown primarily to medical audiences.  It should not be attended by the faint-hearted.

 

The Weapon Potential of a Microbe and the Select Agents Act
Date: May 4, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Arturo Casadevall and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Dr. Ken Alibek presentation at Princeton University (Title to be Announced)
Date: April 27, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Ken Alibek and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: April 19, 2007
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: At the meeting the NSABB considered the DRAFT Report of the NSABB Working Group on Oversight Framework Development . Top

 

Emerging Exotic Diseases of Food Producing Animals: Global Implications
Date: April 13, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. James A. Roth and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Agricultural Biosecurity - Protecting our Livestock and Crops
Date: April 2-3, 2007
Location: Washington D.C. , USA
Participants: American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Description: The Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy at AAAS will host this two-part briefing series on agriculture security and food defense.

 

The Threat of Bioterrorism and Pandemics since 9/11, How to Improve North American Cooperation
Date: April 2, 2007
Location: Washington D.C. , USA
Participants: American University Center for North American Studies
Description: This workshop on biosecurity and pandemic response within the North American community brought together experts to explore cooperation measures.

 

The Biological Weapons Threat and Nonproliferation Options: A Survey of Senior U.S. Decision Makers and Policy Shapers
Date: March 30, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Amy Smithson and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

"Synthetic Biology and Biological Security"
Date: March 9, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA .
Participants: Dr. Drew Endy and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: The seminar series hopes for a multidisciplinary approach to potential risks of dual use research. It seeks a collaborative relationships between policy and security experts and the life sciences community to improve strategies for addressing the dual-use dangers of modern biology. This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Developing Options for Global Biosecurity: Assessing Progress and Evaluating New Mechanisms
Date: March 6 -7, 2007
Location : Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington D.C. , USA
Participant(s): organized by the Partnership for Global Security
Description : This workshop examines the scope of existing biosecurity activities and initiatives while outlining the new challenges arising from the rapid growth of the biotechnology sector. The seminars will consider a wide range of proposals that can facilitate the harmonization of global biosecurity approaches and mechanisms. The second part of the workshop will focus on a discussion of the formation of a Global Biosecurity Task Force, which will play an important advisory role to this project. 

 

The New Arms Race: Making the Case for an International Compact for Infectious Diseases
Date: February 16, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participant(s): Dr. Harvey Rubin and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

"Governance for Biological Threat Reduction: A Comprehensive, Interdisciplinary, International Approach.” 
Date: February 9, 2007
Location: Princeton , NJ , USA
Participants : Dr. Gerald L. Epstein and Dr. David Heyman and the Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description : The seminar series seeks to engage leading university, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industry scientists in discussions with security analysts on issues of biodefense, biothreats, biosecurity, biosafety, and bioethics in order to help the life sciences community contribute to biodefense policy development.  This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University .

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: January 31, 2007 (Closed Session)
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): Closed Meeting, NSABB
Description: This was a closed meeting. The agenda, presentations, and report are not available. Top

 

2006

Biotechnology: Empowering the Long War
Date: October 26, 2006
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium, Washington DC, USA
Participant(s): Expert speakers and participants
Description: This conference sought to evaluate the effects on advancements in biotechnology on national security and defense strategy. More concretely, the speakers addressed the possible success or failure of the Long War, the investments of the US Department of Defense in developing a new strategy and applicability of advancements and consequences on the battlefield.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: October 25, 2006
Location: Bethesda , MD , USA
Participant(s): NSABB
Description: At this conference the NSABB unanimously adopted the report, Addressing Biosecurity Concerns Related to the Synthesis of Select Agents, addressing concerns of biosecurity of select agents. Various working groups, including the Working Group on Synthetic Genomics and International Collaboration made presentations to the Board.

 

Combating Bioterrorism / Pandemics: Implementing Policies for Biosecurity
Date: 24 - 26 July, 2006
Location: MIT Campus, MA, USA
Participant(s): Professionals involved with biosecurity
Description: This course designed for biosecurity professionals will focus on describing impediments to organizational change, analyzing the public health approach, investigation of expanding the law enforcement approach, assessing biological weapons and national security, interpreting the new focus on vaccine development, and learning from the SARS/avian flu.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: 13 July, 2006
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Participant(s): NSABB Board Members (click for list)
Description: This is the fourth meeting of the NSABB. The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Biological Threats to Global Health and Security
Date: 26 June 2006
Location: Monterey, California, USA
Participant(s): Commonwealth Club of California and the Monterey Institute of International Studies
Description: As the threat from infectious diseases grows as a result of technology and increased travel and population density, the world's ability to deal with such threats is increasingly inadequate. Panel participants will discuss the threats and the adequacy of measures put in place to address it.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: 30 - 31 March, 2006
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Participant(s): NSABB Board Members (click for list)
Description: This is the third meeting of the NSABB. The meeting agenda and presentations are not yet available.

 

Biodefense Research: NIH Role, NIH Management, Oversight of Safety, Oversight of Security, and Oversight of Dual-Use Implications
Date: 10 March, 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Assessing Synthetic Genomics: Applications, Risks, and Governance
Date: 24 February, 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

The Life Sciences, Biosecurity, and Dual-Use Research
Date: 23 February, 2006
Location: Ithaca, NY, USA
Participant(s): Cornell University Peace Studies Program
Description: This presentation is meant to inform participants about current issues arising from dual use research in the life sciences and spur debate.

 

The American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) Annual Meeting
Date: 18 February, 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Participant(s): AAAS and guests
Description: Though this meeting will cover many topics unrelated to biosecurity, there are three symposia of particular interest: Future Potential of Biological Weapons: Science, Technology, and Policy; Biosecurity Challenges in the Post 9-11 World; & Codes of Conduct and the Biological Weapons Convention.

 

Preventing Bio Violence - The Need for International Legal Action
Date: 10 February, 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This presentation is part of the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of the Life Sciences
Date: 31 January, 2006
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): US National Academy of Science (NAS) and guests
Description: A new report by the US NAS call for a coordinated global effort to stem the threat of misuse of the biosciences. It recommends the creation of an independent advisory board that could analyze and forecast advances in the biosciences and coordinate with intelligence officials. The full report can be found here.

 

Advancing the International Biosecurity Dialogue: Clarifying Definitions
Date: 27 January, 2006
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): Nearly 40 experts invited by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
Description: There is great national and international interest in biosecurity and the associated topic of biosafety. Dialogue is hindered to a degree because these terms do not have a universally understood meaning and in fact mean different things in different communities.  The goal of the meeting was to determine whether additional work on this topic could contribute to reducing definitional confusion and establish overlaps and areas of agreement between definitions.

 

2005

Bioscience Oversight: Where are We and Where Should We Go?
Date: 2 December, 2005
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
Participant(s): Princeton Program on Science and Global Security
Description: This was the initial workshop to kick off the, "Helping the Life-Sciences Community Contribute to Biodefense Policy Development," program at Princeton University.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: 21 - 22 November, 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Participant(s): NSABB Board Members (click for list)
Description: This is the second meeting of the NSABB. The meeting will focus on progress of board business following the inaugural NSABB meeting.

 

Protecting Against Foodborne Threats to Health
Date: 25– 26 October, 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): US National Institute of Medicine and guests
Description: Deliberate contamination of food by chemical or biological agents can occur at any vulnerable point along the food chain - from farm to table - depending upon both the food and the agent.  In an attempt to understand the nature and extent of foodborne threats to health and what policies and practices are in place to identify and mitigate these risks, the workshop will explore risks associated with globalization of the food supply, burden of illness associated with foodborne threats to health, regulatory responsibility in both the domestic and international realms, and threat reduction research and policy opportunities.

 

The Responsibility of Scientists in a Changing World
Date: 25 October, 2005
Location: New York, NY, USA
Participant(s): The NY Academy of Sciences and guests
Description: In recognition of the 60th anniversary, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, public forums are being convened to address contemporary issues at the forefront of science, global security, and sustainability.

 

Education and Raising Awareness: Challenges of Responsible Stewardship of Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences
Date: 8 - 9 September, 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): The US National Academies & the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description: This conference brought together experts to discuss the responsible stewardship of dual use research and the effectiveness and utility of codes.

 

The US Department of State releases the, "Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments," report
Date: 30 August, 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participant(s): US Department of State Bureau of Verification and Compliance
Description: The report, which is required by Section 403 of the Arms Control and Disarmament Act, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2593), documents US and international efforts at compliance with international arms agreements. In the report, the US claims that Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Syria continue to maintain biological weapons programs and that China maintains 'some elements' of an offensive biological program. The report goes on to state that US experts are divided as to whether or not Cuba is attempting to develop offensive biological weapons.

 

New York City conducts large test for biochemical attack
Date: 8 August, 2005
Location: New York City (NYC), NY, USA
Participant(s): Around 100 scientists
Description: NYC scientists began simulating a terrorist attack using biochemical gas released in the city's metro system. The tests will help officials plan evacuation routes and emergency efforts in case of a real attack.

 

Meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: 30 June - 1 July, 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Participant(s): NSABB Board Members (click for list)
Description: This is the first meeting of the NSABB. At the meeting members will be sworn in and introduced and the structure and function of the board will be discussed. Following will be presentations relevant to the Board's work. The agenda of the meeting is available on the NSABB website.

 

Appointment of the Members of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Date: 29 June, 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Description:  US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the appointment of 24 members to the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB). The 24 members consist of doctors, scientists, lawyers, researchers, publishers, and consultants from government, academia, and the private sector. The list of members is available from the link above.

 

Publication of "Analyzing a bioterror attack on the food supply: The case of botulinum toxin in milk" in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS)
Date: 28 June, 2005
Participants: Lawrence M. Wein and Yifan Liu
Description:  This paper was the subject of debate because it was labeled by Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Stewart Simonson as, "a road map for terrorists and [its] publication is not in the interests of the United States," in a letter to the science academy chief Dr. Bruce Alberts. The paper gives "very detailed information on vulnerability nodes" in the milk supply chain and "includes ... very precise information on the dosage of botulinum toxin needed to contaminate the milk supply to kill or injure large numbers of people," Simonson wrote. After debate, PNAS decided to publish the article with an accompanying editorial by Alberts in which he wrote that all of this information is "immediately accessible on the World Wide Web through a simple Google search." He continued, "A terrorist who wants to do great damage will therefore not find anything in the article that is likely to increase his or her certainty concerning the minimum level of toxin to use," Alberts wrote.

 

Virginia Tech: University Biosecurity Summit
Date: 9 - 10 May, 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA
Participant(s): Representatives from 12 U.S. and Canadian universities, two
prominent non-profit institutes, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and the President’s Council on Bioethics
Description: Our conference was held based on
the conviction of Virginia Tech that the complexity, challenges and diversity of the problem set of biosecurity requires strong consideration be given now to developing and preparing the next generation within academia to support and advance global biodefense. Virginia Tech reasoned that this will only succeed by the current generation of biosecurity performers laying down a well conceived and robust foundation in a coordinated and harmonious manner for those who will succeed us.

 

2004

United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540
Date: 28 April, 2004
Location: New York, NY, USA
Participants: UN Security Council
Description: This UNSCR attempts to prevent individuals, organisations and terrorist groups from obtaining or spreading nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as their means of delivery.

 

Roundtable on Biosecurity
Date: 19 April, 2004
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: The United Nations Foundation, the National Academies, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, & guests.
Description: At this experts' roundtable, participants explored the role of the United Nations in responding to biological threats to international security – both the natural hazards of emerging and reemerging microbial threats to health and the risk that states or terrorists would deliberately use disease as a weapon. Experts discussed the approaches that the UN has taken and could take to address these closely interrelated threats. Key ideas from the papers commissioned for this roundtable are used to inform the High-Level Panel.

 

Creation of the US National Science Advisory Board
Date: 4 March, 2004
Location: NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
Participants: Up to 25 voting members along with non-voting members from the 15 US federal agencies and departments
Description: In response to the US National Academy of Sciences report entitled "Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism," the NSABB was established by the US Government to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of National Institutes of Health and the heads of all other government agencies supporting or conducting life science research.

 

International Symposium: "Securing High Consequence Pathogens and Toxins"
Date: 1 - 6 February, 2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Participants: Over 60 bioscience and policy experts from 14 countries
Description: Sandia National Laboratories, a United States Department of Energy technical organization, conducted this international biosecurity symposium. It focused on approaches to secure high consequence pathogens and toxins, located in bioscience facilities worldwide, from possible theft or diversion. The symposium addressed the need to balance security with microbiological research, and identified areas for international cooperation.

 

Publication of "Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism" (aka "The Fink Report"
Date: 2004
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: Gerald R. Fink et al.
Description: This influential report lays out a strategy to maintain security of sensitive biological information without hindering cooperative research and development.

 

2003

National Security & Biological Research: What are the Boundaries?
Date: 11 November, 2003
Location: New York Academy of Sciences, NY, USA
Participants: Experts from the scientific, institutional, academic and government sectors
Description: At this conference, experts debated the changing relationships between science and law enforcement, and speakers discussed major initiatives to preserve scientific integrity while maintaining security interests.

 

Statement on scientific publication and security from editors
Date: February 2003
Location: Science, Nature and PNAS
Participants: Over 30 editors of major life sciences journals
Description: A joint statement by the editors of numerous life sciences journals recognized the necessity of open scientific publication for peer and public review as well as the possibility for misuse. They therefore charged the science and publishing community with regulating the way in which results are disseminated in order to allow review while not putting society at risk.

 

Scientific Openness and National Security Conference
Date: 9 January, 2003
Location: NAS, Washington DC, USA
Participants: Experts from the scientific, institutional, academic and government sectors
Description: The one day conference, sponsored by NAS and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, focused on the dissemination of scientific results in the post September 11th landscape.

 

2002

Preventing the Misuse of Biotechnology
Date: 15 November, 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Participants: The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Description: This conference examined the differences between the tools needed to combat biological weapons proliferation and more conventional nonproliferation endeavors because of the biotechnology's dual use nature. The conference concluded that, "neither traditional national security nor typical arms control methods are appropriate because the relevant material, equipment, information, and expertise are globally distributed in legitimate research institutions, commercial enterprises, and government bio-defense programs." The panel therefore explored alternative strategies such as self-governance, cooperative security, and criminalization for preventing the misuse of biotechnology without impeding beneficial research.

 

Joint Statement from the President of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the UK Royal Society
Date: 8 November, 2002
Location: Science Magazine
Participants: Lord May (President of the Royal Society) and Bruce Alberts (President of NAS)
Description: A joint editorial appeared in the 8 November issue of the US publication Science by the presidents of The Royal Society and the NAS, titled "Scientist support for Biological Weapons Controls". It called for scientists to work with policy makers in order to make progress towards measures that would counteract the threat from advances in weapons technology that could be misused by governments or terrorist threat agents.

 

Introduction of US House Resolution 514
Date: 26 July, 2002
Location: US House of Representatives, Washington DC, USA
Participants: Dave Weldon and seven other US Congressmen
Description: Created in response to the publication of a report showing how the polio virus had been recreated synthetically, the resolution calls for the scientific community to ensure that information that may be used by terrorists is not made widely available.

 

Publication of "Chemical Synthesis of Poliovirus cDNA: Generation of Infectious Virus in the Absence of Natural Template"
Date: 11 July, 2002
Location: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY, USA
Participants: J. Cello, AV Paul and E. Wimmer
Description: This publication described the creation in a laboratory of the polio virus from the natural chemical template. This sparked public concern that viruses could be produced and sold as weapons to terrorist groups. The publication spurred US House Resolution 514 which criticized the publication of the work.

 

Publication of "Variola Virus Immune Evasion Design : Expression of a Highly Efficient Inhibitor of Human Complement"
Date: 25 June, 2002
Location: Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS)
Participants: Ariella M. Rosengard, Yu Liu, Zhiping Nie and Robert Jiminez
Description: The publication presented research on how to take the vaccine for the variola virus which causes smallpox, and increase its virulence making it potentially lethal. This publication was viewed as very controversial because some argue that it gives information on how to convert an easily available and beneficial substance into a dangerous virus.

 

2001

Passage of the US Patriot Act
Date: 24 October, 2001
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Congress
Description: Developed in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, the Patriot Act aims to protect the US against further terrorist attacks. This is one of the most extensive pieces of anti-terror legislation in the world and has been used as a template for proposed anti-terror legislation in many countries. In terms of biological threats, the Patriot Act improves the protection of "select" agents and toxins and places restrictions on access to select agents for aliens from countries seen as supporting terror.

 

Weaponized Anthrax mailed within the US
Date: 18 September 2001
Location: New York, NY, Boca Raton, FL and Washington DC, USA
Participants: Unknown
Description: On 18 September 2001, five letters were sent to media outlets containing the anthrax virus. On 9 October, 2001 two more letters containing the virus were mailed to two democratic US Senators : Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Some reports described the material in the Senate letters as "weapons grade" anthrax. Overall, twenty-two people developed anthrax infections, eleven of the life-threatening variety, and five died of inhalation anthrax. The perpetrator of these attacks is still at large.

 

1996

Creation of the "Select Agent" List
Date: 24 April, 1996
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Congress
Description: Passage of the US "Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" directed the US Department of Health and Human Services to create a list (known as the select agent list) that names biological agents that could pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and to regulate the transfer of such agents while maintaining the availability of these agents for research, education and other legitimate purposes.

 

1995

Arrest for possession of plague causing bacteria
Date: May 1995
Location: Ohio, USA
Participants: Larry Wayne Harris
Description: A microbiologist with ties to the Aryan Nation and other anti-establishment groups was arrested with vials containing plague causing bacteria that he had ordered from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Later released, Harris was arrested again in 1998 when authorities were tipped off that he may be intending on releasing anthrax in the New York City subway system: it turned out that he merely possessed an anthrax vaccine.

 

1985

US National Security Decision Directive 189
Date: 21 September, 1985
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Federal Government
Description: The Directive made the official US policy towards science that the results of fundamental research should be unrestricted to the maximum extent possible.

 

1984

Salmonella attacks
Date: 1984
Location: The Dalles, Oregon, USA
Participants: Rajneesh sect
Description: The Rajneesh sect contaminated 10 salad bars in The Dalles, Oregon with Salmonella in an apparent attempt to influence local elections. Approximately 750 contracted salmonellosis, 45 of which required hospitalization.

 

1982

Publication of "Scientific Communication and National Security," (aka "The Corson Report")
Date: October, 1982
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering & Institute of Medicine
Description: Stated that the "Free communication among scientists is viewed as an essential factor in scientific advance." The report did not, however, deal with the life sciences.

 

1976

US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Publish "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules"
Date: June, 1976
Location: NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
Participants: US NIH
Description: The guidelines specified laboratory practices, containment equipment and facility safeguards that were thought to be appropriate for work involving recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecules. These guidelines have been revised numerous times since inception.

 

1975

The Asilomar Conference
Date: February, 1975
Location: Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Participants: 150 Scientists from 13 countries along with attorneys, government officials and members of the press
Description: In 1973 after the successful attempt to recombine DNA from one organism with that of another, a group of scientists called for a self-imposed moratorium on certain types of recombinant DNA experiments due to potential, though unproven, risks. Despite no evidence of harm, many scientists complied with the ban and research in the area stagnated. In 1975, a conference at the Asilomar Conference Center was charged to determine whether or not to lift the moratorium and if so to set up strict guidelines under which research could continue safely. Ultimately, the conference produced a set of voluntary guidelines monitoring recombinant DNA experiments.

 

Entry into Force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of bacterial (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC)
Date: 26 March, 1975
Location: Moscow, Russia, Washington DC, USA and London, UK
Participants: 151 States
Description: The BWC adds to the 1925 Geneva Protocol by not only forbidding the use of biological weapons in warfare, but also forbidding their production, development or stockpiling. The treaty does allow for research and development of biological weapons to occur for "justifiable" reasons, such as defence, however, it has no verification or control mechanism to prevent misuse.

 

1969

US National Security Decision Memorandum 35
Date: 25 November, 1969
Location: Washington DC, USA
Participants: US Federal Government
Description: Under President Nixon, the United States renounced the "use of lethal methods of bacteriological/biological warfare."

 

Legislation Top

Below is a select list of laws in the United States. As biosecurity is a relatively new and rapidly developing field, many countries have yet to devise or implement laws specific to biosecurity. Since biosecurity has much in common with national security, biosafety, bioterrorism, biological weapons, import / export of dual-use materials, and biodiversity, some countries may develop biosecurity legislation by adapting existing laws within these other areas. Therefore, biosecurity legislation and other laws that could potentially be used as background for biosecurity legislation are included here.

 

• Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003

  • Date: 12 December, 2003
  • Comment: The act states that “the government of Syria should … cease the development and production of biological and chemical weapons.” The act makes U.S. policy that “Syria’s acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten the security of the Middle East and the national interests of the United States .”

 

Biosecurity Code Examples Top

Below are codes of conduct for life scientists that have been proposed, are in use, or are under development in the United States. If there are any other codes that should be included on this site, please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

American Institute of Biological Science: Ethics Statement

 

American Medical Association: Guidelines to Prevent Malevolent Use of Biomedical Research

 

Code of Ethics for the Life Sciences (Ron Atlas and Margaret Sommerville)

 

American Society for Microbiology: Code of Ethics

 

American Society for Microbiology: Policy Guidelines of the Publication Board

 

Biotechnology Industry Organization: Statement of Ethical Principles

 

Biotechnology Industry Organization: Statement on Ethical Use of Biotechnology to Promote Public Health and National Security and to Fight Against Bioterrorism