Beyond Biosecurity: the Principle of Dual-Use

“Dual-use is a concept which is playing an increasingly important part in many aspects of scientific research. It deals with the possibility that well-intentioned scientific research with beneficial outcomes could be misused for malicious purposes by a third party, a notion which is becoming prominent in debates on biosecurity, research control, funding and publication of results. In this paper the concept of dual-use is explored as well as different ways in which dual-use regulation has been proposed. The paper then goes on to briefly highlight aspects of the dual-use debate which may be relevant for scientists working in African countries.”
By Louise Bezuidenhout

Author:
African Biological Safety Association (AfBSA)
Publish Date:
2010

Billions for Biodefense: Federal Agency Biodefense Funding, FY2007-FY2008

“Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent substantial resources on preparing the nation against a bioterrorist attack. Earlier articles in this series analyzed civilian biodefense funding by the federal government from fiscal years 2001 through 2007. This article updates those figures with budgeted amounts for fiscal year 2008, specifically analyzing the budgets and allocations for biodefense at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of State, and the National Science Foundation.”
By Crystal Franco and Shana Deitch

Author:
Center for Biosecurity of UPMC
Publish Date:
2007

Bio-Response Report Card

“The idea for this report card project began late last year, when we asked ourselves the question, “If the nation is unprepared for a biological attack, what more can we do?” Since 2001, the United States government has spent more than $65 billion on biodefense, and yet it has done so without an end-to-end, strategic assessment of the nation’s bioresponse capabilities. This report seeks to fill that gap.”

Author:
Senator Bob Graham, Senator Jim Talent, Randy Larsen, & Lynne Kidder
Publish Date:
October 2011

Biocontainment Patient Care Units

Dear Editors,
We read with great interest the consensus statement by P.W. Smith et al. on biocontainment patient care units (BPCUs) [Biosecur Bioterror 2006;4(4):351–365]. Our Institute coordinates the European Network for Infectious Disease (EUNID, www.eunid.com), a project co-funded by the European Commission and focused on the management of patients with highly infectious diseases (HIDs). Among the deliverables of EUNID there is the definition of “Minimal Requirements for High Isolation Units” in Europe. The work about this point is currently ongoing, and some agreements already have been reached; the U.S. statement will be extremely useful for further discussion.

Author:
Vincenzo Puro, MD & Francesco Maria Fusco, MD
Publish Date:
2007

Biodefense for the 21st Century

Presidential Directive
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10 (HSPD-10)
AKA National Security Presidential Directive 33 (NSPD-33)
Signed: April 28, 2004

By evaluating biodefense programs and initiatives, Biodefense for the 21st Century continues those efforts by identifying future priorities and actions and integrating the work of national and homeland security, medical, public health, intelligence, diplomatic, and law enforcement communities. The classified version contains specific directions on how departments and agencies are to implement this biodefense program.