Recent News

By Category: Biosafety

US Requires New Dual-Use Biological Research Reviews

(Science AAAS) The new DURC policy—months in the making, and in part a reaction to the ongoing controversy over research involving the H5N1 avian flu viruses—will expand current reviews already conducted by two major biomedical research funding agencies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both agencies  Read More »

Flu Redux

(Science Now) Late last year, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) had recommended that two science teams delete key details from papers submitted to Science and Nature that describe how researchers made the H5N1 avian influenza virus more transmissible between mammals, possibly providing a blueprint for starting a flu pandemic.

US debuts life sciences dual-use research policy

(CIDRAP News) Federal health officials today unveiled a new policy for overseeing life sciences dual-use research, such as two recent H5N1 transmission studies that have sparked bioterror concerns as well as cries of censorship.

Bird flu: how two mutant strains led to an international controversy

(The Guardian) The advisory board’s reaction has sparked a rare crisis in science. The US government backed the NSABB, but many researchers say the work must be published in full, arguing public health will benefit. A group convened by the WHO recommended full disclosure, but ordered an urgent review of the security and safety of  Read More »

Bird Flu Studies Getting Another Round Of Scrutiny By Panel

(NPR) (Audio) In June of 2009, a committee met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to do a routine safety review of proposed research projects. One of those projects involved genetically modifying flu viruses. And during the review, the committee brought up the idea of “dual-use” research. “Dual use” means legitimate scientific work that’s intended to  Read More »

« First...102030...5859606162...708090...Last »

Also filed under "Biosafety":