Recent News

By Category: Research

Experts: Dual-use H5N1 studies may not hasten pandemic response

(CIDRAP News) International experts say that, while experiments on H5N1 avian flu transmission in mammals are important, publishing full details of such “dual-use” studies likely will not speed up the vaccine response in a pandemic, according to a news report and editorial in Nature today. “I think the research is important, but not for vaccine  Read More »

Lab is one of few that studies deadly agents

(San Antonio Express) Two airlocked steel doors away from Texas Biomedical Research Institute’s biosafety level-4 lab, where only deadly infectious diseases with no treatments or vaccines available are studied, two technicians wiggle into pressurized suits …

The Governance of Synthetic Biology

(Synthetic Biology Project) The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center is launching a new web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard, designed to track federal and non-federal efforts to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development so risks are minimized and broad social and economic benefits can be realized.

Doomsday flu decision time: The story so far

(New Scientist) Last year, two flu research groups created what could be extremely dangerous viruses through their research into bird flu. Both studies will be censored when they are published, and all similar work has been put on hold – unprecedented actions in biomedical research. Ahead of a World Health Organization meeting to plot a  Read More »

Biodefense Panel Chairman Admits Bird Flu Data Will “Get Out”

(Global Security Newswire) Scientific data on how the avian flu can be altered to more easily pass between humans will eventually “get out,” despite efforts to contain the information so it cannot be misused by terrorists seeking to produce a biological weapon, a leading U.S. biodefense expert told the London Independent . National Science Advisory  Read More »