UK research funding bodies unite against bioterrorism threat
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《英国医生杂志》
Three of the United Kingdom's largest research funding bodies have announced joint plans to curb the risk of research being misused for bioterrorism.
The Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust have issued a joint policy statement announcing changes to their respective policies, guidance, and procedures for awarding grants to researchers.
The move, which is designed to identify at the grant application stage any research that could "conceivably result in harm," and to heighten general awareness of the issues, was prompted by growing public concern about the threat of potential abuse arising from legitimate studies of dangerous pathogens and toxins.
Each agency has already separately issued similar position statements on biomedical research and bioterrorism, covering areas such as funding decisions, international collaboration and training, and public trust.
But the joint statement signals the intention to intensify existing measures, and is the result of wide consultation among key stakeholders across the three agencies. It comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny from bodies, such as the US National Academies of Sciences and the UK Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee.
From January next year, applicants seeking funding from any of these bodies will be asked on their grant application forms whether they and their institutions have fully assessed the risks of their research being misused in any way, including bioterrorism.
Incidents like the anthrax attack in the US in 2001, in which US marines show clean-up techniques, illustrate the threat from terrorists
Credit: KENNETH LAMBERT/AP/EMPICS
Guidance for funding committees on the risks of research misuse is also being developed, along with protocols on how to deal with cases which spark concerns. Good practice guidelines will include specific reference to the risks of research misuse.
The statement acknowledges that these measures alone will not be able to root out intentional abuse but that strong self governance "will ultimately provide the most effective means of managing the risks of misuse" while also ensuring that "responsibly conducted research is not unnecessarily obstructed."
It urges the scientific community to be proactive, calling for effective local (institutional) research governance, a cautionary approach to making appointments, and compliance with existing health and safety regulations.
Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said, "We understand that many people are alarmed by the threat of bioterrorism. But we need to balance these fears with sensible and practical measures that will help us manage such risks." It is vital that scientists pursue legitimate research to understand and treat the many infectious diseases that pose a threat to public health.(Caroline White)
The Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust have issued a joint policy statement announcing changes to their respective policies, guidance, and procedures for awarding grants to researchers.
The move, which is designed to identify at the grant application stage any research that could "conceivably result in harm," and to heighten general awareness of the issues, was prompted by growing public concern about the threat of potential abuse arising from legitimate studies of dangerous pathogens and toxins.
Each agency has already separately issued similar position statements on biomedical research and bioterrorism, covering areas such as funding decisions, international collaboration and training, and public trust.
But the joint statement signals the intention to intensify existing measures, and is the result of wide consultation among key stakeholders across the three agencies. It comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny from bodies, such as the US National Academies of Sciences and the UK Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee.
From January next year, applicants seeking funding from any of these bodies will be asked on their grant application forms whether they and their institutions have fully assessed the risks of their research being misused in any way, including bioterrorism.
Incidents like the anthrax attack in the US in 2001, in which US marines show clean-up techniques, illustrate the threat from terrorists
Credit: KENNETH LAMBERT/AP/EMPICS
Guidance for funding committees on the risks of research misuse is also being developed, along with protocols on how to deal with cases which spark concerns. Good practice guidelines will include specific reference to the risks of research misuse.
The statement acknowledges that these measures alone will not be able to root out intentional abuse but that strong self governance "will ultimately provide the most effective means of managing the risks of misuse" while also ensuring that "responsibly conducted research is not unnecessarily obstructed."
It urges the scientific community to be proactive, calling for effective local (institutional) research governance, a cautionary approach to making appointments, and compliance with existing health and safety regulations.
Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said, "We understand that many people are alarmed by the threat of bioterrorism. But we need to balance these fears with sensible and practical measures that will help us manage such risks." It is vital that scientists pursue legitimate research to understand and treat the many infectious diseases that pose a threat to public health.(Caroline White)