White House Issues Policy Framework, Guidance for Dual-Use Pathogen Research
The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy this week issued a new policy framework and implementation guidance for the oversight of certain dual use research and pathogens that can be used to cause a pandemic. The policy, which the White House said will take effect one year after its May 6 release date, is meant to “strengthen oversight of life sciences research with biological agents and toxins” by defining a broader scope of research subject to “additional oversight” by the government; outlining the roles and responsibilities of research institutions, federal agencies and others that conduct, fund or oversee this research, and more. The White House said agencies have until the effective date to “update, modernize, or promulgate applicable implementing guidance.”
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The guidance document said research involving pathogens would qualify as “dual use research of concern,” and therefore be subject to this policy, if it includes life sciences research that “can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be misapplied to do harm with no, or only minor, modification.” That harm includes “potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security.”