The US government today issued a new policy that will require federal agencies to systematically examine potential risks associated with funded studies the federal government involving 15 "high consequence" pathogens and toxins, including avian influenza H5N1. The exams are designed to reduce the risks associated with "dual use research of concern" (DURC) that could be used for good or evil.
The new Durc month policy in the making, and part a reaction to the ongoing controversy over research involving H5N1 avian influenza current virus-will expand reviews already conducted by two major funding agency for biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control . (CDC) both organizations are already discussing the proposed studies intramural by the scientific staff to the potential dual use; now they will extend these tests to extramural projects carried out by scientists at universities and other institutions. the new rules would also apply to any other biological research funding unclassified federal agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Defence.
The new policy requires all agencies to review the two proposed projects and those already financed. If a review identifies potential DURC, the funding agency, the institution and the principal investigator are supposed to develop a "risk mitigation plan." This could include efforts to change the way research is done, the move to a safer lab, and communicate to the public and other scientists responsibly. for particularly problematic studies, agencies will determine whether to seek "voluntary redaction of research publications or communications" or to display results .
the policy, which seems to take effect immediately, requires agencies to report to the White House within 60 days on the proposed number or current studies focus on 15 targeted agents, and within 0 days on how many projects Durc comments identified.
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