Industry Association Synthetic Biology Biological Weapons Convention Meeting Geneva, 2008-12-03
Synthetic Biology as an Industrial Field • About 50 dedicated DNA synthesis companies worldwide • Rapidly growing technical capabilities • Complete viral genomes can be synthesized • Complete bacterial genomes within reach • Systems biology and knowledge of biological networks expands fast 2 www.ia-sb.eu
Global Players • IASB members • USA – ATG Biosynthetics – Blue Heron GmbH – Codon Devices – Biomax Informatics AG – DNA 2.0 – Entelechon GmbH – IDT – febit holding GmbH – CODA Genomics – Sloning Biotechnology GmbH • Asia and Australia – Geneworks • Europe – Bioneer – Geneart AG – BioBasic – MWG Eurofins AG – SunGene 3 www.ia-sb.eu
Founding of the Industry Association Synthetic Biology • Germany is a hot spot for Synthetic Biology • Founding members share same perspective on biosafety and biosecurity • Aim was to set the foundation for secure and responsible development of the field • Leverage the potential of SB for benefitial applications 4 www.ia-sb.eu
Goals • Increase biosecurity and biosafety of SB • Develop and harmonize best practises • Create a Code of Conduct • Promote the field • Engage in an open discourse with the public • Create a platform for international collaboration 5 www.ia-sb.eu
Activities • Ongoing dialog with government agencies and industry players • Participation in SB 3.0, SB 4.0 and SynBioSafe • Workshop on ‘Technical Solutions for Improved Biosecurity in Synthetic Biology‘ • April 2008 • Resulted in 5 work packages for IASB and other industry members 6 www.ia-sb.eu
Work Packages 1. Virulence Factor database VIREP 2. Article on status quo in SB 3. Technical Biosecurity Group 4. Seal of Approval: Harmonized screening practises and commitment to biosecurity screening 5. Code of Conduct 7 www.ia-sb.eu
Seal of Approval • All IASB members do screen • Advertise the fact • Create an incentive for other vendors • Demonstrate to customers that screening is broadly implemented • Create a platform for more specific best practises 8 www.ia-sb.eu
Requirements • Preserve freedom of research • Leave door open for benefitial developments – Vaccines – Insights into pathogenicity mechanisms • Provide tangible directions for companies • Increase legal certainty for market players 9 www.ia-sb.eu
Aims • Raise barriers for malign attackers • Encourage continued improvements and harmonization • Promote international dialogue • Protect Synthetic Biology from abuse and promote the field 10 www.ia-sb.eu
Articles (1/4) - DRAFT • Records of suspicious inquiries and positive screening hits will be kept • Statistics on biosecurity and biosafety related inquiries and orders will be kept • Authorities will be informed about inquiries and orders that clearly indicate illegal activities – such as attempts at concealing a non- business delivery address 11 www.ia-sb.eu
Articles (2/4) - DRAFT • Responsible business practises that promote the field and help to leverage its potential • Screen customers • Do not ship to PO boxes or residential addresses • Verify addresses of businesses and institutions, and make sure that the address owner is a legitimate, registered organization 12 www.ia-sb.eu
Articles (3/4) - DRAFT • Screen DNA sequences • Against all Australia Group biological dual-use organisms – For bacteria, against all known genomic and plasmid transcripts – For viruses, against all known genomic sequences – For eukaryotes, against all known genomic and plasmid transcripts – For toxins, against the toxin gene sequences 13 www.ia-sb.eu
Articles (4/4) - DRAFT • Against Select Agent list • Against national organism lists for export control or biological safety / security protocols • When a hit comes up, – notify customer – accept order only if customer is legitimate user and all national and international regulations have been met 14 www.ia-sb.eu
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