Lessons learned from research that led to debate on dual use - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Lessons learned from research that led to debate on dual use Christianne Bruschke Arnold Dwarkasing Rik Bleijs

Spanish Flu 2

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Infectious Disease Research Loss-of-function • Take virulent/transmissible/resistant virus and test how it can loose these functions Gain-of function • Take non-virulent/non-transmissible/sensitive virus and test how it gain these functions Reduction of biological threats Induction of biological threats/ Dual Use 4

Biosafety : keep bad bugs away from people Biosecurity : keep bad people away from bugs Murray L. Cohen, NSABB National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity 5

Biosecurity pillars Personnel Material Information Response Security Accoun- Security Physical Transport Management & tability Security Security Awareness Organisation

Biosecurity policy in The Netherlands Aims of the Government: Reducing the risk of misuse of biological agents • Safe and effective action in case of emergencies (response) • Targets of the Government: Integrate Biosafety and Biosecurity -> develop biorisk policy • Further strengthen the implementation of international conventions • Link with existing biosafety management • Outreach and awareness raising among biosecurity professionals • and scientists Bottom-up approach 7

The Netherlands Biosecurity Office • Advice on biosecurity policy development • Integrate biosafety and biosecurity • Link biosafety management • Biorisk professional Government • Outreach, bottom-up, awareness 8 Professionals 8

Biosecurity Self-scan toolkit ● Indication of the current biosecurity level Biosecurity Network ● Identify potential gaps ● Legal basis and a set of good practices http://www.biosecuritytoolkit.com 9 The Netherlands Biosecurity Office | 28 April 2017 www.bureaubiosecurity.nl

Biosecurity Vulnerability Scan http://www.biosecurityvulnerabilityscan.nl

Dual-use considerations in the research chain: from grant application to publication Idea Funding Research Manuscript Publication Many 0 time years Be aware of potential dual-use issues throughout the whole research chain 11

Current legislation in the Netherlands Biosecurity/Dual Use: ● Council regulation EC 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items 12

Further developments • Interministerial working group working on: • Accompanying legislation • Classification of pathogens • Notification obligation • …. • Biorisk Officer 13

Conclusion • Substantial threat of biological agents. • Awareness raising through bottom up approach • Government responsible for accompanying legislation 14

Acknowledgements • Ron Fouchier, E rasmus Medical Centre • Niels Berg, Ministry of Economic Affairs • Maaike van den Biggelaar, Ministry of Health Welfare and Sports • Gerlof Kruithof, Kees Jan Steenhoek, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15