Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Biodefense research: can secrecy and safety coexist?

Laura H Kahn1

  • 1Program on Science and Global Security, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08542, USA. Lkahn@princeton.edu

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism : Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
|July 1, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Balancing national security secrecy with community safety is crucial for high-containment biological research. Open communication and worker vigilance are key to preventing and managing laboratory-acquired infections.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Changing Ecosystems and the Role of One Health: Engaging Public Health Professionals.

American journal of public health·2025
Same author

Who coined the term "One Health"? Cooperation amid the siloization.

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2024
Same author

Editorial: Challenges and successes of One Health in the context of planetary health in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Frontiers in public health·2023
Same author

From the Approach to the Concept: One Health in Latin America-Experiences and Perspectives in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.

Frontiers in public health·2021
Same author

Developing a one health approach by using a multi-dimensional matrix.

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2021
Same author

Commentary: A One Health approach to coronaviruses.

International journal of epidemiology·2020

Area of Science:

  • Biosecurity and Public Health Policy
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Laboratory Safety and Security

Background:

  • Significant US investment in developing countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons.
  • Research on highly virulent pathogens is increasingly conducted in academic settings.
  • Tension exists between national security secrecy and community access to safety information.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore challenges in balancing national security secrecy with community right-to-know for select agents.
  • To examine issues related to laboratory-acquired infections and public health preparedness.
  • To highlight the importance of transparency and information sharing in high-containment research environments.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing federal select agent legislation and emergency planning requirements.
Keywords:
Biomedical and Behavioral ResearchWar and Human Rights Abuses

Related Experiment Videos

  • Discussion of the implications of secrecy on public health and safety information access.
  • Review of the knowns and unknowns regarding the epidemiology of laboratory-acquired infections.

    • Main Results:

    • Secrecy, while defended for national security, can lead to misinterpretation and restricted access to vital public health information.
    • Current emergency plans for laboratories may not adequately include public health professionals.
    • Lack of a national surveillance system hinders understanding of laboratory-acquired infection incidence and severity.

    Conclusions:

    • Effective biosecurity requires integrating community safety information access with national security needs.
    • Laboratory workers play a critical role; reporting all incidents and seeking timely medical attention is essential.
    • Enhanced surveillance and inclusive emergency planning are necessary to mitigate risks associated with high-containment research.