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Oversight of Dual-Use Research: What Role for Ethics Committees?
Maria Magdalena Guraiib1, Anna Laura Ross2, Andreas Frewer3
1Maria M. Guraiib, MPH, is a Technical Officer, in the Research for Health Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Health Security
|June 5, 2024
Summary
National ethics committees play a limited role in governing dual-use research risks, despite their potential. Strengthening multistakeholder oversight and international collaboration is recommended for responsible life sciences governance.
Area of Science:
- Life Sciences
- Bioethics
- Biosecurity Governance
Background:
- The World Health Organization's Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences highlights the importance of multisectoral engagement in managing biorisks.
- Dual-use research, with its significant social impact, necessitates robust ethical considerations, risk-benefit analysis, and trust.
- National ethics committees are identified as potential contributors to ethical guidance in decision-making processes for life sciences research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the specific role and contributions of national ethics committees in the governance and oversight of dual-use research at the national level.
- To analyze the current landscape of ethics committee activities concerning dual-use research oversight.
- To identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing the involvement of ethics committees in biorisk governance.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a landscape analysis of national ethics committees' activities in dual-use research oversight.
- Searched the WHO database on National Ethics Committees for relevant publications.
- Gathered additional documentation from national ethics committee websites and through author contacts.
Main Results:
- National ethics committees have contributed to policy guidance and risk assessment for dual-use research in a limited number of countries.
- The involvement of ethics committees varies significantly across different national oversight mechanisms.
- A need for coordinated, multistakeholder oversight mechanisms was identified.
Conclusions:
- National ethics committees' engagement in dual-use research governance is currently limited but holds significant potential.
- Recommendations include establishing coordinated, multistakeholder oversight and strengthening international cooperation.
- Integrating ethics committees as expert resources is crucial for effective governance of life sciences research and biorisks.
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