DUAL -USE RESEARCH AND THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES

Rapid advances in the life sciences and technologies , and their diffusion and convergence with other disciplines, hold great promises to improve our health, societies and environment. Emerging and existing technologies can bring transformational opportunities that play a critical role to support the mission of the World Health Organization (WHO) WHO. However, advances and developments  in life sciences and associated technologies can pose risks , including safety and security risks that can cause accidental, unintended or deliberate harm to humans , animals , agriculture and our environment. 

In September 2022, WHO issued the Global Guidance Framework for the responsible use of the life sciences: mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research.
The guidance calls on WHO Member States and other stakeholders to mitigate biorisks and safely govern dual-use research.

This is a global, technical and normative framework for informing the development of national frameworks and approaches for mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research. The framework is intended as the starting point for the development and strengthening of biorisk management, which relies on three core pillars: laboratory biosafety, laboratory biosecurity and the oversight of dual-use research. The framework raises awareness about the importance of undertaking biorisk management within the context of the One Health approach to optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

In fostering the responsible use of life sciences , WHO calls on Member States and relevant stakeholders to anticipate and mitigate biorisks and govern dual-use research. Foresight helps in proactively identifying emerging trends and discussing possible opportunities and risks, so that issues that hold great potential can be better anticipated and prepared for.

A Technical Advisory Group  (AG) has been put in place to act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.

Functions

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the AG shall have the following functions:

  1. To provide, review and make recommendations to WHO on the scientific, technical and strategic aspects relevant to the monitoring and mitigation of biorisks and advances in the life sciences and related technologies, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences;
  2. To identify gaps, challenges, strengths and opportunities and recommend priorities to WHO and the technical relevant unit “Emerging Technologies, Research Prioritisation and Support (EPS)” on the scientific, technical and strategic aspects relevant to the anticipation, prevention and mitigation of biorisks, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences;
  3. To advise on the work and activities of the WHO project of “Ensuring the responsible use of the life sciences: mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research”, part of the EPS unit; and
  4. Upon request by WHO, to advise WHO on a reporting mechanism relevant to the

mitigation of biorisks, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences.

Source:

LINK: https://www.who.int/groups/technical-advisory-group-on-the-responsible-use-of-the-life-sciences-and-dual-use-research-(tag-ruls-dur)

The WHO Academy–hosted training course Dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

The Global Guidance Framework can be downloaded here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240056107