Conference organized by:

Center for Biosecurity of UPMC

World Health Organization Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response Office

Conference sponsored by:

The Nuclear Threat Initiative

Anthrax-EuroNet: Challenges of Scientific Research Communication on High Risk Agents
Presenter: Dr. Amanda Ozin

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How should scientific research on potentially dangerous agents be conducted and coordinated? How should the results be disseminated to prevent the misuse of information? Dr. Ozin addressed these questions in her discussion of the Anthrax-EuroNet, a network of industry, academia, education, and public health professionals and organizations formed to strengthen networking activities among anthrax researchers and harmonize best research practices.

Currently, it is difficult to compare results of anthrax experiments performed in different laboratories because of the many different existing animal models, strains, and protocols. Through networking and the establishment of standards, Anthrax-EuroNet aims to improve the comparability of data results, minimize waste, and accelerate development of safe vaccines and therapeutics. Anthrax-EuroNet is also hoping to become part of a larger "network of networks" which, in the future, will work to coordinate and set priorities for research into dangerous pathogens.

Anthrax EuroNet is now working to revise questionnaires it designed to identify problems in labs in the U.S. and Europe that may be remedied through coordination among anthrax researchers. Last year's questionnaire was unsuccessful in eliciting much information, as "biosecurity issues" about the exchange of sensitive information prevented many labs from completing the form. Future projects will include developing a handbook for anthrax researchers and convening meetings and symposia on biosecurity issues and regulations.

Dr. Ozin also identified strategies for addressing the dual-use dilemma of research on dangerous pathogens, namely, how to communicate information that can be used for beneficent as well as nefarious purposes. Such strategies include forming international scientific advisory/review boards, developing a self-governance �code of conduct� for researchers, and encouraging open communication among scientists, journals, and the public on how to address potential security threats.

- Summary by Brad Kramer

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