The benefits of biological research are without question, but aspects of this work can be misused for malevolent purposes as well. As responsible scientists, we need to think more broadly about experiments with etiologic agents and recombinant DNA, and consider the potential for unintended adverse events and the prospect for misuse of these findings. As was the case with the advent of recombinant DNA technology in the 1970's, it is far better for us to be educated and responsible than to have undue restrictions placed upon us by regulatory bodies. A recent report from the National Research Council makes a series of useful recommendations on this topic. Specifically, they have identified areas of investigation about which concerns might be raised, and identify the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) as a useful advisory group for investigators as they consider these points.

Whenever you plan an experiment, the IBC asks you to consider if your work may inadvertently:

• Demonstrate how to render an animal or human vaccine ineffective;

• Confer resistance to antibiotics or antiviral agents which are used therapeutically to control diseases in humans, animals, or crops;

• Enhance the virulence of a plant, animal, or human pathogen or render a nonpathogen virulent;

• Increase transmissibility of a pathogen within or between species;

• Alter the host range of a plant, animal, or human pathogen, including making nonzoonotics into zoonotic agents;

• Enable the evasion of diagnostic or detection modalities;

• Enable the weaponization of a biological agent or toxin, including environmental stabilization of pathogens.

Some experiments of concern are obvious: making B. anthracis resistant to ciprofloxacin, for example. Others may be more subtle, however, and therefore we ask that you think carefully about your experiments. Research falling into these categories should not necessarily be discouraged due to its potential benefits. If you are concerned that your work may have any of these characteristics you are encouraged to initiate a discussion with the IBC.

E-mail: IBCquestions@umich.edu
IBC office: 936-3934
IBC Chair, Michael Imperiale: 763-9162
UM Biosafety Officer, Michael Hanna: 647-2318

List of "experiments of concern" and examples are from the National Research Council, Committee on Research Standards and Practices to Prevent the Destructive Application of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism, The National Academies Press, 2004, pp. 5-6. Report can be viewed online at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10827.html