Against a backdrop of growing risks associated with advances in bioscience and biotechnology, NTI | bio and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation (CACNP) hosted a September 17 Congressional staff briefing on “Preventing Biological Catastrophe and Protecting the U.S. Bioeconomy.”
The event, which explored opportunities for Congress and the White House to mitigate the risks, featured a panel discussion on safeguarding evolving capabilities that arise from the combination of artificial intelligence with biotechnology and providing oversight of dual-use life science research of concern. Participants included:
Dr. Jaime Yassif, vice president of NTI Global Biological Policy and Programs (NTI | bio) moderated the panel discussion, and CACNP Executive Director and former Congressman John Tierney provided opening remarks.
Panelists offered perspectives on the rapid pace of advances in bioscience and biotechnology, and attendees had the opportunity to dig deeper into these topics with questions related to the nature of these evolving capabilities and dual-use life science research.
Panelists discussed whether Congress should consider establishing an agency to lead and serve as an innovation hub and to build biosecurity and biosafety into life sciences research, biotechnology, biomanufacturing activities, and awards, as well as a legal requirement to screen DNA synthesis orders coupled with incentives to make implementation achievable.
Engaging Congress and answering the question of how governments can help mitigate the risks while embracing the potential of emerging biotech are core pieces of NTI’s work to prevent global catastrophic biological risks. For further reading on these topics, including NTI’s recommendations for responsible governance of AI-bio related capabilities, see “The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Life Sciences.”
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