
NTI | bio Offers Biosecurity Solutions at the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference
NTI | bio experts contributed to the 9th Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva.
In a new perspective penned for Science and Diplomacy, NTI | bio’s Margaret Hamburg, Jaime Yassif, Hayley Severance and former NTI David A. Hamburg Distinguished Fellow R. Alta Charo highlight the increasing risks of accidental or deliberate misuse of modern bioscience and biotechnology, and propose the establishment of a new organization—the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS)—to address this challenge and enable bioscience to flourish, safely and responsibly.
The challenging but vital work of reducing emerging biological risks associated with rapid technology advances is a peripheral concern of many stakeholders, and no international organization makes this their primary mission. National governments also have not been able to keep pace with these rapid advances and provide effective oversight for dual-use bioscience research. The authors suggest that “gaps in the biosecurity architecture highlight the need for a new international entity—one that spans multiple disciplines and sectors—focused on reducing the risks of catastrophic consequences due to accidents or the deliberate abuse of bioscience and biotechnology.”
The proposed new organization, IBBIS, will work collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative, practical tools to uphold them. NTI has convened an international steering group of experts to guide the development of this new, independent organization.
IBBIS is being designed to engage in the following types of activities:
To safeguard the benefits of bioscience and biotechnology research and development, the authors call on leaders from government, academia, philanthropy, and international organizations to support IBBIS and related efforts that promote responsible stewardship of science.
Read “Taking Action to Safeguard Bioscience and Protect Against Future Global Biological Risks” on the Science and Diplomacy website here.
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NTI | bio experts contributed to the 9th Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva.
NTI | bio partnered with Carnegie India as a "knowledge partner" for the 2022 Global Technology Summit and led two sessions on global biosecurity and biosafety.
NTI experts briefed government representatives at a G7 working group meeting in Berlin.