Oversight of Dual-Use Biological Research: The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity

Abstract

Policymakers have addressed the threat of biological weapons and biosecurity issues for many years. An issue garnering increased attention is the potential for life sciences research intended to enhance scientific understanding and public health to generate results that could be misused to advance biological weapon effectiveness. Such research has been called dual-use research because of its applicability to both biological countermeasures and biological weapons.