April 2, 2012

the risks and rewards of H5N1 avian flu research

Speakers:
Professor Paul Keim, Acting Chair of the NSABB, Northern Arizona University
Sir John Skehel, Organiser of the Royal Society meeting, MRC National Institute For Medical Research
Professor Ron Fouchier, Professor of Molecular Virology, Erasmus MC in Rotterdam

In late 2011 two teams of researchers carried out research into man-made variants of H5N1 avian flu which could be transmitted between mammals. The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) requested that papers describing the research be redacted before publication, opening up a wide-ranging debate about the ethics and safety of conducting and publishing research which engineers dangerous pathogens.

Preceding a public meeting that the Royal Society hosted for researchers, publishers, policymakers and others on the controversy, the SMC brought together three key experts to speak to UK journalists.