Current Projects

Assessing Fundamental Attitudes of Life Scientists as a Basis for Biosecurity Education Development, Security and Cooperation and the Board on Life Sciences In conjunction with AAAS, The National Academies conducted a survey of life scientists during the summer of 2007 to assess their attitudes and opinions on dual-use life science research, biosecurity, and responsibility for preventing the misuse of information, processes, or findings of scientific research. Click here to go the project’s website.

The International Biosecurity Project Development, Security and Cooperation The International Biosecurity Project (IBP) works to promote implementation of the international recommendations of the National Academies report Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism. A collaboration among several units at The National Academies, the project’s overarching goal is to develop and promote more effective international strategies to reduce the risk that advances in life sciences research could be misused. A key element involves working with international partners – other academies and international scientific organizations, as well as a wide range of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations. Click here to go the project’s website.

Forum on Microbial Threats Institute of Medicine In its 1992 report, Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) pointed to some major challenges for the public health and medical care communities in detecting and managing infectious disease outbreaks and monitoring the prevalence of endemic diseases. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Infectious Diseases developed a national strategy for doing so and, with the National Institutes of Health's National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, asked the IOM to convene a Forum on Emerging Infections that would serve as a follow-up activity for these initiatives. In 2003, the Forum changed its name to the Forum on Microbial Threats. The Forum has hosted a series of informative workshops and produced a number of reports. Click here to go to the Forum’s Website.

Standing Committee on Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Board on Life Sciences, Board on Army Science and Technology, and Institute of Medicine The committee’s principal function is to serve as a steering committee to coordinate studies requested by the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center related to biodefense analysis in support of the Department of Homeland Security.

Testing and Evaluation of Biological Stand-off Detection Systems Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology and the Board on Life Sciences An ad hoc committee will evaluate the requirements for and feasibility of whole system testing of biological stand-off detection systems using active biological warfare agents (BWA) and issue a report. The committee will --Review the scope, adequacy, and limitations of current and potential near-future biological stand-off detection system testing protocols and methodologies, and --Identify what test protocols and methodologies should be adopted to ensure that current and future biological stand-off detection systems will meet operational requirements and why. In particular, the review will consider the use of (1) active BWA testing, (2) inactivated BWA testing, and (3) simulants/agent like organisms (ALO) testing, and --Discuss the knowledge and confidence gained for each level of testing as well as the shortfalls and risks associated with each, and --For each of the three options (active BWA testing; inactivated BWA testing; ALO testing) comment on the relative scientific and technological risks, and discuss the relative cost/benefit and risk/benefit. This should include consideration of regulatory issues that would affect each level of testing. Click here to view more information on this project.

Units of Measurement for Biological Materials in the Testing and Evaluation of Aerosol Detection Systems Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology and the Board on Life Sciences This project will address the use of measurement in the testing of aerosol detectors. The U.S. Army's current requirements for evaluating aerosol detectors are stated in Agent Containing Particles per Liter of Air (ACPLA). However, there is not an adequate mechanism for determining if equipment meets the standard. The Army seeks a standard unit of measure that can be used for biological material independent of the state of the material (aerosol or aerosol resuspended in liquid) and independent of agent type (bacteria, virus, or toxin). Click here for more information on this project.