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Experts Demand Tighter Monitoring to Stop Possible Pandemics Caused by Lab Accidents

Opinion

lab accidents, pandemic prevention, virus research oversight

Business Honor
25 July, 2024

A new strategy intends to control high-risk viral research, focusing on transparency and safety measures in the face of worldwide concerns.

In a recent opinion piece, experts Tom Inglesby, Anita Cicero, and Marc Lipsitch raised concerns about the risks connected with high-risk virus research. The article emphasizes how strict control is necessary to reduce the risk of unexpected pandemics originating in labs.

The experts stress the significance of a recently suggested policy by the U.S. government to supervise research involving diseases that have enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP). This policy, set to be fully implemented by May 2025, mandates high-level federal review and approval for any research that could potentially create more lethal or transmissible pathogens. It also addresses experiments that interfere with the human immune system's defenses and those involving resurrecting extinct viruses.

While praising the new policy as a significant improvement in safety measures, the experts also call for broader application beyond federally funded research. They advocate for transparency through quarterly reporting on PEPP research projects and the involvement of independent federal officials in decision-making processes.

The importance of preventing conflicts of interest within review processes and ensuring that researchers demonstrate the necessity and safety of their work rigorously was highlighted. By enhancing governance and transparency, the U.S. aims to set a global standard for safe and ethical high-risk virus research.