The Perils of Science to Create Pathogens: Controlling Biosafety and Biosecurity Threats

Advances in the field of biotechnology are providing tremendous promise with respect to new ways to combat disease, produce useful chemicals, and remediate environmental damage, to name a few applications. However, the same capabilities are becoming increasingly accessible to actors wishing to do harm to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Prof. Imperiale will discuss the results of a recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) study that provides a framework for assessing vulnerabilities that are posed by emerging biotechnologies, and the use of that framework to assess concerns related to a set of synthetic biology-enabled capabilities.

Michael Imperiale, PhD, is Associate Vice President for Research, Research Policy and Compliance at the University of Michigan. Imperiale leads the development and review of research policy, and serves as the key point of contact for research compliance. Imperiale is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and also oversees issues surrounding responsible conduct of research and serves as the institutional Research Integrity Officer.