NIH. Statement on NSABB´s March 30, 2012 Recommendations to NIH on H5N1 Research. NIH
April 14, 2012
On March 29-30, 2012, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) was convened to examine two revised manuscripts regarding the transmissibility of the H5N1 avian flu virus in ferrets.
The NSABB is an independent federal advisory committee chartered to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and all Federal entities that conduct, support, or have an interest in life sciences research regarding biosecurity oversight of dual use research, defined as biological research with legitimate scientific purpose that may be misused to pose a biologic threat to public health and/or national security.
After careful deliberation, the NSABB unanimously recommended that the revised manuscript submitted by Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka be communicated in full. The NSABB also recommended, in a 12-to-6 decision, that the data, methods, and conclusions presented in the revised manuscript submitted by Dr. Ron Fouchier be communicated after appropriate further scientific review and revision. A final recommendation of these two revised manuscripts regarding the transmissibility of the H5N1 avian flu virus in ferrets will be made by the HHS Secretary and brought to the broader U.S. government.
In addition, in their final recommendations submitted to NIH yesterday, the NSABB also made two other thoughtful recommendations about future approaches to the challenges presented by oversight of dual use research. Those recommendations are being carefully reviewed and considered. HHS will continue to work with scientific and national security experts, the public, and the international community regarding the long term recommendations on dual use research.
I want to take this occasion to express my sincere gratitude to the NSABB members, who have worked tirelessly to study the issue carefully, hear directly from the experts, and weigh the benefits and risks of making the research data public.
The full NSABB recommendations can be found at http://www.nih.gov/about/director/03302012_NSABB_Recommendations.pdf. (PDF - 268 KB)
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Latest developments in early diagnosis and specific treatment of severe influenza infection 13 minute(s) ago
- Factors affecting highly pathogenic avian influenza vaccination practices at poultry farms in Tra Vinh, Vietnam 14 minute(s) ago
- Establishment of Swine Primary Nasal, Tracheal, and Bronchial Epithelial Cell Culture Models for the Study of Influenza Virus Infection 22 hours ago
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in pinnipeds and seabirds in Uruguay: implications for bird-mammal transmission in South America 22 hours ago
- Development and evaluation of a multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of H5, H7, and H9 subtype avian influenza viruses 1 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]