(C-SPAN) The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on dual-use research and how it can be used for bioterrorism. In recent years, concerns over dual-use research, which can be used for both beneficial scientific and medical purposes and bioterrorism, have grown due to advances in biotechnology that allow us create synthetic viruses in the laboratory.Following 9/11 and the 2001 Anthrax attacks, the National Academy of Sciences released a report in 2003 entitled “Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism” which made recommendations for handling dual-use research.

On December 9, 2011 the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) sponsored a workshop, The Intersection of Science and Security: a Case Study Approach, Continuing the global dialogue with the scientific and science policy community: focus on Asia and the Western Pacific. The purpose of this workshop was to give attendees a greater understanding of dual use research, including an awareness of strategies for managing dual use research of concern and an appreciation of how these issues are being addressed around the globe. The workshop utilized published articles as case studies, involving Mousepox and a SARS-like virus, as examples of dual use research of concern that highlight issues which investigators, institutions, journal editors, governments, and the scientific and security policy communities need to consider.