Senior Scholar Gigi Gronvall, PhD, and colleagues submit emerging biotechnologies paper at Biological Weapons Convention meeting of experts

July 29, 2019 – Gigi Gronvall, PhD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and her colleagues, Diane DiEuliis, PhD, and Amanda Moodie, MA, scholars at the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, prepared a document to be submitted to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) by the United States at the Meeting of Experts on Review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention taking place in Geneva from July 31 until August 2, 2019.

The paper, “Approaches to Risk and Benefit Assessment for Advances in the Life Sciences,” describes the components of scientific risk assessment and outlines existing risk assessment tools of relevance to the BWC, including those developed by the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), Jonathan B. Tucker, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. It evaluates the possible “dual-use” implications for bioweapons development. The paper highlights additional risk management tools and discusses approaches to weighing potential benefits of biotechnologies.

Their paper was submitted to the BWC by the United States.

About the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security:

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security works to protect people from epidemics and disasters and build resilient communities through innovative scholarship, engagement, and research that strengthens the organizations, systems, policies, and programs essential to preventing and responding to public health crises. The Center is part of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is in Baltimore, MD.