Canadian scientists call for biotech vigil

In a report, the Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health (CPGGH), part of the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB), calls for a global network of scientists to both promote biotechnology research to fight disease, hunger and poverty, especially in the developing world, and to keep vigil against the misuse of biological science.

The report calls on world leaders at the G8 meeting in July 2006 to establish a global network to help resolve potential conflicts between bioterrorism control and biotechnology development.

“The need to foster bioscience for development, and the pursuit of biosecurity are in a delicate balance,” said study co-author Dr Peter Singer. “Our report says: lead with biodevelopment, and biosecurity will follow. Lead with biosecurity, and we may end up with neither. It recommends industrialized countries invest in scientific facilities and personnel abroad, to gain legitimacy to also ensure that those facilities, and bioscience facilities more generally, take appropriate precautions against science misuse.”

The CPGGH report says investing in and fostering biotechnology development internationally will create the environment and conditions within which to fight bioterrorism, especially in the developing world, by building the network of experts needed to spot attempts to misuse the science.

According to Dr Singer, the proposed international network strategy is akin to asking public transit riders or airport travelers to be alert to and report suspicious activities.