The much-anticipated policy, released by the White House, marks the U.S. government’s latest attempt to address decades-old concerns that researchers could create or enhance a deadly biological agent – such as a virus or other microbe – that somehow escapes the laboratory and threatens people or agriculture. Those fears grew after the COVID-19 pandemic, which some believe was sparked by a virus that had been engineered or was under study at a research facility in China. Others argue the evidence points to transmission from wild or farmed animals.

The 12-page policy includes several departures from past U.S. attempts to govern similar work. It appears to cover all pathogens, rather than limiting regulation to a specific list, such as only those with “pandemic potential.” It requires researchers and universities to identify any study that might produce a biological agent that would “significantly endanger” people or agriculture. They must thoroughly evaluate its risks and benefits before submitting a funding proposal to the government.
 

Source https://www.science.org/content/article/new-u-s-rules-risky-pathogen-research-draw-mixed-reviews

Another high-profile case has interested scientists. Read now