Pathogens with Pandemic Potential Topic of Upcoming NSABB Meeting

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has scheduled a
public meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity
(NSABB) for May 5, 2015, in Bethesda, Maryland. Topics of discussion at
the meeting will reportedly include (i) NSABB’s proposed framework
for guiding risk and benefit assessments of gain-of-function (GOF)
studies involving pathogens and toxins deemed to have pandemic
potential; (ii) the process of conducting the risk and benefit assessments;
and (iii) the board’s future deliberations on the GOF issue. Information
about registration, webcast access and submitting comments is available
on the National Institutes of Health website. See Federal Register, April
8, 2015.

Issue 561