Review Proposes a National Framework for Managing Dual-Use Research Risks

Review Proposes a National Framework for Managing Dual-Use Research Risks

On August 31, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology published a review by Ruihan Zhang. The author identifies five risk pathways and assigns eleven measures to three stages of implementation.

Dual-use research is legitimate work in the life sciences whose results could be used to cause harm. Zhang proposes managing risk across the entire research process: when a project receives funding and undergoes review, during routine laboratory work, when results are published, and when public health services respond to an unusual case.

Each of the five pathways begins with a different type of event. A laboratory accident requires risk management within the laboratory. Misuse by a staff member with legitimate access requires security measures and an environment in which concerns can be reported. A cyberattack may affect laboratory equipment, security systems, and data. Further risks arise when research is conducted outside established institutions and when publications make harmful applications of research findings easier.

The first stage establishes a shared regulatory framework, project assessment by scientific organizations, and epidemiological surveillance, which tracks unusual cases within the healthcare system. These measures divide responsibility between research organizations and healthcare services. In the second stage, laboratories introduce routine risk management, response plans, protection for healthcare and laboratory staff, safeguards against misuse of authorized access, and communication with the public. The third stage covers the protection of digital systems, responsible publication policies, and international exchange of experience.

This structure identifies who assesses a project, who detects an unusual case, and who takes responsibility when a risk extends beyond the laboratory. The author also includes healthcare professionals, laboratory staff, and emergency response services in the framework. Safety depends on the people who encounter a threat first and on coordination between their actions.