Genomics Databases: Striking a Balance for Information Sharing

美国国家研究委员会将召集一个委员会监督为期一天的研讨会，该研讨会将确定向公众发布生物恐怖主义威胁因子基因组数据的相关问题。本次研讨会将作为NRC相关活动的补充，包括2003年1月9日关于生命科学“双重用途”信息的研讨会，2003年1月23日至24日关于生物技术和生物恐怖主义：预测未来威胁和对策的研讨会，以及正在进行的关于提高研究标准和实践以防止滥用生物技术研究的研究。委员会将按照核管理委员会的标准程序任命，以确保成员具有适当的专业知识，没有不适当的偏见。该委员会的任命将在发起人、NRC董事会成员和其他生物恐怖主义领域专家的建议成员征集之后进行。然后，委员会将为为期一天的研讨会设计议程，确定并邀请演讲者。议程将旨在促进对以下问题的互动和讨论。——最令人担忧的基因组数据类别是什么？——对此类数据的无限制访问和限制访问的利弊是什么，包括对科学界或国家安全构成的威胁？—在决定是否向公共领域发布时，有哪些选择？在研讨会之后，委员会将根据研讨会的结果撰写一份报告。讲习班和随后的报告将加强对有关向公众发布生物恐怖主义威胁物基因组序列数据信息的政策问题的理解。包括机构间基因组学协调委员会在内的多元化社区将从对话和后来的最终报告中受益，该报告可用于继续就这些问题进行辩论，并推动国家和国际政策向前发展。工程将于二零零三年八月三十一日完成。

The National Research Council will convene a committee to oversee a one-day workshop that will identify issues surrounding the release to the public domain of genomic data for bioterrorism threat agents. This workshop will be designed to complement related NRC activities, including the January 9, 2003 workshop on "Dual Use" Information in the Life Sciences, the January 23-24, 2003 workshop on Biotechnology and Bioterrorism: Anticipating Future Threats and Countermeasures, and the ongoing study on Improving Research Standards and Practices to Prevent the Misuse of Biotechnology Research. The committee will be appointed in accordance with standard NRC procedures designed to ensure that the membership has appropriate expertise and lacks inappropriate bias. The appointment of the committee will follow the solicitation of suggested members from sponsors, NRC board members and other experts in the field of bioterrorism. The committee will then design an agenda and identify and invite speakers for the one-day workshop. The agenda will be designed to facilitate interaction and discussion on the following questions. --What are the categories of genomic data that present the greatest concern? --What are the pros and cons of unlimited versus restricted access to such data, including threats posed to the scientific community or to national security? --What are some options for making decisions about release to the public domain?Following the workshop the committee will author a report based upon the results of the workshop. The workshop and subsequent report will enhance understanding of the policy issues surrounding the release to the public domain of information on the genomic sequence data of bioterrorism threat agents. A diverse community, including the interagency genomics coordinating committee, will benefit from the dialogue and later the final report, which can be used to continue the debate about these issues and move national and international policy forward. The project will be completed within August 31, 2003.