Ethical and Philosophical Considerations for Gain-of-Function Policy: The Importance of Alternate Experiments

Ethical and Philosophical Considerations for Gain-of-Function Policy: The Importance of Alternate Experiments

Nicholas Greig Evans

The Department of Health and Human Services Framework for Guiding Funding Decisions about Proposed Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens (PPPs) contains a series of principles for governing the funding and conduct of gain-of-function (GOF) research resulting in the creation of PPPs. In this article, I address one of these principles, governing the replacement of GOF research with alternate experiments. I argue that the principle fails to address the way that different experiments can promote the same values as those promoted by GOF research resulting in PPPs. I then address some objections to this claim, and provide policy recommendations moving forward.

2018

gain-of-function, Biosecurity, Dual use research, biosafety, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, coronavirus

DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00011

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Frontiers Media S.A.

Biotechnology

EN