NEWS

Decisions to be made on biologically ‘sensitive’ research

The American Society for fears that new regulations could seriously around 40,000 members. Among other (ASM), which has come under recent at- harm academic openness, (Nature Med, 8, things, the new manuscript guidelines ask tack for publishing information in scien- 197; 2002). In response, the Massachusetts that all reviewers advise the editor, in con- tific manuscripts that some see as Institute of Technology (MIT) convened a fidence, “if, in their opinion, the manu- potentially helpful to terrorists, released faculty panel to establish new policies on script under review describes misuses of new guidelines last month in an effort to classified biological research. MIT—where microbiology or of information derived address the problem. These guidelines seek radar was invented during World War II— from microbiology.” If it does, appropriate to establish a clear strategy for handling addressed similar concerns in its engineer- steps will be taken in consultation with the manuscripts that deal with microbiological ing departments decades ago by Publications Board. See http://journals. agents that could have a bioterrorist appli- establishing a separate campus exclusively asm.org/misc/Pathogens_and_Toxins.shtml. cation; however, their creation highlights for classified engineering research. Atlas divides the problem into two sep- the lack of a consensus on this area in the The new panel’s report, issued 12 June, arate questions: “One is whether you scientific community, setting the stage for advocates a similar approach for the bio- should publish something or not.” Even a debate that strikes at the heart of scien- logical sciences; classified research or stud- if the government considers the research tific freedom. ies involving restricted pathogens would unclassified, ASM’s new policy allows Researchers and security experts have have to occur at a separate, off-campus fa- journal editors to act as a “secondary been asking whether certain scientific data cility provided by the university as a means screen,” to block the publication of a should be suppressed since February of of preserving academic openness on the paper that could aid terrorists. “The sec- 2001, when Australian virologists de- school’s main campus. ond question,” says Atlas, “which is re- scribed a strain of mousepox virus that The ASM’s move to draw up specific ally the one that drove me to send the http://www.nature.com/naturemedicine could kill mice that were immune to the guidelines relating to terrorist misuse of bi- letter to the National Academy ... is if you wild-type virus. The work appeared in the ological data demonstrates how much of are going to publish something can you ASM-affiliated Journal of Virology (75, 1205; an issue this is becoming for scientific jour- leave details out to prevent the informa- 2001). nals. A paper published in tion from being mis- But the debate remained academic until Science this July (Science used”. last September, when postal anthrax at- 297, 1016; 2002) describ- The ASM’s answer tacks in the US killed five and focused in- ing the synthesis of ain- to this is “No”. tense public attention on bioterrorism. fectious poliovirus from According to the soci- Last month’s suspension of State oligonucleotides in a cell- ety’s policy, all papers University (LSU) scientist, Steven Hatfill, free system raised public published in its jour- whose home has been searched by the concern that a similar nals must contain suf- Federal Bureau of Investigation in relation process could yield a ficient methodological to the anthrax attacks, has increased atten- deadly virus that might be details to reproduce

© Group 2002 Nature Publishing tion on the role of biomedical research and used in a bioterrorist at- the work. Atlas is its possible exploitation by terrorists. tack. Yet, the manuscript hopeful that the Hatfill, currently the Associate Director was criticised in a letter to NAS meeting, now of the National Center for Biomedical the journal last month by planned for this au- Research and Training at LSU, is a former biowarfare expert Steven AP Photo/Rick Bowmer tumn, will help other government bioweapons researcher (al- Block of Stanford Hatfill denies anthrax involvement journal publishers though his security clearance was can- University. Block says that adopt uniform stan- celled in September of 1999). Because of Science’s decision to pub- dards. the nature of his research, Hatfill has been lish the article amounted to “little more As for our own policy, Editor-in-Chief engaged with the US Army Medical than a stunt.” He has called for a “national of Nature Medicine and Editor of Nature, Research Institute for Infectious Diseases dialog among biologists, health-care ex- Philip Campbell says, "We keep in touch (USAMRIID) in Frederick, , and perts, politicians and the general public with people thinking about these issues genetic analysis of one of the anthrax-laced about the future of biological work with bi- to ensure that we are sensitive about letters indicates a strong correlation with a ological weapons implications.” them. Several years ago we rejected a strain developed at USAMRIID. Hatfill Ronald Atlas, president of ASM, says that paper because it constituted dangerous made a public statement last month an- since October, he has received five requests information—in nuclear technology nouncing that he has never worked with from researchers to withhold certain data rather than . Referees are typically anthrax. His latest research paper focuses from papers for security reasons, although quick to point to potential abuse of pub- on the mouse adaptation of the Ebola virus he refused to specify who wanted to with- lished information. But I've heard noth- as a model to study the pathogenesis of the hold information or from what papers. The ing so far to make me seriously question infection (J. Comp. Pathol. 125, 243; 2002). requests prompted Atlas to send a letter on our policy that research published in The anthrax attacks spurred drastic in- 22 July to the National Academy of Nature and its related journals should creases in government funding for biode- Sciences (NAS), asking that they convene a allow authors unrestricted access to key fense research and inspired new legislation conference for journal publishers to discuss data." aimed at curbing access to deadly the issue. Alan Dove, Philadelphia & pathogens. Yet scientists have expressed ASM publishes 11 journals and has Karen Birmingham, London

NATURE MEDICINE • VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 9 • SEPTEMBER 2002 905