Mandate for Failure The State of Institutional Biosafety Committees in an Age of Biological Weapons Research Results and Recommendations of the Sunshine Project Survey of Institutional Biosafety Committees October 4, 2004 The Sunshine Project (US Office) PO Box 41987 Austin TX 78704 512 494 0545
[email protected] www.sunshine-project.org The Sunshine Project, Mandate for Failure: The State of Institutional Biosafety Committees in an Age of Biological Weapons Research, p 2. CONTENTS I ABOUT THIS REPORT 3 II RESULTS SUMMARY 4 III METHODS AND CONDUCT 5 IV RESPONSE RATE 8 V TRANSPARENCY RATINGS: OVERALL AND BY SECTOR 9 VI TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT OF PRIVATE SECTOR LABS 12 Some Private Companies with NIH Funding and No NIH-Registered Biosafety Committee 14 Community IBC Members: A Question of Qualifications or a Case of Inbreeding? 15 USDA Biotechnology Grants and the NIH Guidelines 16 VII TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT LABS 16 Out of their League? 20 Recommendations, Part 1: Baby Steps 21 VIII MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS 22 IX TRANSPARENCY RATINGS BY INSTITUTION 25 ANNEXES 1. BIOSAFETY BITES (EDITED) 34 2. HALL OF SHAME 46 The Sunshine Project, Mandate for Failure: The State of Institutional Biosafety Committees in an Age of Biological Weapons Research, p 3. I ABOUT THIS REPORT This report on the transparency and operation of Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBCs) is the result of an eight-month survey involving 390 committees across the United States. Historically, IBCs have the responsibility, at the institution level, to protect human health and the environment from the risks of biotechnology research. Now, the mandate of IBCs is expanding to include biological weapons research.