Scientists as soon as the second week of April might be able to resume
work related to a pair of studies that increased the transmissibility of
the avian flu virus, the leader of one of the projects said on Monday
in remarks reported by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and
Policy.
Bioterrorism concerns prompted the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity last year to call for withholding some data from separate studies conducted at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) that boosted the potential for the virus to be passed through the air between ferrets. A panel of experts formed by the World Health Organization last month backed an existing suspension of the research but urged the release of the full findings after a period of months.
The two teams of scientists in January agreed to a nonmandatory study suspension that lapsed on March 20, said Ron Fouchier, who oversaw the research in the Netherlands. Multiple countries have yet to complete reviews of biological material protections at research sites, he said; the reports would comprise one aspect of a plan linked to the WHO panel's February gathering.
The U.S. biodefense panel is slated on Thursday and Friday to examine the most recent versions of articles based on the studies, Fouchier said. Fouchier and Wisconsin study head Yoshihiro Kawaoka are set to participate in an April 3-4 British Royal Society conference in London that is also expected to bring together delegates from the federal panel, managers for the two journals that agreed to withhold components of the research, and numerous specialists in areas including bird flu, biological defense and studies with both peaceful and weapons applications.
Input from all participants would factor into considerations by scientists, but the two research teams and the publications Nature and Science would ultimately determine the timing and other specifics for issuing the studies, Fouchier said.
A possible measure under consideration in the Netherlands would aim to restrict the release of the Dutch study's findings using trade regulations, Fouchier added. "In our opinion," Dutch officials could not invoke the rules in such a manner, he said.
The comprehensive release of data from each project would aid in addressing concerns over the "virulence" of the altered virus strains, he added .
Separately, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Monday stood by its February statement on the controversy
http://www.nti.org/gsn/
Bioterrorism concerns prompted the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity last year to call for withholding some data from separate studies conducted at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) that boosted the potential for the virus to be passed through the air between ferrets. A panel of experts formed by the World Health Organization last month backed an existing suspension of the research but urged the release of the full findings after a period of months.
The two teams of scientists in January agreed to a nonmandatory study suspension that lapsed on March 20, said Ron Fouchier, who oversaw the research in the Netherlands. Multiple countries have yet to complete reviews of biological material protections at research sites, he said; the reports would comprise one aspect of a plan linked to the WHO panel's February gathering.
The U.S. biodefense panel is slated on Thursday and Friday to examine the most recent versions of articles based on the studies, Fouchier said. Fouchier and Wisconsin study head Yoshihiro Kawaoka are set to participate in an April 3-4 British Royal Society conference in London that is also expected to bring together delegates from the federal panel, managers for the two journals that agreed to withhold components of the research, and numerous specialists in areas including bird flu, biological defense and studies with both peaceful and weapons applications.
Input from all participants would factor into considerations by scientists, but the two research teams and the publications Nature and Science would ultimately determine the timing and other specifics for issuing the studies, Fouchier said.
A possible measure under consideration in the Netherlands would aim to restrict the release of the Dutch study's findings using trade regulations, Fouchier added. "In our opinion," Dutch officials could not invoke the rules in such a manner, he said.
The comprehensive release of data from each project would aid in addressing concerns over the "virulence" of the altered virus strains, he added .
Separately, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Monday stood by its February statement on the controversy
http://www.nti.org/gsn/
