In June 2024 CEPI announced the launch of the international Bio Funders Compact (BFC) in partnership with the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) at the 2024 Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, Australia. The Compact incorporates biosecurity into the biosciences research funding process to “safeguard life science research from accidental or intentional misuse”. Sentinel Bio, a new philanthropic fund, and the Global Health Security Fund, join NTI and CEPI as founding signatories.
Technology advances need an intervention
CEPI states that the world is experiencing a “revolution” driven by “rapid technological advances” and “accelerated by artificial intelligence”. Although these advances present “significant potential benefits” for the promotion of human health and pandemic preparedness while “fostering economic development and guarding against climate change”, there is also a risk of “accidents or deliberate misuse”.
“Life science funders and investors in government, philanthropy, and the private sector hold significant leverage at the beginning of the bioscience and biotechnology research and development lifecycle.”
However, CEPI suggests that “many funders” neglect “rigorous biosecurity reviews” in their decision-making processes, and there are no established best practices. Thus, the Bio Funders Compact will “address this critical gap”. NTI describes the BFC as an “impactful biosecurity intervention early in the bioscience and biotechnology research and development life cycle”. Through a “more robust biosecurity check point” at the funding stage, the BFC will offer an “early intervention to prevent unduly risky projects” from progressing.
Signatories commit to implementing pre-funding biosecurity reviews and post-funding assessments, sharing best practices, and allocating human and financial resources to fulfil these commitments. It is intended to be flexible to meet the needs of a “diverse set of funding institutions” while providing support for signatories. NTI will convene international experts to develop tools to support funders in putting commitments into practice and will work with partners to convene the Bio Funders Forum.
Signatories commit to:
- Implement pre-funding biosecurity and biosafety reviews as part of the decision-making processes within our organisation.
- Conduct post-funding assessments of adherence to biosecurity and biosafety best practices among researchers that we fund.
- Develop implementation plans to fulfil this pledge while focusing on the mission and needs of our respective organisations.
- Designate an individual or team to oversee biosecurity and biosafety pre- and post-funding reviews as well as other activities that align with this pledge.
- Share best practices for biosecurity and biosafety risk assessment and risk reduction among bioscience and biotechnology funding communities.
An important step forward
Dr Jaime Yassif, Vice President for Global Biological Policy and Programmes at NTI commented that the BFC will “bring together global funders of life science research who are committed to safeguarding the tools of modern bioscience and biotechnology”.
“We are inspired by funders who are stepping forward today to make this shared commitment to prioritising biosafety and biosecurity in their work. This is an important step forward for guarding against future pandemic risks and protecting populations around the world.”
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, is “very pleased” to be a signatory on behalf of CEPI, demonstrating commitment to “promote safe, secure, and responsible investments in research against epidemic and pandemic threats”.
“I am proud that CEPI is one of the first signatories to this important effort that will strengthen our collective capacity to safeguard life-saving research. Enabled by generous support from Global Affairs Canada, CEPI has also recently launched a biosecurity programme and will publish its first biosecurity strategy later this year, which will outline how we will strengthen biosecurity capacity in support of our 100 Days Mission.”
To join discussions in our Biothreats and Disease X track at the Congress in Barcelona this October get your tickets here, and don’t forget to subscribe for more global health features.
