Cambridge WG

Our website was down for a few weeks (everybody needs a Sabbatical from time to time 😅). We're back with a static version. Some of the previous content (news, about, etc.) will be added in the coming days. Keeping the site up mostly for historical reasons. Enjoy! @mlipsitch

In this clip @SenRandPaul FALSELY claims c-span.org/video/?c496233… that the @cambridgeWG has characterized work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology as gain-of-function.

Fellow @ASMicrobiology members: ASM seeking member comment on new Public Policy Principles, including a wholesale endorsement of gain-of-function studies on potential pandemic pathogens. Member comments open -- please weigh in (anonymous) surveymonkey.com/r/ASM_Principl…

#NSABB my written comments here cambridgeworkinggroup.org/documents/lips… and slightly updated slides dropbox.com/s/n71pli8l4pqx…

#NSABB Public can email questions and comments for today's open session to nsabb@od.nih.gov

#NSABB Chair Stanley opens with good summary of the first day, incl applying ethics, better global input, defining criteria for GOFoC,...

Some of the Cambridge Working Group members have responded to the risk benefit analysis. Find their responses here: cambridgeworkinggroup.org/news

The NSABB will meet on January 7 and 8 to discuss the risk and benefit analysis report by Gryphon Scientific: osp.od.nih.gov/office-biotech… #GoF

#NSABB public meeting Monday to hear risks benefits ethics law on #GOF research osp.od.nih.gov/office-biotech… @cambridgeWG @safe_sci

Up to 18 labs in U.S. got live anthrax shipments usatoday.com/story/news/201…

FHI's Toby Ord calls for restraint and risk assessment of potential pandemic pathogens @cambridgeWG @oxmartinschool safesci.org

Tulane #Burkholderia 4th ex/yr of pathogen poss escaping BSL3/4 via human error usatoday.com/story/news/201… @CDCgov #Ebola, #H5N1 #flu #anthrax

NIH is moving ahead with its review of risky viroloy studies. Critics say it's being rushed through in secret. bit.ly/1Gy1k0V

Tom Inglesby et al UPMC | Take-aways from the National Academies’ “Gain of Function” Meeting ow.ly/GjX9e

Gain-of-function research: time for a real debate. Featuring the CWG’s own @mlipsitch and @mimperia nature.com/nrmicro/journa…

Revealed: 100 #biosafety breaches at UK labs handling potentially deadly diseases. By @iansample theguardian.com/science/2014/d…

@rocza @Macrophagic already some fed oversight - what we’re aiming for in near term is a better basis for making decisions in oversight.

@Macrophagic hence our call for this deliberative process: make RBAs meaningful & accountable. @rocza

@Macrophagic discretion of the PI and their institution. Reviews are often incomplete. We also lack data to make any RBA effective @rocza

@Macrophagic for gov funding, some review is required at the IBC level for Experiments of Concern. However, this largely at the @rocza