Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (2009)

The issue of laboratory security gained heightened public prominence after the FBI's 2008 revelation that they had identified an employee at a U.S. Army biomedical research lab as the perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax mail attacks. While a substantial body of regulation exists to oversee laboratories that study biological materials that might be used malevolently, the anthrax case raised questions for some as to whether further security measures are necessary This National Research Council report addresses concerns about personnel reliability and physical security at laboratories that study biological agents and toxins. The report recommends some modifications to current practices and procedures, but concludes that there is no "silver bullet," no single measure that will guarantee the security of every research facility. The key imperative is the need to help establish a balance between maintaining laboratory security and ensuring that vital research can thrive.