Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has introduced the Risky Research Review Act. This legislation aims to establish a Life Sciences Research Security Board within the Executive Branch to oversee funding for gain-of-function research and other high-risk life sciences studies that may pose threats to public health, safety, or national security.

The proposed board will function as an independent entity tasked with evaluating gain-of-function research and other studies involving potential pandemic pathogens. The current system lacks sufficient government oversight, allowing taxpayer dollars to be spent without appropriate checks. Dr. Paul's bill introduces a stringent review process for assessing high-risk research proposals.

Key provisions of the Risky Research Review Act include:

- Establishing an Independent Oversight Board: The Life Sciences Research Security Board will evaluate and issue binding determinations on high-risk life sciences research proposals seeking federal funding.

- Defining High-Risk Research: The bill specifies that high-risk life sciences research includes studies with potential dual-use applications or those posing threats to public health, safety, or national security.

- Ensuring Board Independence: The board will consist of one executive director, five non-governmental scientists, and two national security experts appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

- Restricting Funding Without Approval: Federal agencies would be prohibited from awarding funds for high-risk life sciences research without board approval.

- Mandating Majority Vote: A majority vote of board members would be required to approve such research.

- Empowering the Board: The board would have authority to compel agencies to provide necessary information and records, including classified data.

- Demanding Full Disclosure: Grant applicants must declare if their research falls under high-risk categories or involves select agents or toxins.

- Automatic Referral: Positive attestations must be automatically referred to the board.

- Continuous Subcontract Disclosure: Agencies must continuously disclose subcontracts or subawards related to high-risk research.

- Annual Reporting: The board must submit an annual report summarizing its determinations and findings.

Supporters of the bill include several prominent figures in science and health policy:

Dr. Redfield, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018-2021), stated, "This is a very important bill which when implemented will ensure national security is prioritized when making US life science funding decisions."

Jay Bhattacharya, Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University, commented, "The Risky Research Review Act is a great step forward toward protecting the American people from dangerous experiments."

Dr. Alina Chan from MIT's Broad Institute emphasized that "research with pandemic risks can result in millions of deaths," advocating for external oversight.

Richard H. Ebright from Rutgers University noted that addressing gaps in oversight is essential and urgent.

Steven Quay of Atossa Therapeutics compared this legislation's significance to historical measures like establishing the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946.

Bryce Nickels from Rutgers University highlighted that replacing self-regulation with independent oversight is much-needed common-sense legislation.

Meryl Nass also praised Senator Paul's efforts as critical for improving U.S. biodefense safety.

The bill has further endorsement from Neil Harrison of Columbia University in his personal capacity.

For more information on S.4667, please refer [HERE].