European Commission, DG Research
Directorate E: Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food

Conference on Ethical implications of scientific research on bioweapons and prevention of bioterrorism

Brussels, 3 - 4 February 2004
Centre Albert Borchette,
Rue Froissart 36,
Brussels, Belgium

The European Commission, Research DG, Directorate E “Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food”, is organising, in the context of an EC funded research project on “Bioethical Implications of Globalisation” co-ordinated by Prof. E. Mordini, Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship, Rome, a conference on “Ethical Implications of Scientific Research on Bioweapons and Prevention of Bioterrorism” to be held in Brussels on 3-4 February 2004.

The Conference aims to bring together a multidisciplinary group of experts to discuss the ethical implications of scientific research on bioweapons and prevention of bioterrorism including issues such as risk communication, dual use technologies and protection of human subjects.

The conference is open to all interested in discussing these issues. However, in order to ensure the organisation please confirm your participation to Irene Van Dillen (irene.van-dillen@cec.eu.int)

Contact organisers

Line Matthiessen- Guyader Prof. Emilio Mordini

European Commission Centre for Science, Society and
Research DG Citizenship
Biotechnology, Agriculture
and Food Research Directorate
SDME 9/08 Via Sistina, 37
1040 Brussels, Belgium 00187 Roma
Tel.: +32 2 295 28 53 Tel.: +39 06 47 40 144
Fax: +32 2 299 18 60 Fax: +39 06 97 84 03 59
line-gertrud.matthiessen-guyader@cec.eu.int e.mordini@bioethics.it

CONFERENCE ON ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON BIOWEAPONS AND PREVENTION OF BIOTERRORISM

BRUSSELS, 3-4 February 2004

9.30-10.00 OPENING:
Director Chris Paterman, DG Research,
Director Fernand Sauer, DG SANCO, (to be confirmed)
Prof. Emilio Mordini, Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship, co-ordinator of the EC funded research project on the Bioethical Implications of Globalisation.

10.00-10.30 Keynote address delivered by Mrs. Eryl McNally, Member of the European Parliament

Coffee: 10.30-10.45

11.00-13.30 1st Session: Bioweapons

Chair: Prof. John-Erik Stig Hansen , Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen
Rapporteur: Dr. Tom Novotny, Institute of global health, USA

Human disease and biodefence research: potential benefits but risks of misuse.
Dr. Charles Penn, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Salisbury, UK

Bioweapons against livestocks
Prof. Bartolomeo Biolatti, University of Turin, and Dr. Rosagemma Ciliberti, University of Genoa, Italy

The Science and Security Dilemma
Dr. Patricia S. Wrightson, The National Academies, Washington, DC, USA

Discussion

Lunch 13.30-14.30

14.30- 17.30 2rd Session: Ethics and Policy of Risk Communication

Chair: Prof. Nuri Akkas, Tubitak, Turkey
Rapporteur: Prof. Reidar Lie, University of Bergen, Norway

The “risk society”
Prof. Guido Martinotti, Dept of Sociology, Milan, Italy

Learning to live with risks
Prof. Manfred Green, Israel Centre for Disease Control, Israel

Public Health in Emergencies
Prof. Eric Noji, US Public Health Service, USA

Discussion

4th February 2004

9.00- 11.30 3rd Session: Ethical Implications of Dual Use Technologies

Chair: Prof. Goran Hermeren, Lund University, Sweden, Chair of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies

Rapporteur: Dr. Fabrizio Fabbri, International society of Doctors for the Environment, Arezzo.

The coexistence between research policy on certain weapons and disarmament.
Dr. Jean Pascal Zanders, Switzerland

Medical journals and dual use technologies
Dr. Philip Campbell, UK

Should genetic information in the Internet be restricted?
Prof. Ruth Chadwick, University of Lancaster, UK

Coffee 11.30-11.45

11.45- 13.00 4th Session: Protection of Human Subjects Involved in Biodefense Research

Chair: Prof. Judith Sandor, Central European University, Budapest

Rapporteur: Prof. Ruth Chadwick, University of Lancaster, UK

Are international ethical codes applicable to classified biomedical research?
Prof. Reidar Lie, University of Bergen, Norway

Clinical trials in biodefense research
Prof. Jean-François Lacronique, Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire, Clamart, France

Lunch 13.00-14.00

14.00-16.00 5th Session: General Discussion

Chair: Prof. Stephanie Bird, editor of the Science and engineering Ethics journal, US

Introduction to the discussion by the chairs and rapporteurs.

Conclusions by Prof. Stephanie Bird

16.00 Closing remarks

Prof. E.V. Cosmi, chairman of the Bioethical Commission of the National Research Council, Italy ( to be confirmed)