18 June 2025
Event Date(s)/Period(s)
18 Jun 2025
Organised by:
Centre for Medical Ethics and Law
The rapid advancement of synthetic biology, gene editing, and AI-driven design tools has expanded the scope of dual-use research of concern (DURC), raising new challenges for global biosafety governance. In parallel, geopolitical tensions exacerbate the risks associated with biological threats, as state and non-state actors may exploit scientific innovations for harmful purposes. This presentation explored the opportunities and obstacles for enhancing biosafety in this evolving landscape. It examined the limitations of current international frameworks, such as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and the Geneva Protocol, and the need for robust verification mechanisms and global cooperation. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of integrating scientific responsibility, institutional vigilance and adaptive legal tools to prevent biological misuse. It is becoming critically important that we reinforce biosecurity norms and embrace multilateralism to address the dual challenges of technological disruption and political instability. This ethics and policy foresight is necessary to achieve more resilient biosafety, while preserving the capacity to embrace the therapeutic potential of genomics.
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