The Science Advisory Board polled almost 1000 individuals about who should set guidelines for the types of biodefense research projects that are considered legitimate
The majority of respondents, 72%, claimed that scientists are best qualified to establish research guidelines when dealing with potential bioterrorism agents.
Interestingly, ethicists were selected over politicians by three to one as the next best-qualified professionals to help determine a biodefense research agenda.
"Since the ultimate goal of biodefense research is to create effective medical countermeasures against potential bioterror agents, knowledge of the science must be paramount," states Tamara Zemlo, director of the Science Advisory Board.
"It is the research community which has the expertise to research and develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics".
Given the seriousness of this enterprise, any comprehensive research agenda for defense against bioterrorism should be developed through a systematic planning process that involves multiple stakeholders, including scientists.
The objective of such a process should be to develop an agenda that includes short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals for research on the multitude of agents that could be used to conduct a bioterrorist attack.
