Our work

The International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) project is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT). 

Based on the principles established in the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), this project aims to lay the foundations of a framework for widespread biosecurity education. This education is necessary to raise awareness among life scientists of the risks of scientific research with dual-use implications.

Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC) is scientific research with significant potential for generating information that could be used to harm national security, public health, or the environment. The rapid advances in life sciences represent also more capabilities for malign uses of the research. However, there is a clear lack of education on these issues in the scientific community and other stakeholders from the civil society. The IBSEN will provide tools to fill this gap.

We are currently developing the foundations of the network and creating a contact database of people interested in the project and at the core of biosecurity education across the world. We will then distribute a Quarterly Newsletter highlighting the progress of the project. 

Text of the Convention

Other projects have already been conducted by the London Metropolitan University’s Biological Security Research Centre such as a series of cartoons explaining the issue of dual-use and the role of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). 

The IBSEN will be complementary to these projects and has the objective of creating a network of academics, policymakers and other people interested in biosecurity education to then develop and implement biosecurity courses. 

Access here the series of cartoons

Members of the London Metropolitan University Biological Security Research Centre (BSRC) and of its network have extensively written on biosecurity education. These publications represent the first database of ressources for biosecurity education.

Papers in peer-reviewed Journals

  1. Lijun Shang, Weiwen Zhang, Malcolm Dando. Closing the Biological Security Education Gap: The Essential Elements. Journal of Strategic Trade Control, 2024
  2. Lijun Shang, Malcolm Dando. Rethinking biological security education to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Intersec (the Journal of International Security). 2024 Jan 4. November/Decmber 2023
  3. Lijun Shang, Kathryn Millett, Malcolm Dando. Dual-Use Oversight: Is the Scientific Community Fit for Purpose? What Should Be Done if it is Not? Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity. 2023. 5(4): 153-154, DOI:10.1016/j.jobb.2023.11.001
  4. Lijun Shang, Malcolm Dando. Rethinking Biosecurity After the Pandemic: An Enhanced Role for Civil Society. 2023, Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity. 2023, 5(3): 100-106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobb.2023.07.004
  5. Lijun Shang, Lincoln Sheff, Malcolm Dando. A key role for scientists in strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention. 2023, Front. Polit. Sci. 5: 1265008. doi: 10.3389/fpos.2023.1265008
  6. Leifan Wang, Lijun Shang, Weiwen Zhang. Human genome editing after the “CRISPR babies”: The double-pacing problem and collaborative governance. 2023, Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobb.2022.12.003
  7. Yang Xue, Lijun Shang. Are We Ready for the Revision of the 14-Day Rule? Implications from Chinese Legislations Guiding Human Embryo and Embryoid Research. 2022, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.1016988
  8. Simon Whitby, Malcolm Dando, Lijun Shang. Dual-use research needs international oversight. Nature. 2022 Sep, 609(7929): 895. doi: 10.1038/d41586-022-03011-0. PMID: 36167995.
  9. Lijun Shang, Michael Mprah, Indrajitrakuraj Ravi, Malcolm Dando. Key Issues in the Implementation of the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists: A Survey of Biosecurity Projects. Biosafety and Health. 2022, 4(5): 339-346 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.08.003
  10. Nariyoshi Shinomiya, Jusaku Minari, Go Yoshizawa, Malcolm Dando, Lijun Shang. Reconsidering the Need for Gain-of-Function Research on Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens in the Post-COVID-19 Era. 2022, Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 10: 966586. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.966586
  11. Yang Xue, Lijun Shang.Towards Better Governance on Biosafety and Biosecurity: China’s Advances and Perspectives in Medical Biotechnology Legislation. 2022, Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 10: 939295. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.939295
  12. Yang Xue, Lijun Shang. Governance of Heritable Human Gene Editing World-Wide and Beyond. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022, 19(11), 6739
  13. Tatyana Novossiolova, Simon Whitby, Malcolm Dando, Lijun Shang. Strengthening Biological Security after COVID-19: Using cartoons for engaging life science stakeholders with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity. 2022, 4: 68-74
  14. Brett Edwards, Tatyana Novossiolova, Michael Crowley, Simon Whitby, Malcolm Reginald Dando and Lijun Shang. Meeting the Challenges of Chemical and Biological Weapons: Strengthening the Chemical and Biological Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Regimes. Frontiers in Political Science. 2022, 4: 805426
  15. Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando. Central nervous system weapons dealt a blow. Science. 2022, 375: 153 – 154.
  16. Yang Xue, Lijun Shang, Jinwen Zang. Building a Multiple-level System of Ethical Code for Biological Scientists under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of the United Nations with Effective Implementation. Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity. 2021, 3: 108-119
  17. Malcolm Dando, Tatyana Novossiolova, Michael Crowley and Lijun Shang (2021). Towards an Aspirational (Ethical) Code under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Engaging the Life Science Community. CBW Magazine: Journal on Chemical and Biological Weapons. 2021, 14(2): 4-23
  18. Tatyana Novossiolova, Simon Whitby, Malcolm Dando, Graham Pearson, (2021) The vital importance of a web of prevention for effective biosafety and biosecurity in the twenty-first century. One Health Outlook. 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-021-00049-4.
  19. Tatyana Novossiolova, Malcolm Dando, Maurizio Martinelli. Enhancing the Utility of Codes of Conduct and Biological Security through Active Learning. ACS Chemical Health and Safety. 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.1c00047.
  20. Simon Whitby, Cheng Tang, Lijun Shang, Malcolm Dando. After COVID-19: Time to Agree A Biosecurity Code of Conduct Under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. CBW Magazine: Journal on Chemical and Biological Weapons. 2020, 13(1): 60-74
  21. Tatyana Novossiolova, Jim Whitman, Malcolm Dando. Altering an appreciation system: Lessons from incorporating dual use concerns into the responsible science education of biotechnologists. Futures. 2019, 108: 53 – 60.
  22. Kathryn Nixdorff, Tatiana Borisova, Serhiy Komisarenko, Malcolm Dando. Dual-use nano-neurotechnology: An assessment of the implications of trends in science and technology. Politics and the Life Sciences. Fall 2018, 37 (2): 181 – 202.
  23. Lijun Shang, Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando. Act now to close chemical-weapons loophole. Nature. 2018, 562 (7727):344
  24. Michael Crowley, Lijun Shang, Malcolm Dando. Preventing chemical weapons as sciences converge, Focus must shift beyond 20th-century technologies. Science. 2018, 362(6416):753-755
  25. Michael Crowley, Lijun Shang, Malcolm Dando. Preserving the norm against chemical weapons: A civil society initiative for the 2018 4th review conference of the chemical weapons convention. Futures. 2018, 102: 125-133
  26. Malcolm Dando. Find the time to discuss new bioweapons. Nature. 2016, 535(9).

Books

Edited Books

  1. “Essentials of Biological Security: A Global Perspective”. Lijun Shang, Weiwen Zhang, Malcolm Dando, Wiley. 2024; ISBN: 978-1-394-18901-4
  2. The Chemical and Biological Nonproliferation Regime after the Covid-19 Pandemic: Dealing with the Scientific Revolution in the Life Sciences. Malcolm Dando. Palgrave Macmillan/ Springer/Nature, Cham, Switzerland. 2023, IBSN: 978-3-031-19108-4
  3. “The Future of Chemical Weapons”. Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando, Lijun Shang. The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2018 August, ISBN: 978-1-78262-649-7
  4. Toxin and Bioregulator Weapons: Preventing the Misuse of the Chemical and Life Sciences. Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando. Palgrave Macmillan/ Springer/Nature, Cham, Switzerland. 2022, ISBN: 978-3-031-10163-2
  5. Neuroscience and the Problem of Dual Use: Neuroethics in the New Brain Research Projects. Malcolm Dando. Springer/Nature, Cham, Switzerland. 2020, ISBN: 978-3-030-53790-6
  6. Preventing Biological Threats: What You Can Do. Simon Whitby, Tatyana Novossiolova, Gerald Walther, Malcolm Dando (Eds.). University of Bradford, Bradford. 2015.
  7. Preventing a Biochemical Arms Race. Alexander Kelle, Kathryn Nixdorff, Malcolm Dando. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Ca. 2012, ISBN: 978-0-804-78615-7
  8. Bioterror and Biowarfare. Malcolm Dando. Oneworld Publications, Oxford. 2006, ISBN: 978-1-780-74133-8
  9. Deadly Cultures: Bioweapons Since 1945. Mark Wheelis, Lajos Rozsa, Malcolm Dando. Harvard University Press, Harvard, Mass. 2006, ISBN: 978-0-674-01699-6
  10. Controlling Biochemical Weapons: Adapting Multilateral Arms Control for the 21st Century. Alexander Kelle, Kathryn Nixdorff, Malcolm Dando. Palgrave, Basingstoke. 2006, ISBN: 978-0-230-50349-6
  11. Preventing Biological Warfare: The Failure of American Leadership. Malcolm Dando. Palgrave, Basingstoke. 2002, ISBN: 978-1-4039-0719-6
  12. The New Biological Weapons: Threat, Proliferation and Control. Malcolm Dando. Lynne Rienner, Boulder, Co. 2001.
  13. A New Form of Warfare: The Rise of Non-Lethal Weapons. Malcolm Dando. Brassey’s, London. 1996, ISBN: 978-1-857-53127-5
  14. Biological Warfare in the 21st Century: Biotechnology and the Proliferation of Biological Weapons. Malcolm Dando. Brasseys, London. 1994.

Chapters in Books

  1. Lijun Shang, Simon Whitby, and Malcolm Dando. (2022) Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention after COVID-19. The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Future: Virology, Epidemiology, Translational Toxicology and Therapeutics, Volume 1. Editors: Michael D Waters, Alok Dhawan, Tim Marrs, Diana Anderson, Stafford Warren, Claude L Hughes. Royal Society of Chemistry. Print ISBN 978-1-83916-306-7, https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/ebook/978-1-83916-306-7
  2. L Shang, S Whitby, and M Dando. Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention after COVID-19. Chemistry World. [RSC Books, Preprint]. 15 October 2020 (accessed: 9 November 2020). Available from: https://www.chemistryworld.com/reading-room/strengthening-the-biological-and-toxin-weapons-convention-after-covid-19/4012609.article
  3. Simon Whitby, Cheng Tang, Lijun Shang and Malcolm Dando. (2020) After COVID-19: Time to Agree a Biosecurity Code of Conduct Under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in (Eds) Ajey Lele Kritika Roy. COVID-19 Analysing the Threat. Pages: 361-379.  New Delhi. PENTAGON PRESS. ISBN 978-93-90095-07-0
  4. Tatyana Novossiolova, and Malcolm Dando. (2020) Neuroscience-Based Weapons. In M. Martinelli and R. Trapp (Eds.) Evolving CBRNe and Missile Technology Challenges. Springer. 
  5. Simon Whitby and Malcolm Dando. (2019). Ethics, neuroscience, and public policy: a case study of raising neuroscientists’ awareness of the problem of dual use. In Lever, A. and Poama, A. (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Ethics and Public Policy. (pp. 526-540). London: Routledge.
  6. Malcolm Dando. (2018) Advances in understanding targets in the Central Nervous System. Chapter 8 in Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando and Lijun Shang (Eds.) Preventing Chemical Warfare: Arms Control and Disarmament as the Sciences Converge. Royal Society of Chemistry, London.

Reports 

  1. Lijun Shang, Tatyana Novossiolova, Michael Crowley, Brett Edwards, Simon Whitby, Malcolm Dando. Biological and Chemical Security After COVID-19: Options for Strengthening the Chemical and Biological Weapons Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Regimes. 2021 Jan, London Metropolitan University
  2. Lijun Shang, Gwyn Winfield. Strengthening the ties that bind. Interview report, CBRNe WORLD February 2021: 14-18
  3. Lijun Shang, Tatyana Novossiolova, Brett Edwards, Simon Whitby, Michael Crowley, Malcolm Dando. Informing Policymakers of the Progress in Strengthening the Chemical and Biological Weapons Non-Proliferation Regime. 2021 March, London Metropolitan University
  4. Lijun Shang, Tatyana Novossiolova, Malcolm Dando. New approach to engage policymakers and publics on biological security. 2021 June, London Metropolitan University