Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34663091›Full record

ArticlemBio2021

Rapid Proliferation of Pandemic Research: Implications for Dual-Use Risks.

Sriharshita Musunuri, Jonas B Sandbrink, Joshua Teperowski Monrad, Megan J Palmer, Gregory D Koblentz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in mBio, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Predicting pathogen evolution and immune evasion in the age of artificial intelligence.Computational and structural biotechnology journal · 2025
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Editorial: Diagnosis of zoonoses: Relevance of BSL3 and BSL4 facilities.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2022
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sriharshita Musunuri *Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6581-2494
Jonas B Sandbrink *Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-8244-956X
Joshua Teperowski Monrad *Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-7377-2074
Megan J PalmerDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Gregory D KoblentzSchar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.

Funding

Nuclear Threat Initiative 2143Open Philanthropy Project
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the world's vulnerability to biological catastrophe and elicited unprecedented scientific efforts. Some of this work and its derivatives, however, present dual-use risks (i.e., potential harm from misapplication of beneficial research) that have largely gone unaddressed. For instance, gain-of-function studies and reverse genetics protocols may facilitate the engineering of concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogens. The risk of accidental or deliberate release of dangerous pathogens may be increased by large-scale collection and characterization of zoonotic viruses undertaken in an effort to understand what enables animal-to-human transmission. These concerns are exacerbated by the rise of preprint publishing that circumvents a late-stage opportunity for dual-use oversight. To prevent the next global health emergency, we must avoid inadvertently increasing the threat of future biological events. This requires a nuanced and proactive approach to dual-use evaluation throughout the research life cycle, including the conception, funding, conduct, and dissemination of research.

Indexed as

Containment of BiohazardsCOVID-19Global HealthHumansPandemicsbiosafetybiosecurityCOVID-19dual-use researchpandemic preparednesspreprintszoonotic risk

Identifiers

PMID34663091
PMCPMC8524337

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.