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International Bio Funders Compact: Integrating Biosecurity into Life Science Research Funding

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Credibility Rating

4/5
High(4)

High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.

Rating inherited from publication venue: Nuclear Threat Initiative

Relevant to AI safety audiences interested in how coordination mechanisms and funding compacts are structured for catastrophic risk reduction, as analogous models may apply to AI safety funding coordination.

Metadata

Importance: 45/100press releasenews

Summary

The Bio Funders Compact is an initiative by NTI and partner organizations to coordinate philanthropic and institutional funding for biosecurity research. It aims to align funders around shared priorities to reduce biological risks, including those from engineered pathogens and dual-use research. The compact represents a coordination effort to fill critical gaps in biosecurity funding.

Key Points

  • Brings together funders to coordinate investments in biosecurity and pandemic preparedness research
  • Addresses gaps in funding for research that reduces biological risks, including engineered and natural threats
  • Represents a governance and coordination mechanism for the biosecurity philanthropic community
  • Reflects growing recognition that fragmented funding hampers effective biosecurity progress
  • NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative) serves as a convening organization for this multi-stakeholder effort

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[Close](https://www.nti.org/news/bio-funders-compact-biosecurity-research-funding/)

[News](https://www.nti.org/news/) Jun 20, 2024

# International Bio Funders Compact to Integrate Biosecurity into Life Science Research Funding

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#### Links & Downloads

- [International Bio Funders Compact](https://www.nti.org/about/programs-projects/project/bio-funders-compact/)

The [Nuclear Threat Initiative](http://nti.org/) (NTI), in partnership with the [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations](https://cepi.net/) (CEPI), launched the international Bio Funders Compact at the 2024 Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, Australia. The Compact incorporates biosecurity into the bioscience research funding process to safeguard life science research from accidental or intentional misuse. Joining NTI and CEPI as founding signatories are [Sentinel Bio](https://sentinelbio.org/) — a new philanthropic fund launching soon — and the [Global Health Security Fund](https://www.ghsfund.org/).

The world is experiencing a 21st century bioscience and biotechnology revolution driven by rapid technological advances and accelerated by artificial intelligence. These advances offer significant potential benefits for promoting human health and pandemic preparedness, fostering economic development, and guarding against climate change. However, the accelerating global development of life science research and biotechnology is also contributing to growing risks of accidents or deliberate misuse.

Life science funders and investors in government, philanthropy, and the private sector hold significant leverage at the beginning of the bioscience and biotechnology research and development lifecycle. However, many funders do not conduct rigorous biosecurity reviews as part of their decision-making processes, and there are no agreed-upon best practices for doing so. The Bio Funders Compact will address this critical gap.

“The Bio Funders Compact will bring together global funders of life science research who are committed to safeguarding the tools of modern bioscience and biotechnology,” said Jaime Yassif, Ph.D., Vice President for Global Biological Policy and Programs at NTI. “We are inspired by the funders who are stepping forward today to make this shar

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