Debate about the security implications of cutting-edge biotechnology is afflicted with a fundamental blind spota lack of attention to growing military interest in the field. This blind spot is evident in discussions about, for example, gene-editing technology (in relation both to gene drives and to human modification). Such debate has tended to focus on the idea that research and technology might be directly misused by the bad guysand has tended to ignore broader questions about how the ongoing militarization of cutting-edge fields in biology might contribute to insecurity.

Last year James Clapper, when he was US director of national intelligence, labelled emerging population-level genetic-modification techniques as potential weapons of mass destruction. A number of states, in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, have in recent years voiced concerns about state investment into biotechnology. Yet ethical reviews of gene editing to date in the United States have barely touched upon concerns about growing military interest in cutting-edge biotechas reflected in their absence from recent reports on both environmental and human modificationbiotechnology. Such omissions are in keeping with broad trends where US discussions about the potential for misusing biotechnology are concerned.

To be sure, the risk that benignly intended innovations might be directly misused by terrorists is a legitimate, if often overblown, security concern. But other issues merit concern as well. One such issue is the risk that military investment in biotechnology will adversely affect research priorities. Another is the possibility that military investment into defensive or public health projects by one state might be misinterpreted by other states as having offensive potential.

In the same vein, the scarcity of publicly available information about military research into biotechnology might fuel public distrust of valuable and well-intended work. It is clear, for example, that research into preventing, identifying, and treating infectious diseases by various militaries around the world will continue to provide broader spin-off benefitsbut publics in some states might be unsure why military rather than public health institutions lead such work.

A path toward addressing these concerns has already been established by the synthetic biology communityespecially in terms of its preemptive engagement with the security concerns that scientists entertain. However, even in this arena there has been a hesitance to address the issue of militarization.

Synthetic biology as a security laboratory. Synthetic biology is a field of scientific and technological development that has greatly extended humankinds abilities to manipulate biological organisms and processes. While genetic modification techniques have existed since the 1970s, synthetic biology is allowing for much more ambitious projectsoffering new ways of getting to grips with the complexity of biology and of developing a wide range of new technologies.

A watershed moment for this field was the First International Meeting of Synthetic Biology (SB 1.0), held at MIT in 2004. Central to the vision of the scientists involved was radically modifying naturally occurring organisms and processes through the application of engineering principles; the undertaking involved the convergence of a range of fields, including genetic engineering and computing. The appeal of the synthetic biology vision was broadand a number of subfields emerged under the synthetic biology banner in both the United States and Europe. Private and public investors committed significant resources to the establishment of research centers and networks, as well as to the development and commercialization of foundational technologies such as gene synthesis. This investment contributed to a number of early successes and landmark initiatives.

The initiatives included the establishment of a digital BioBricks repository, which today contains the genetic sequences of some 20,000 standardized biological parts, such as proteins that are involved in gene-expression within bacteria. This repository was established as a means for scientists to assert discovery rights, while also allowing for the rapid sharing and reuse of these discoveries by others. These biological parts are developed and utilized by the synthetic biology research community and in an annual student competition that showcases both the potential applications of research in the field and the rate at which the technology is advancing. Last years winners included a team based at Imperial College London that developed a tool to help scientists engineer production systems using multiple types of cells, a German team working on biological tissue printing, and a Chinese team that developed a design to detect poisons in traditional medicines.

Since its inception, synthetic biology has been a darling of scientific journalismwhich has made it challenging for civil society and regulators, when thinking through the fields societal implications, to separate hype from reality. Synthetic biology has also become symbolic of deeper questions about the way that science is supported and governed. The issues have included broad transformations in how societies engage with innovation, an increased emphasis on the need to open up the innovation process to public scrutiny, and the need for science to be more responsive to public needs. Security concerns have been a consistent aspect of these broader debates.

In no small part, this is a consequence of synthetic biologys having been established in the United States shortly after the 9/11 and Amerithrax attacks. At the time, regulators and funders in the United States were twitchy about the actual and perceived security concerns surrounding this fledgling field. The National Science Foundation, a major early investor in synthetic biology, set engagement with biosecurity concerns as a prerequisite for funding. The FBI, following through on recommendations by a blue-ribbon biosecurity board on synthetic biology, has also taken a proactive approach to reaching out to the community. The lead agent on this issue, Edward You, was recently profiledby MIT Technology Review as Americas Top Bioterror Cop.

Another key factor in the synthetic biology communitys continued engagement with security issues has been the commitment of prominent scientists. Stanford University bioengineering professor Drew Endy, who has been involved in numerous reviews of the field, has also been a leading advocate for biosecurity engagement by the next generation of synthetic biologists. Endy established the annual i-GEM competition (the acronym stands for international genetically engineered machine). This team competition for students includes a biosecurity review process providing young scientists an opportunity to consider the potential security implications of their work. Harvard University synthetic biologist George Church has also been a notable contributor on these issues. His public provocations over the years have repeatedly kick-started public debate. In addition, a number of social scientists have formed enduring professional relationships with practitioners of synthetic biologyand much of their work has focused on changing the way that scientists engage with potential risks and with the public.

The synthetic biology community has been central to the most intensive debate about the misuse of civilian biotechnology ever seena debate that has been under way since at least 2003. Engagement by scientists, civil society, funders, and regulators has spurred a raft of technology assessment initiatives and regulatory reviews in both the United States and Europe. In addition, the integration of ethical and security review into I-GEM, the annual undergraduate competition, has sensitized a generation of scientists to questions about their societal roles. Such initiatives have also helped raise the bar for some newer fields. Xenobiology, for exampleoriginally a subfield of synthetic biologyis currently seeking to establish its own disciplinary identity, and security implications are already being discussed as that fields research agenda is set. The security engagement displayed by the synthetic biology community appears to be catching.

At the same time, its important to remember the limitations that such communities face. Scientists envision and design techno-scientific fieldsbut they are subject to the whims of national-level funders and regulators. Its also very difficult for scientists to control how a technology will be used and commodified once the cat is out of the lab. This was illustrated at a recent synthetic biology meeting in Singapore. Endy, in his opening remarks, presented an egalitarian vision for future industrialization of synthetic biology technologies. But Randal J. Kirk, chairman of the biotech firm Intrexon (the main industry sponsor of the conference), delivered a slick presentation that provided a much more corporate vision of the fields future. This was a reminder of the central role that the market will play in synthetic biology investmentand of the role that industry will increasingly play in shaping regulation and public understanding of this area of biotechnology.

Jane Calvert, a University of Edinburgh social scientist who has been working in synthetic biology for over a decade, argued at the Singapore meeting that the field is closing as a creative spacethat the parameters of success are narrowing around what is commercially viable. Military involvement in synthetic biology presents similar dynamicsand discussions of this issue throughout biotechnology need to be promoted and internationalized. Military involvement in technology is not a bad thingand it is also inevitable. Still, legitimate concerns surround the ability of the military sector to skew research priorities. And of course, military involvement could also signal attempts to harness new biotechnology for hostile purposes. In those nations leading the way in terms of innovation, scientists might need to help ensure greater transparency regarding the scope and purposes of military investment in their fields.

Work in synthetic biology has created a community of scientists sensitized to such issues and willing to discuss them. The focus of discussion, however, needs to broaden beyond the national-level security preoccupations that currently dominate. One step in this direction would be to establish international dialogue among scientists specifically on the issue of biotechnology militarization. Such debates should not be limited to the existing preoccupation with pathogens, but rather should cover broader areas of military investment. This sort of dialogue might allow shared principles regarding state investment in biotechnology to be identified and articulatedprinciples that would both guide research priorities and establish hard limits about what is permissible. Such discussions could draw upon relevant principles in international human rights, humanitarian, and arms control lawincluding, but not limited to, treaties specifically dealing with biological, chemical, and environmental warfare. Such an outcome would give scientists a louder voice in conversations about military involvement in biotechnologywhile also reducing the stigma associated with invaluable military research and reinforcing the stigma against the weaponization of biotechnology.

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We've got to talk: The militarization of biotechnology - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

With the increasing use of robotic surgery, 3D printing, implantable devices, use of automation and artificial intelligence in clinical settings and other digital innovations for prevention, monitoring, and treatment across Southeast Asia, the fair will showcase some of the most innovative products and trending solutions.

Another focus will be Rehabilitative Care and Connected Care in line with the needs of todays highest healthcare spenders the ageing population.

Eighteen national pavilions with first-time official country representations from Canada, India, European Union, Russia and the Netherlands will be present at the fair. The presence of the European Union Business Avenues Pavilion with 50 companies especially reflects the increased interest of international market players in Southeast Asias medical industry.

Others highlights include:

>> The 3rd Advanced Rehab Technology Conference (ARTeC), which will take place from September 6-7, with topics centred on technological solutions for the ageing population. Speakers from leading institutions such as MIT and Fujita Health University will discuss robotic rehabilitation, sarcopenia in the elderly, neurorehabilitation and others.

>> A seminar on the importance of biomedical engineering as a Thai professional qualification: Organised by the Thai Association for Medical Instrumentation, it will bring together speakers from related agencies to explain BME professional qualifications and standards.

Other seminars are: Digital Imaging in Radiology and Patient Safety by the Radiological Society of Thailand, CIO Forum by the Thai Medical Informatics Association, and the Interinstitute Conference by the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society.

The Taiwan Medical Device Business Matchmaking event organised by the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office under the Ministry of Economic Affair of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Medical and Biotech Industry Association, will allow visitors to explore business opportunities and develop partnerships across Taiwans medical device industry.

Find out more at t http://www.MedicalFair-Thailand.com.

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Robotics, biotechnology at heart of Medical Fair - The Nation - The Nation

Advances in modern biotechnology have helped generate techniques for curing diseases and improving lives. These same advances are leading to new tools to manage insect pests in a more effective and environmentally friendly manner.

The tiny diamondback moth is one of the worlds worst agricultural pests. This destructive insect is not native to New York state and is a major problem for farmers here, ravaging plants of the brassica family such as economically important vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower. The caterpillars chew on leaves and can kill young plants or make the vegetables unmarketable. The global damages caused by the diamondback moth are estimated to cost up to $5 billion each year.

To battle these invaders, farmers typically use insecticides, which prompts concern about worker safety, environmental impact and potentially harmful effects on important pollinators, like honeybees.

As scientists, we seek more effective alternatives.

For more than 150 years, Cornells College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has worked on behalf of the people of New York state to use purpose-driven science to tackle these challenges by developing and evaluating emerging technologies. One emerging, insecticide-free technology we are evaluating is a pest control method developed by scientists at a British company called Oxitec.

The concept behind this strategy is to leverage the natural mating instincts of male insects to reduce the pest populations. Similar strategies have been used since the 1950s and were endorsed in Rachel Carsons 1962 book Silent Spring that launched the modern environmental movement. Oxitecs current technology uses the same concept but refines it with the tools of modern biotechnology. In the case of the diamondback moth, Oxitecs genetically engineered males mate with wild females who then lay eggs on the crops, but the emerging female larvae do not survive to adulthood and therefore are unable to reproduce. Thus, the pest population declines without the use of insecticides.

More research is needed for this particular tool and others that are under development that hold promise for more sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management. Entomologists at Cornell have the level of expertise in insect biology and pest management needed to develop and independently evaluate the technology.

Research conducted in our greenhouses and outdoor cages in 2015 provided evidence for the effectiveness of this bio-based technology against the diamondback moth and justifies additional research. Outdoor cages, although providing useful information about insect behavior, do not provide the real-world environment needed to fully assess the technology.

Research is now needed in an open field setting that replicates the actual environment where farmers battle the insects. As such, the next step in the research cycle is an experimental release of the moths in a remote cabbage field at the Geneva campus this summer. Specifically, we need to know how these insects are going to move, how well they will survive, and how effectively they will mate with females, which are important measurements that demonstrate how well they will be able to reduce a pest population in future.

The moths have been genetically engineered and, based on evidence collected and a thorough evaluation by independent experts, there is no indication that these modifications pose a risk to humans or other animals, even if somehow ingested.

We have already examined the question of whether the moths will fly away from the research field. Weve created an isolated habitat for the test insects with plenty of cabbage, a food they love and do not abandon when its plentiful. Furthermore, this insect is short-lived and cannot survive Upstate New York winters.

To provide proper oversight, Cornell applied for a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture before proceeding with the trials a process that required an Environmental Assessment and a 30-day public comment period before the permit was finally approved. The USDA reviewed potential risks of the field trials and found that this project will have no significant impact to human health or to the environment. Approvals from Cornells Institutional Biosafety Committee and CALS leadership were also required to proceed.

This research opens new doors for the future of farming with pest control methods that are non-toxic and pesticide-free. Entomologists at Cornell and other institutions believe that this science has great potential to effectively manage invasive pest populations, even beyond the diamondback moth, in an environmentally friendly way.

We invite all members of the local community to learn more about this project at a public forum hosted by Cornell University. Join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Stations Jordan Hall Auditorium, 630 West North St., Geneva. For more information and to submit your questions or comments in advance of the public forum, please visit http://shelton.entomology.cornell.edu/.

Jan Nyrop is professor of entomology and interim director at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Tony Shelton is professor of entomology with expertise in the diamondback moth and insect pest management who has dedicated his 38-year career at Cornell University to finding solutions to this persistent pest, and other pests, faced by farmers in New York and around the world.

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GUEST APPEARANCE: Using modern biotechnology to manage insect pests - Finger Lakes Times