An ad hoc committee established by the National Research Council will organize two public symposia. The first symposium, which will be held early in the U.S. government deliberative process on selected GOF research, will examine the underlying scientific and technical questions that are the source of current discussion and debate over GOF research involving pathogens with pandemic potential. The topics to be addressed include:

o Potential benefits of the research, including whether, in addition to generating new scientific knowledge about organisms, it will:

• Inform public health responses to a potential pandemic, in particular by supporting surveillance efforts to identify possible pandemic strains and provide more time for preparedness; and

• Facilitate the development of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics.

o Potential risks associated with the research, in particular those related to biosafety and biosecurity.
o Alternative methods that may be employed to yield similar scientific insights and/or potential benefits, while reducing potential risks.

The public symposium will not result in the development of consensus recommendations, but rather will elicit individual perspectives and robust discussion on the topics described above. The committee will develop the symposium agenda, select and invite speakers and discussants, and moderate the discussions. Invited participants will have a diverse range of perspectives and expertise, including but not limited to public health, biosafety, public health surveillance, research, security, drug and vaccine development, and should also include experts from regions of the world where pathogens with pandemic potential are endemic and from regions of the world conducting GOF research on such pathogens. The two-day symposium will be webcast and the presentations and background materials will be archived online. An individually authored brief workshop summary of the presentations and discussions at the symposium will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.