Numerous books and articles, including many scientific reports, have been published by specialists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on the public health concerns associated with dangerous pathogens. The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and many U.S. and foreign institutions and individuals have provided overview reports on global health concerns associated with new and reemerging infectious diseases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Institutes of Health have published studies of the biosafety aspects of handling dangerous pathogens as part of the preparation of regulatory guidelines and requirements. Although this list is by no means exhaustive, it illustrates the varied and growing sources of information and expertise from which the committee was able to draw in preparing this report.

Throughout the one-year project, many officials and other specialists in the United States and Russia took time to provide the committee and project staff with important information and insights relating to the complex issues under review. Representatives of DOD, the State Department, and the ISTC were particularly helpful in this regard. Appendix C identifies the formal consultations of the committee and staff. Equally important, informal discussions were arranged through numerous channels in both the United States and Russia. The committee expresses its appreciation to the many individuals and institutions that contributed to its efforts; it also is grateful for the assistance of CISAC, BIH, and OCEE staffs.

In addition, the committee benefited greatly from the assistance of two experts who served as unpaid consultants to the project. Professor Roald Sagdeev, Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland, was instrumental in the development of the project. Colonel W. Russell Byrne, Chief of the Genetics and Physiology Branch of the Bacteriology Division at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, took part in two trips to Russia and assisted greatly in developing the pilot projects. The committee is deeply grateful for their assistance.

Joshua Lederberg, Chair

Committee on U.S.-Russian

Cooperation on Dangerous Pathogens

John Steinbruner, Vice-Chair

Committee on U.S.-Russian

Cooperation on Dangerous Pathogens