WHO released the Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences(Framework) and defined Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists (Tianjin Guidelines) as high-level principle.

The Framework is the first global, technical and normative framework for mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research. It aims to provide values and principles, tools and mechanisms to support Member States and key stakeholders to mitigate and prevent biorisks and govern dual-use research.

As high-level principle of the Framework, the Tianjin Guidelines are a set of ten guiding principles and standards of conduct designed to help raise awareness of individual scientists to have their minds on biosecurity and relevant institutions to create incentives for scientists to do responsible sciences.

Based on a working paper co-submitted by China and Pakistan to the BWC Eighth Review Conference in 2016 to develop "A Model Code of Conduct for Biological Scientists," drafted by experts at Tianjin University, the Tianjin Guidelines is the first international initiative in biosecurity named after a Chinese city. They were developed collaboratively by Tianjin University’s Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and InterAcademyPartnership (IAP), and were widely consulted with more than 20 scientists from 16 countries across four continents.

By: Cheng Xiaotong

Editor: Qin Mian