This guide includes key definitions and an introduction to important concepts in biosafety, biosecurity, and ethical conduct, with a focus on how organizational culture can support those concepts. The guide borrows from concepts developed by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) for nuclear safety, highlighting that core contributing cultural elements include management systems; behavior of leadership, and personnel; principles for guiding decisions and behaviors; and beliefs and attitudes. Additionally, the guide includes detailed descriptions of a series of resources on biosafety culture, dual use concerns, ethical codes of conduct, and women in biosecurity. The guide is also accompanied by an organizational self-assessment tool for biosafety, biosecurity, and responsible conduct.

This resource was created by the International Working Group on Strengthening the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences. The International Working Group includes representatives of governments, academia, industry, professional and international organizations, including but not limited to INTERPOL, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The working group was convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This resource is openly available online as an English PDF, along with the organizational self-assessment tool. As of January 2021, this tool is a work-in-progress, and if you would like to submit feedback on this resource and/or participate in the collective efforts of the working group to improve it, contact Dr. Dana Perkins at: dana.perkins@hhs.gov.