The purpose of this is to establish regular review of United States Government funded or conducted research with certain high-consequence pathogens and toxins for its potential to be dual use research of concern (DURC) in order to: 

(a) mitigate risks where appropriate; and

(b) collect information needed to inform the development of an updated policy, as needed, for the oversight of DURC. 

The fundamental aim of this oversight is to preserve the benefits of life sciences research while minimizing the risk of misuse of the knowledge, information, products, or technologies provided by such research.

Agents and toxins:

• Avian influenza virus (highly pathogenic)
• Bacillus anthracis
• Botulinum neurotoxin
• Burkholderia mallei
• Burkholderia pseudomallei
• Ebola virus
• Foot-and-mouth disease virus
• Francisella tularensis
• Marburg virus
• Reconstructed 1918 Influenza virus
• Rinderpest virus
• Toxin-producing strains of Clostridium botulinum
• Variola major virus
• Variola minor virus
• Yersinia pestis

For more information, please see the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern.