Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC) Policy

Global Virology Reports (GVR) recognizes that while virological research is essential for public health, certain advances may be misapplied to pose a significant threat to public health, agriculture, animals, or the environment. This is known as Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC). GVR is committed to the responsible communication of such research, balancing the benefits of scientific openness with the imperative to mitigate potential biosecurity risks.

Scope and Definition
This policy applies to research involving any of the 15 HHS/USG-listed agents and toxins (or equivalent national lists) that could be directly misapplied. This includes, but is not limited to, research that:

·       Enhances the harmful consequences of a pathogen.

·       Disrupts immunity or the effectiveness of a vaccine without clinical justification.

·       Confers resistance to prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.

·       Increases the transmissibility or host range of a pathogen.

·       Enables the evasion of detection or facilitation of weaponization.

Review and Oversight Process
Manuscripts identified as potentially falling under DURC will undergo a specialized, confidential review process in addition to standard peer review. This process involves:

·       DURC Risk Assessment: A panel of experts, including virologists, biosafety officers, and biosecurity specialists, will assess the manuscript based on:

-   The potential for misuse and the magnitude of the resulting harm.

-   The public health benefit and scientific knowledge gained.

-   The ethical justification and research oversight.

-   Compliance with national and international frameworks (e.g., WHO Guidance, national science advisory boards).

·       Editorial Decision: The final decision to publish, modify, or reject the manuscript will be made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the DURC review panel and, if necessary, relevant national authorities.

Communication and Publication Modifications
In cases where the scientific benefit outweighs the risks, but specific details present a clear and significant security concern, GVR reserves the right to:

·       Redact sensitive methodological details critical for replicating the experiment's misuse potential.

·       Publish a summary of the key findings without disclosing the high-risk experimental protocols.

·       Require the inclusion of a statement on the biosafety and biosecurity conditions under which the work was conducted.

5. Author Responsibilities

·       Authors are required to flag any potential DURC aspects of their work at the time of submission.

·       Authors must provide evidence of prior review and approval by their institutional Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or equivalent body.

·       Authors must cooperate fully with the journal's DURC review process.