Viral Sovereignty and Technology Transfer
The Changing Global System for Sharing Pathogens for Public Health Research

Sharing biological resources—critical for new medicines and vaccines—has declined as countries and scientists dispute rights over research.

Sam F. Halabi (Edited by), Rebecca Katz (Edited by)

9781108723503, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 July 2022

235 pages, 4 maps
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'Viral Sovereignty and Technology Transfer is a comprehensive and essential volume analyzing how the sharing of pathogens and associated data has dramatically changed in the last 25 years. The contributors are global leaders in diplomacy, epidemiology, ethics, law, medicine, public health, security studies, technology transfer, and veterinary medicine. This robust interdisciplinary group identify where the risks to global public health are greatest as sharing becomes slower and more fraught with proprietary claims, and what solutions show the most promise to ensure the world is prepared for infectious disease and other health emergencies. Viral sovereignty may seem like a technical problem, but it has enormous consequences for global preparedness. This book should be read not only by experts in the management of health threats, but also by every person who is concerned about the future of global health security.' Lawrence O. Gostin, World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National & Global Health Law

In the global infectious-disease research community, there has long been uncertainty about the conditions under which biological resources may be studied or transferred out of countries. This work examines the reasons for that uncertainty and shows how global biomedical research has been shaped by international disputes over access to biological resources. Bringing together government leaders, World Health Organization officials, and experts in virology, wildlife biology, clinical ethics, technology transfer, and international law, the book identifies the critical problems - and implications of these problems - posed by negotiating for access and sharing benefits, and proposes solutions to ensure that biomedical advances are not threatened by global politics. Written in accessible, non-technical language, this work should be read by anyone who sees global health and biomedical research as a priority for international lawmakers.

Introduction: Viral Sovereignty, Technology Transfer, and the Changing Global System for Sharing Pathogens for Public Health Research Sam Halabi and Rebecca Katz
Part I. The Geopolitical, Historical, and Scientific Context: 1. The History of Accessing and Sharing Human Pathogens for Public Health Research Michelle Rourke
2. Attitudes towards transfers of human research samples across borders: A multi-country perspective Ben Krohmal
3. The Scope of Global Infectious Disease Research: Field Capture, Quarantine, and Sample Transfer to Detect Emerging Pathogen Threats Brian Bird
Part II. Health Security, Research Ethics, and Human Rights Implications
4. The Ethics of Conducting Genomic Research in Low-Resource Settings Hayley K. Sullivan and Benjamin E. Berkman
5. The Ethics of Human Pathogen Research during Public Health Emergencies in Low- and Middle Income Countries: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean Sam Halabi
6. Biosecurity, Biosafety and the Management of Dangerous Pathogens for Public Health Research Joshua Teperowski Monrad and Rebecca Katz
7. Human Rights Implications of Pathogen Sharing and Technology Transfer Alexandra Phelan
Part III. Solutions
Standard Material Transfer Agreements, Repositories, and Specialized International Instruments: 8. Material Transfer Agreements and the Regulation of the Collaborative Environment Sherry Brett-Major
9. Sharing of Biological Samples during Public Health Emergencies: Challenges and Opportunities for National and International Action Maria Julia Marinissen, Ruvani Chandrasekera, John Simpson, Theodore Kuschak, and Lauren Barna
10. Facilitating Material Transfer Agreements from a Practitioner's Perspective Michael Mowatt and Mukul Ranjan
11. The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework as an Access and Benefit Sharing Mechanism Anne Huvos, Steven A. Solomon and Claudia Nannini
Conclusion Gian Luca Burci.

Subject Areas: Epidemiology & medical statistics [MBNS], Patents law [LNRD], Intellectual property law [LNR], Competition law / Antitrust law [LNCH], Commercial law [LNCB], International organisations & institutions [LBBU], International law [LB], Law [L]