Biological and biomedical research with potential misuse risk

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed to supporting research and innovation of the highest scientific and ethical quality to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth. However, we recognise that research and innovation undertaken for beneficial aims may have the potential to be used for harmful purposes or be targeted for malicious intent.

We have published a policy statement which sets out our expectations for the people and organisations we fund, and ourselves, to manage potential misuse risks arising from UKRI-supported biological and biomedical research and innovation. Our approach fits within the UK’s multilayered oversight system for research and innovation.

Key principles

Governance and management of biological and biomedical research and innovation with potential misuse risk should be guided specifically by the following principles:

• self-governance by individual researchers, their institutions and research communities
• compliance with UK legislation and strategic frameworks
• a proportionate, risk-aware research and innovation culture
• consideration of alternative approaches
• responsible sharing of research findings
• following UKRI’s principles for Trusted Research and Innovation, the UK’s current national security and biological security requirements and equivalent local standards (applying the strictest of these standards where regulations differ)
• public engagement and dialogue before and during research and innovation to build trust

UKRI policies and guidance

The UKRI trusted research and innovation principles and expectations sets out our expectations of the research organisations that we support, empowering researchers, innovators and organisations to make informed decisions, adopting appropriate mitigations and risk protocols and maximising the benefits of collaboration.

The UKRI position statement on funding ethical research outlines a set of shared high-level ethical principles which set out our expectations for UKRI-funded research and innovation.

They outline key areas for consideration in the development and delivery of activities throughout the research and innovation lifecycle, and identify areas of best practice.

These principles are underpinned by a series of UKRI policies and guidance which support our communities to deliver against our ethical expectations, and can be found in the other sections of the Good Research Resource Hub.

Responsible innovation is a process that takes the wider impacts of research and innovation into account. It aims to ensure that unintended negative impacts are avoided, that barriers to dissemination, adoption and diffusion of research and innovation are reduced, and that the positive societal and economic benefits of research and innovation are fully realised.

UKRI has published guidance on national security and defence research.

External guidance

Custom-made nucleic acid sequences are a key tool for engineering biology. To ensure that such sequences and their proposed use do not result in a biosecurity risk, a robust screening process is an essential safeguard. The UK screening guidance on synthetic nucleic acids for users and providers from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) sets out the best practice for all individuals and organisations involved in the provision, use, and transfer of synthetic nucleic acids and benchtop equipment that synthesises nucleic acids in the UK.

The World Health Organization publication Global guidance framework for the responsible use of the life sciences: mitigating biorisks and governing dual-use research outlines principles and tools to mitigate the risk of dual-use research and other risk which can arise from research. The document addresses various stakeholders, including funders, research organisations and scientists.

Last updated: 3 June 2026