A New Report from the Council of Canadian Academies

On October 21, 2025, the Council of Canadian Academies published a report by their Expert Panel on Sensitive Research of Concern titled Balancing Research Security and Open Science. This report offers timely guidance for those engaged in sensitive research, including scientific research involving human pathogens and toxins. It explores how to responsibly advance scientific discovery while safeguarding public interests.

Commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada, the report outlines practical strategies for identifying and protecting dual-use research of concern across all research stages. Highlights for the biosafety and biosecurity community include:

• Pathogen Research and Risk Related to Dual-use Research of Concern: The report features a case study on pathogen research, outlining the mechanisms for identifying dual-use research of concern and for implementing proportionate safeguards that do not unduly hinder scientific progress.
• Considerations for Indigenous Research: The report defines Indigenous research and recognizes rights-based considerations that must be applied to its governance framework. The report calls for meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities in shaping security protocols that align with Indigenous principles and include community-led decision-making.
• The Modern Research Mindset: A central theme is the shift toward a “modern research mindset” that embraces multidisciplinary collaboration, anticipates security risks early in the research lifecycle, and integrates ethical, legal, and social considerations into research design. This mindset is particularly vital in high-stakes fields like life sciences research, where openness and precaution must be carefully balanced.

We encourage all researchers to review the report and consider its recommendations in the context of their current and future projects.