As we approach the exciting end of 2012, I’d love to shine a spotlight on an exceptional figure in the field of virology, Dr. Ron Fouchier from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, who Nature listed as one of ten people who mattered this year.1 His cutting-edge work with a transmissible strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in mammals has not only captured the attention of the scientific community but has also ignited an important conversation about the ethics surrounding ‘dual-use’ research—studies that have the potential to greatly enhance public health while also posing risks of misuse.
Dr. Fouchier’s remarkable research demonstrated that a genetically modified H5N1 strain could spread through aerosol transmission among mammals—a monumental finding first achieved in 2011. Excited about sharing his findings, he submitted his manuscript to the prestigious journal Science. However, the publication journey hit a bump in the road when the United States National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) raised concerns about the potential for bioterrorism. They recommended redacting certain experimental details to safeguard against misuse. Despite these initial challenges, Dr. Fouchier’s determined efforts and advocacy led to a significant change in the NSABB guidelines by March 2012, ultimately paving the way for his study to be published in full.
However, the journey didn’t end there. Dr. Fouchier faced more challenges due to strict European Union (EU) regulations on export controls. The situation became even more complicated as Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka’s similar research paper on H5N1 was successfully published in Nature this past May.2 In contrast, the Dutch authorities ruled that Dr. Fouchier’s research fell under stringent EU regulation EC 428/2009, which imposed tougher export controls. He bravely chose to submit his findings without an export permit, despite facing the threat of severe legal penalties, including up to six years in prison.
In the end, after extensive negotiations with Dutch officials, Dr. Fouchier successfully secured the required export permit, and his influential research was published in the June 2012 issue of Science.3 Nonetheless, he remains fiercely dedicated to fighting the restrictive EU export control laws, believing strongly in the importance of safeguarding academic freedom.
Dr. Fouchier’s unwavering commitment is beautifully encapsulated in his statement: “If there is anything I can do to prevent future generations of infectious disease specialists from being censored against their will by government, I will do it.” His words resonate deeply within the scientific community, highlighting the crucial need for protecting our right to publish research findings. The fight for this freedom transcends individual cases; it represents a vital necessity to ensure that scientific progress can continue unimpeded by bureaucratic barriers, especially in our collective efforts to tackle pressing global health challenges.
Cheers to Dr. Fouchier for his tenacity and vision! His journey inspires us all to advocate for both scientific inquiry and the responsible advancement of public health.
1. 366 days: Nature’s 10. Nature 2012;492:335-343. https://doi.org/10.1038/492335a
2. Imai M, Watanabe T, Hatta M, Das SC, Ozawa M, Shinya K, Zhong G, et al. Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus in ferrets. Nature 2012;486(7403):420-428. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10831
3. Herfst S, Schrauwen EJ, Linster M, Chutinimitkul S, de Wit E, Munster VJ, et al. Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets. Science 2012;336(6088):1534-1541. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213362