Public Health Preparedness: HHS Could Improve Oversight of Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens

Research involving pandemic pathogens are crucial to ensure the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health threats. A number of incidents and research projects have raised questions about the adequacy of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversight of the safety of such research.

This report examines the extent to which HHS’s oversight Framework for enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research is effective; and the gaps that exist in HHS’s broader oversight of such research, among other things.