Driving Innovation Responsibly: A New Frontier in Biosecurity
An event hosted by the Royal Society of Biology.
Details
When? Monday 22 September 2025, 09:30 to 16:45
Where? Central London
CPD Approved This event is approved for CPD
This event is fully booked
Driving Innovation Responsibly: A New Frontier in Biosecurity, hosted by the Royal Society of Biology
A forum for policymakers, funders, scientists and industry to shape responsible, biosecure innovation in the UK , hosted by the Royal Society of Biology
Why attend?
Biotechnology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, unlocking transformative potential in medicine, agriculture, sustainability and economic growth. Alongside these opportunities come new risks, such as accidental release, dual-use misuse, or unintended consequences that could threaten biological security at national and global levels.
The event will provide a secure forum to reflect on how the UK can harness the benefits of biotechnology while preventing harm. Participants will explore how to strengthen safeguards without stifling innovation, consider where accountability lies in ensuring responsible practice, and examine how policymakers, funders, scientists, industry and government can work together to close security gaps that could otherwise enable the next global health crisis.
Who should attend?
We invite attendees from across the bioscience research landscape, including:
- Policymakers and regulators
- Research funders
- Scientists and researchers in academia and industry
- Government and agency staff in advisory or oversight roles
Attendance will be limited to ensure a diverse mix of organisations and disciplines.
Chair: Dr Sana Zakaria MRSB
Dr Zakaria is a RAND Europe Senior Research Leader for Emerging Technologies and a RAND Global Scholar for Pandemic Preparedness. She is the RSB Education and Science Policy committee member with a watching brief for ethical biological innovation.
Speakers
Our confirmed speakers include:
- Dr Cassidy Nelson, Centre for Long Term Resilience
- Dr Piers Millett MRSB, International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS)
- Dr James Smith, J. Craig Venter Institute/Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund
- Dr Nicole Wheeler, Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)
Programme
Morning sessions - a series of talks and panel Q&As on:
- Governance and guidance
- Technology and capabilities for mitigating risk
Afternoon workshops (run in parallel)
- Funding responsible research: Exploring funder frameworks, due diligence processes, and how to support safe and ethical innovation.
- Bridging the gaps: Roles and responsibilities across the research ecosystem in ensuring biosecure innovation.
A full agenda will be provided to attendees closer to the event.
Booking information
- Approximately 60 places are available, free of charge.
- Attendance is by application to ensure diversity of perspective.
- Successful applicants will be asked to select their preferred workshop. Pre-meeting materials will be circulated to support discussion.
Important
- This event operates under the Chatham House Rule.
- Photography, screenshots, and social media posts about the meeting will not be permitted.
Registration
To apply to attend, please log into your myRSB account (non-members can create a free account). Once logged in, select ‘Book this event' and provide your full name, job title and organisation name.
Registration will now close on Sunday 7 September, or earlier if capacity is reached.
Successful applicants will receive an official invitation, which must be presented to security on the day.
Special requirements
If you have any accessibility requirements, please let us know during your registration, and will we do what we can to accommodate your needs.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
This event has been approved by the Royal Society of Biology for the purposes of CPD and counts as 21 CPD points.
Contact
For any queries, please contact Lucy Eckersley at events@rsb.org.uk or on 020 3925 3445.
Code of Conduct
By its Royal Charter, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has the powers to promote, establish and support standards of professional skill and conduct. The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout the pipeline. We proactively promote a culture of inclusivity within our discipline and the broader STEM community. It is vital at any RSB event or meeting, that everyone attending is free from any form of harassment or discrimination, feels comfortable and safe, and has the opportunity for an enjoyable experience.