4S Insights and Priorities

Members: Johns Hopkins University and Ginkgo Bioworks

Year launched: 2023 

This project will identify areas of action for the U.S. Government and BioMADE leadership to integrate 4S principles (regarding safety, security, sustainability, and social responsibility) into the BioMADE mission. It will generate insights based on interviews of BioMADE members for their opinions about how best to perceive, incorporate, and forecast how 4S principles may be integrated into biotechnology.  

For example, BioMADE members will be asked for their opinions on what they believe are the top priorities for action related to safety, security, sustainability, and social responsibility in biotechnology? What progress do they believe is possible? What are the barriers to incorporating 4S principles into their work and products? Who do they expect to act—the federal government, industry groups, BioMADE leadership? What actions are they already taking, and what are their greatest concerns for the near- and long-term? What regulatory gaps do they foresee as their technologies proceed, and what are their concerns if those regulatory gaps are not addressed? How do they define security in the context of their work? What educational needs are required for integrating 4S principles into their work and their field, generally.  

Through open-ended conversations with leaders and technology developers amongst the BioMADE membership, this project will identify areas of action for the U.S. government and the 4S committee for future policy development. Interviews will be conducted not-for-attribution to promote candor. Following the interviews and synthesis of major themes, a publication-ready report will be written, and the results will be briefed to BioMADE leadership and interested U.S. government stakeholders. The outcomes will be valuable for the entire BioMADE ecosystem and will serve as a baseline for future research efforts and surveys. 

Funding source: BioMADE Project Call for 4S (Safety, Security, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility)  

Related news:

• Integrating safety, security, sustainability, and social responsibility principles into the U.S. bioeconomy