E.1 The risks of research outcomes being misused for harmful purposes, for example bioterrorism, must be considered throughout the whole life-cycle of an MRC-funded study. Mechanisms must be in place to ensure that a thorough risk assessment is undertaken, any risks of misuse are identified and actively managed, and that advice is available to research teams to take appropriate steps to minimise identified risks. The MRC position statement on bioterrorism and biomedical research provides advice on balancing benefit and risk in relation to potential misuse.
