Prevention and mitigation of misuse of synthetic biology for bioterrorism purposes

Call UE del programma Horizon Europe (HORIZON), bando "Civil Security for Society 2026" (HORIZON-CL3-2026-01). Tipo di azione: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. Stato: aperta. Prossima scadenza: 05/11/2026 (single-stage). Testo ufficiale (in inglese): Scope: The rising threat of bioterrorism is driven by recent scientific advancements, notably by growing accessibility of synthetic biology, genetic engineering, related commercial services and public databases, which in turn enhance their obtainability to non-state actors and individuals with malicious intentions. The proliferation of do-it-yourself biohacking and community laboratories, including gene editing and sequencing technology, dropping costs of equipment and increased simplicity of use may inadvertently facilitate knowledge and skills dissemination about biological threats and open new pathways for bioterrorism. Challenges in detection, particularly the lengthy incubation periods of biological agents, underscore the urgent need for improved identification technologies to allow for timely intervention and reduce potential mass casualties, considering both characterization through advanced tools by expert labs and simple deployable methods. Given that properly weaponized biological agents can be more lethal than nuclear weapons, their cross-border implications warrant focused attention. Recent incidents involving biotoxins across various European countries illustrate the feasibility of biological attacks. The…