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Published online 30 September 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.957
News: Q&A
Driven out of research
A virologist describes how stringent biosecurity regulations caused her to drop one line of work.
Rebeca Rico-Hesse knew that she wanted to become a virologist from the age of 15, when her beloved horse was at risk of catching the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus then spreading through northern Mexico. Thirty-three years later, after decades of working on this and other potentially deadly pathogens, she talks to Nature about why she has now dropped the work.
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I think that Ms. Rico-Hesse needs to consider the potential for harm given her line of work. The risk of her being a "bad guy" may be very low, but the potential harm should someone use her resources maliciously is very high. So whether she likes it or not, it is incumbent on the government to at least consider the possibily that she might in fact be a criminal. I admit that the government does not know that Ms. Rico-Hesse is a criminal, but without checking on her it also does not know that she is not. So IMO a background check is a good idea in this case.
I really think that Ms. Rico-Hesse should be glad that research like this is not considered to be outright sensitive. I know people who have been through the government clearance process, and doing a background check is only a starting point for that.
Dr. Rico-Hesse likely knows, accepts and understands these issues. This argument also misses the point of the article: intrusive & unnecessary background checks in addition to a lack of qualified oversight are the problems.