Singapore, 6 November 2025
The world doesn’t need another statement of intent—it needs instructions that work. This Consortium is the engine that will convert standards into simple, consistent workflows that raise the floor for global biosecurity and let innovation thrive.
– Sophie Peresson, IBBIS Technical Lead for the International Standards Initiative
The IBBIS Technical Consortium will work alongside the Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC), announced last week in Paris, to advance global standards for synthesis screening. While the SBRC defines what counts as a sequence of concern, the Technical Consortium translates those definitions into practical, internationally-aligned standards so that orders are screened consistently and effectively. Together, they link scientific consensus with real-world implementation.
What the Consortium will deliver
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Stronger standards, made implementable: Clarify and operationalise the biosecurity provisions of ISO 20688-2 through a supplementary implementation Guide that defines minimum requirements, key terms, and practical workflows for DNA sequence and customer screening.
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Real-world implementation: Develop and pilot-test ready-to-use guidance, model workflows, templates, and training tools—tailored to providers of different sizes and regions—to reduce compliance burden while improving consistency and effectiveness.
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Global and regional coordination: Facilitate alignment across industry, regulators, standards bodies, and international organisations, and support regionally grounded pathways for adoption that reflect diverse legal, linguistic, and resource contexts.
How it works
The Consortium brings together approximately 30 experts from industry, academia, government, standards bodies, and civil society from all regions of the world. Together, they will deliver practical, globally relevant screening guidance that can be adopted by providers large and small, referenced by regulators and procurement systems, and used to strengthen trust and accountability across the DNA synthesis ecosystem.
Why it matters
- Clear rules of the road: Robust, interoperable screening practices that scale globally
- Lower compliance burden: Practical tools that make “doing the right thing” simpler and cheaper
- Market confidence: Consistent safeguards that reward responsible actors and level the playing field
- Reduced misuse risk: Fewer blind spots across the synthesis supply chain, aligned with international non-proliferation commitments
Inaugural members include
Nisreen AL-Hmoud, Lela Bakanidze, Luis Alberto Ochoa Carrera, Aamer Ikram, Angela Kane, Dr Talkmore Maruta, Iqbal Parker, Herawati Sudoyo, Sacha Wallace-Sankarsingh, Lawrence Mugisha, Onyeka Kingsley Nwosu, Becky Mackelprang, and Weiwen Zhang.
Get involved
IBBIS is inviting expressions of interest from organisations and experts who can contribute to the Consortium’s technical drafting, piloting, and global alignment efforts. For more information or to discuss participation, please contact Sophie Peresson: sophie@ibbis.bio