The United Kingdom 100 mishaps high-containment labs recent years.It ’ difficult judge full scope problem , many lab accidents underreported.Studying viruses lab bring important potential benefits , promise universal vaccines , well cheap effective ways developing new drugs kinds alternative defenses naturally occurring diseases. “ It ’ tricky balancing act , ” Relman said. “ We ’ want simply shut work impede unnecessarily. ” However , safer ways conduct research , using harmless “ avirulent ” versions virus would cause widespread death injury infected general public , Relman said.Developing better tools risk-benefit analysis identify mitigate potential dangers early stages research would another important step towards making biological experiments safer.Closer cooperation among diverse stakeholders ( including domain experts , government agencies , funding groups , governing organizations scientists general public ) also needed order develop effective rules oversight regulation dangerous experiments , domestically abroad .