{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T11:11:32Z","timestamp":1788347492092,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":69,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,12]],"date-time":"2016-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1476230400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Soc Stud Sci"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>This paper examines the recent public controversy sparked by the laboratory creation of a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza transmissible among mammals. The contours of the controversy can be understood by tracking the assemblage of actors, institutions and devices gathered together in response to the governmental problem of how to manage emerging diseases. The grouping is tenuously held together by a shared commitment to the project of \u2018pandemic preparedness\u2019. However, as the controversy unfolds, it becomes clear that the main actors involved do not share a common understanding of the problem to be addressed by pandemic preparedness, and the assemblage threatens to decompose. At the center of the dispute is the question of how to assess the risks and benefits of research in a field characterized by urgency and uncertainty.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0306312716666420","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,12]],"date-time":"2016-10-12T21:30:04Z","timestamp":1476307804000},"page":"376-397","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["A fragile assemblage: Mutant bird flu and the limits of risk assessment"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"47","author":[{"given":"Andrew","family":"Lakoff","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sociology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/649393"},{"key":"bibr2-0306312716666420","volume-title":"World at Risk","author":"Beck U","year":"2009"},{"key":"bibr3-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7208\/chicago\/9780226257242.003.0008"},{"key":"bibr4-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1217994"},{"key":"bibr5-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/483520a"},{"key":"bibr6-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/484150a"},{"key":"bibr7-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Butler D, Ledford H (2012) US biosecurity board revises stance on mutant-flu studies. Nature, 30 March. Available at: http:\/\/www.nature.com\/news\/us-biosecurity-board-revises-stance-on-mutant-flu-studies-1.10369 (accessed 26 August 2016).","DOI":"10.1038\/nature.2012.10369"},{"key":"bibr8-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/676124"},{"key":"bibr9-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.00379-12"},{"key":"bibr10-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Cohen J (2012) A flawed flu papers process? Science Insider, 13 April. Available at: http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2012\/04\/flawed-flu-papers-process (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr11-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7312\/lako14606-001"},{"key":"bibr12-0306312716666420","first-page":"3","volume-title":"Global Assemblages: Technology, Politics and Ethics as Anthropological Problems","author":"Collier SJ","year":"2005"},{"key":"bibr13-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Enserink M (2011) Scientists brace for media storm around controversial flu studies. Science Insider, 23 November. Available at: http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2011\/11\/scientists-brace-media-storm-around-controversial-flu-studies (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr14-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.335.6064.20"},{"key":"bibr15-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Fauci AS (2005) Pandemic influenza: The road to preparedness. Testimony to Committee on International Relations, United States House of Representatives, 7 December. Available at: https:\/\/www.niaid.nih.gov\/about\/directors\/Documents\/1272005pandemicflutestimony.pdf (accessed on 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr16-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Fauci AS, Nabel GJ, Collins FS (2011) A flu virus risk worth taking. The Washington Post, 30 December. Available at: https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/a-flu-virus-risk-worth-taking\/2011\/12\/30\/gIQAM9sNRP_story.html?utm_term=.7f65de70e0e5 (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr17-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/481443a"},{"key":"bibr18-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature11858"},{"key":"bibr19-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/virtualmentor.2006.8.4.oped1-0604"},{"key":"bibr20-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Garrett L (2011) The bioterrorist next door. Foreign Policy, 15 December. Available at: http:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2011\/12\/15\/the-bioterrorist-next-door\/ (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr21-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Garrett L (2012) Much ado about what? The H5N1 story gets murkier every day, 7 March. Available at: http:\/\/lauriegarrett.com\/blog\/2012\/3\/7\/much-ado-about-what-the-h5n1-story-gets-murkier-every-day (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr22-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Grady D, McNeil DG (2011) Debate persists on deadly flu made airborne. The New York Times, 26 December. Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/12\/27\/science\/debate-persists-on-deadly-flu-made-airborne.html?_r=0 (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr23-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Biological Weapons: From the Invention of State-Sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism","author":"Guillemin J","year":"2006"},{"key":"bibr24-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195074444.003.0027","volume-title":"Emerging Viruses","author":"Henderson DA","year":"1993"},{"key":"bibr25-0306312716666420","first-page":"126","volume-title":"Dreamscapes of Modernity: Sociotechnical Imaginaries and the Fabrication of Power","author":"Hurlbut JB","year":"2015"},{"key":"bibr26-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Inglesby T (2012) Sunday dialogue: Bird flu experiments. The New York Times, 28 January. Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/01\/29\/opinion\/sunday\/sunday-dialogue-bird-flu-experiments.html (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr27-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Kaiser J (2014) Academy meeting on risky virus studies struggles to find common ground. Science Insider, 17 December. Available at: http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2014\/12\/academy-meeting-risky-virus-studies-struggles-find-common-ground (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr28-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Kaiser J, Malakoff D (2014) U.S. halts funding for new risky virus studies, calls for voluntary moratorium. Science Insider, 17 October. Available at: http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2014\/10\/us-halts-funding-new-risky-virus-studies-calls-voluntary-moratorium (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr29-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature10884"},{"key":"bibr30-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Un monde gripp\u00e9","author":"Keck F","year":"2010"},{"key":"bibr31-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/030631270203200507"},{"key":"bibr32-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1548-1360.2008.00013.x"},{"key":"bibr33-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/03085147.2014.983833"},{"key":"bibr34-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780199256044.001.0001"},{"key":"bibr35-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/481009a"},{"key":"bibr36-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2990\/26_1_15"},{"key":"bibr37-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2014.00110"},{"key":"bibr38-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.00290-12"},{"key":"bibr39-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Lipsitch M (2014) Anthrax? That\u2019s not the real worry. The New York Times, 29 June. Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/06\/30\/opinion\/anthrax-thats-not-the-real-worry.html (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr40-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/485431a"},{"key":"bibr41-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0263276406062573"},{"key":"bibr42-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Mount Sinai Hospital (2007) NIH establishes center of excellence for influenza research at Mount Sinai. Press release, 2 April. Available at: http:\/\/www.infectioncontroltoday.com\/news\/2007\/04\/nih-establishes-center-of-excellence-for-influenz.aspx (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr43-0306312716666420","unstructured":"National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) (2006) Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Influenza Research (Report). Available at: https:\/\/www.niaid.nih.gov\/topics\/Flu\/understandingFlu\/Documents\/fluBlueRibbon06.pdf (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr44-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism","author":"National Research Council","year":"2004"},{"key":"bibr45-0306312716666420","unstructured":"National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) (2007) Proposed Framework for the Oversight of Dual Use Life Sciences Research: Strategies for Minimizing the Potential Misuse of Research Information. Available at: http:\/\/osp.od.nih.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/resources\/Framework%20for%20transmittal%20duplex%209-10-07.pdf (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr46-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity (NSABB) (2012) Findings and Recom-mendations. 29\u201330 March 29\u201330. Available at: http:\/\/osp.od.nih.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/resources\/03302012_NSABB_Recommendations_1.pdf (accessed on 25 August 2016).","DOI":"10.7748\/ns.30.36.29.s39"},{"key":"bibr47-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/493451b"},{"key":"bibr48-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Office of Biotechnology Activities (n.d.) National Institutes of Health, 3 May, About NSABB. Available at: http:\/\/osp.od.nih.gov\/office-biotechnology-activities\/biosecurity\/nsabb\/faq (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr49-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/481115a"},{"key":"bibr50-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1121297109"},{"key":"bibr51-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/bsp.2012.0011"},{"key":"bibr52-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1219936"},{"key":"bibr53-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic","author":"Quammen D","year":"2012"},{"key":"bibr54-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Anthropos Today: Reflections on Modern Equipment","author":"Rabinow P","year":"2003"},{"key":"bibr55-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Reardon S (2015) US plan to assess risky disease research shapes up. Nature News, 1 October. Available at: http:\/\/www.nature.com\/news\/us-plan-to-assess-risky-disease-research-takes-shape-1.18463 (accessed 25 August 2016).","DOI":"10.1038\/nature.2015.18463"},{"key":"bibr56-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Roos R (2011) US government urges journals to omit details of two H5N1 studies. CIDRAP News, 20 December. Available at: http:\/\/www.cidrap.umn.edu\/cidrap\/content\/influenza\/panflu\/news\/dec2011nsabb.html (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr57-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Roos R (2012) Research on contagious H5N1 viruses: Space suits needed? CIDRAP News, 6 March. Available at: http:\/\/www.cidrap.umn.edu\/news-perspective\/2012\/03\/research-contagious-h5n1-viruses-space-suits-needed (accessed 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr58-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Sample I (2012) Bird flu: How two mutant strains led to an international controversy. The Guardian, 28 March. Available at: https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2012\/mar\/28\/bird-flu-mutant-strains (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr59-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Schnirring L (2012) Debate on H5N1 death rate and missed cases continues. CIDRAP News, 24 February. Available at: http:\/\/www.cidrap.umn.edu\/news-perspective\/2012\/02\/debate-h5n1-death-rate-and-missed-cases-continues (accessed on 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr60-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/153871304323146388"},{"key":"bibr61-0306312716666420","unstructured":"The New York Times\n                      (2012) An engineered doomsday. The New York Times, 7 January. Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/01\/08\/opinion\/sunday\/an-engineered-doomsday.html (accessed 25 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr62-0306312716666420","unstructured":"US Department of Health and Human Services (2005) HHS Pandemic influenza plan. Report, US Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: http:\/\/www.flu.gov\/planning-preparedness\/federal\/hhspandemicinfluenzaplan.pdf (accessed on 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr63-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7312\/lako14606-009"},{"key":"bibr64-0306312716666420","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/495411a"},{"key":"bibr65-0306312716666420","first-page":"18","volume-title":"The Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security","author":"Weir L","year":"2015"},{"key":"bibr66-0306312716666420","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2012) Report on technical consultation on H5N1 research issues. Geneva, 16\u201317 February. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/influenza\/human_animal_interface\/mtg_report_h5n1.pdf?ua=1 (accessed on 7 August 2016)."},{"key":"bibr67-0306312716666420","volume-title":"Molecular Politics: Developing American and British Regulatory Policy for Genetic Engineering, 1972\u20131982","author":"Wright S","year":"1994"},{"issue":"1","key":"bibr68-0306312716666420","first-page":"56","volume":"25","author":"Wright S","year":"2006","journal-title":"Politics and the Life Sciences"},{"key":"bibr69-0306312716666420","unstructured":"Wright S (2012) Letter re \u2018Bird flu experiments\u2019. The New York Times, 28 January. Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/01\/29\/opinion\/sunday\/sunday-dialogue-bird-flu-experiments.html (accessed 25 August 2016)."}],"container-title":["Social Studies of Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0306312716666420","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/0306312716666420","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0306312716666420","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T19:31:51Z","timestamp":1777663911000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0306312716666420"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,12]]},"references-count":69,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,6]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0306312716666420"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0306312716666420","relation":{},"ISSN":["0306-3127","1460-3659"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0306-3127","type":"print"},{"value":"1460-3659","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,12]]}}}