Vice-dean: New guidelines to protect health research

With a growing risk of espionage targeting Danish research environments, the need to protect health data and technologies is more urgent than ever.

Aarhus University’s new URIS guidelines, the first wave of which came into effect on November 1, strengthen research protection while equipping researchers to handle potential risks associated with international collaborations.

“We operate in a sector where international interest in our research is significant, making it crucial to safeguard our data and researchers. The new guidelines can hopefully help us achieve this,” says Per Höllsberg, Vice-dean for research at Health.

Focus on security

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) assesses that countries such as China, Russia, and Iran are actively seeking unauthorized access to data from Danish research environments, particularly in biotechnology and health technology.

A key component of the guidelines being rolled out at Aarhus University includes background screening of researchers, PhD students, and guests from so-called high-risk countries identified by PET.

“We must strike a balance between openness in research and protecting critical data. This may affect our international collaborations, but security must always be a top priority, especially in areas like biomedical and clinical research,” says Per Höllsberg.

Tightened requirements for some researchers

The URIS guidelines mean researchers must now comply with stricter requirements regarding screening, secondary employment, and international collaborations.

For example, researchers must inform their department heads well in advance of any secondary employment related to a high-risk country.

Per Höllsberg emphasizes that, in practice, the new guidelines at Health will affect only a small number of researchers.

“Some researchers may perceive the new requirements as an added burden, but the guidelines are designed to create security and prevent misuse of research. It is very much in researchers’ own interests to adhere to these guidelines, which aim to provide clear frameworks and support for navigating international collaborations safely,” he says.

Health research demands extra effort

While the first wave of URIS guidelines focuses on researchers applying for positions at Aarhus University, the next wave is expected to address procedures for research collaborations, travel to high-risk countries, and physical security of critical research.

The next wave is expected to be implemented at AU in early 2025.

Researchers at Health are already accustomed to extensive administrative work in health research, including ethical approvals and data protection rules.

The new URIS guidelines will add an extra layer for some, but according to Per Höllsberg, this is necessary to protect research.

“Health research has always been subject to stringent requirements because we work with data and knowledge that directly impact people and society. Although the new guidelines require extra effort from some researchers, they are crucial for ensuring that researchers’ work is not exploited for undesirable purposes,” he says.

Learn more about the URIS guidelines and their background on here.

Contact

Vice-dean for research Per Höllsberg
Health, Aarhus University
Phone: +45 51362353
Mail: pbh@au.dk