Mirror biology refers to hypothetical life forms where essential molecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins have opposite handedness (chirality) compared to natural life (The Chemical Engineer, RAND). Scientists have begun early work toward creating mirror bacteria (synthetic organisms where all molecules have reversed chirality), though the capability is at least a decade away (Wyss Institute, Astrobiology). Scientists have also raised concerns about mirror life, with some advocating for a moratorium on creating mirror organisms until safety can be demonstrated, as mirror bacteria could potentially evade the immune defenses of humans, animals, and plants, and escape natural predators in the environment, making them capable of acting as invasive species that could irreversibly disrupt ecosystems and cause infections that existing antibiotics may not be able to treat (Nature, Science, Axios).

Major private foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and international research organizations fund significant portions of global biological research and have historically implemented policies around dual-use research and biosafety concerns. The Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund is coordinating international conferences throughout 2025 and 2026 at institutions including Institut Pasteur, University of Manchester, and National University of Singapore to explore appropriate policy responses (Mirror Biology Dialogues). Other recent partnerships, such as the 2024 collaboration between the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome, and the Gates Foundation committing $300 million to global health research and the 2024 launch of the Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and University of Washington, demonstrate the significant influence these organizations have over research priorities (Gates Foundation, Allen Institute). While scientific consensus has emerged around the existence of risks, no major international non-governmental research funders have yet implemented specific policies restricting or requiring oversight of mirror biology research.

Resolution Criteria:

• Wellcome Trust
• Gates Foundation
• Novo Nordisk Foundation
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

• Roche
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Johnson & Johnson
• Merck

• Funding restrictions explicitly restricting certain types of mirror biology research grants
• Mandatory ethics review requirements specifically for mirror biology proposals
• Due diligence frameworks requiring disclosure of mirror biology research components
• Binding grant conditions requiring institutional oversight of mirror biology work
• Official position statements opposing mirror life focussed research funding

• General synthetic biology guidelines that don't specifically mention mirror biology
• Non-binding recommendations or voluntary best practices
• Internal research policies without external funding implications
• Academic institutional policies (covered under government oversight)
• Policies implemented due to government mandate rather than independent organisational decision